, 1891-02-08
MINOR LEAGUES.
Their Privileges Under the New
Dispensation.
AIDING YOUNG PLAYERS TO RISE.

How the So Called Sales system win
Work in the Future-veterAns Please
Themselves Without COereIOn-Trans-
fers win Cease to BE an Evil.
The new national agreement has en-
tirely altered the status Of minor league
clubs which were formerly subscribers to
the qualified articles OF admission to the
benefits OF the old agreement The minor
league clubs have some Of their privileges
taken away from them-at least they are
curtailed-and the rising young minor
league player has a field opened up to him
that he has never before had a chance Of
entering, except AT times when only those
who had proved themselves phenomenons
had any show, aud even they were handi-
capped, Under the new order Of things
the brilliant young player is apt TO be
called at any time to a higher field OF en-
deayor. and every time such a call comes
he is 10 get an increase 10 salary, and is
placed in a position where the increase Is
quite sure 70 be a substantial one.
To be sure. It is a system where the big
hsh Will gobble up the best worms, but
they cannot do so without the consent OF
the national board and then they must
prove that it is a case Of necessity. The
transfer cannot TAX place without the free
consent Of the player.
To illustrate this point: 4 major league
club which has one OF it, important play
ers disabled By a sudden accident can pick
out some player in one OF .he minor league
clubs who has shown special excellence in
the position where the vacancy occurs, and
apply to the national board for his serv-
ices, II the board believes that the emer.
Reucy is a real one, and not a subJerfuge
TO get a brilliant player at the expense Of
the other clubs, it will grant the re
quest, and the club desiring the play er
must pay TO his club a certain sun hat l.
specified by the board for that grade. This
Is the method to be enforced during the
playing season. At other times the clubs
can, if-they can make terms with the
player. take him without going to the
board by paying the graded compensation
for the damage inflicted on the club FROM
which the player comes,
1t will be seen where the advantages to
the player comes in Hardly a season
passes in which nearly all the clubs do not
run short Of players in certain positions.
Their sore need becomes the opportunity
Of the minor league player. Under the old
rules the manager OF his club was so rapa-
cious about release money that the big
club, rather han be bilked, got along as
best It could. The nance for the young
ster passed and at the end OF the season
the big club ceased to want him. The OPP
p%ortuuity 70 show that he was capable Of
holding his own in faster company was
gone. Now his image has no option, IL
the board says so, and must release him at
the fixed price which any club Of higher
grade can afford to pay, The young player
demonstrates his fitness and his speed II
he have them, and although the man dis
placed may resume his work the younRster
has shown his mettle, and is pretty sure to
be kept in higher class company at an in
creased salary.
The board will nx before the opening OF
the season the grades OF all the minor
leagues, and as new ones enter they will be
classified according TO worth. The board
will prescribe what rates each league must
pay for its privileges, its umpires, and also
make a salary limit, violation Of which
win be punished by severe penalties. These
penalties will be enforced by the power
which tho board can evoke among the
national agreement clubs.
The higher grade Leagues aud the major
leagues will reap a good deal OF advantage
from these rules iuasmuch as they will be
able to recruit their ranks at reasonable
expense. and the knowledge OF that fact
will net as a stimulus upon the star players
TO attend 20 their work and earn their sal
aries. because they will know that their
employers can go out at almost any time
and lind young men 10 ill their places II
necessary.
Amoug the great evils that players
have met with among the minor leagues In
previous years have been the loss OF salary
aud the minor league scheme Of saving
money by fniug players for trivial or al
legged oIcnses. Heretofore the board OF
arbitration has moved so slowly, and the
expense and trouble to obtain redress has
been so great, that hundreds Of players
rave been Obliged to suffer in silence.
Hereafter this system OF robbing players
win be dead. A player has only to present
his wrongs in writing to the national board
and his case will receive immediate atten-
ton, and II worthy will be followed almost
Immediately by relief. No player need lose
over fifteen days pay. save By his own cleo
ton, as in such a case the board is, on
proof, imperatiyely ordered to grant his
release.
There can be no question that the new
national agreement is u blessing TO all
young players not in major leagues, and
that it amply protects the rights Of the
high grade men as we'll
In regard to major league players the
sales system. so called, has not been abol-
tshed, and there Is nothing to prevent any
club releasing a player for a consideration.
The carrying out OF the arrangement Is
left entirely TO the player himself. II he Is
willing 70 90, he need not consent until he
has been satisfied that he will be II sub
-s..atial gamer hy 80 doing. II he is not
willing to 90 to the lub that wants him
he need not do so, and should his refusal
be followed by any coercion, either direct
or indirect, he has only TO apply to the
national board, and prove his case by
either direct OF circumstantiu evidence TO
obtaiu fair treatment, and the club ad-
judged guilty OF coercion will be severely
penalized
Under such rules it will be seen that the
player has au opportunity TO better him
self hat was never before accorded to him.
and II the rules are upheld the transfer OF
players will cease to be an evil OF course
the whole thing depends upon the good
faith OF the magnHtes and the board APP
pointed TO enforce the rules and do justice
TO all. There are scoffers vino affect to be-
Tieve that the new rules are only made to
be broken, and say "Oh, yes, it relds well,
but they won't live up TO it," l believe that
they will, aud consider that turning over
20 the weak clubs without consideration
TIE players that the league viii release
to the board Feb. : Is al indicE tiou that
the major leagues viii keep the faith with
the players a- they have given g.. Nc one
will be quicker 10 expose and ~criticise the
fr,t yigl ton Of the rules than
~ . HluHt-
The senior proprietor Of this paper has
been subject to frequent colds for some
years, which we're sure u lay him up il
not doctored at once. He finds that
mar harlai,'s r,nuh Ramadyia ralfahle