The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-28
BASEBALL MANAGERS
SEVERAL MINOR MATTERS DIS
POSED OF BY THE BOARD.
New Rule Regarding the Selection
and Release of PIayers-The Ward
Case Postponed Again.

NEW YORK, Jan. N.-The annual meet-
ing of the national board OF baseball man
ayers was held at the Fifth-avenue Hotel
today. The morning session was mainly
devoted 10 consideration and discussion OF
propositions made by the Eastern League.
IL was expected that the long-standing dis
pute between ex-Captain John NJ. Ward.
of the New York club, and Andrew Freed
man would be most productive OF friction
between The magna.es when ii should come
UP In the liae OF business. When control
CT tho New York club was acquired by
Freedman, Ward was q member OF the club,
although he made no signed contract.
Freedman claims that he still holds the
taclt refusal OF Wards services II the lat
tor shall ever again play professional ball.
Ward, on his part, claims that this reser-
EatIon .iscredits him as a member OF the
bar The subject came UP before the board
to-day, but it was unanimously agreed to
lay the whole matter over until the spring
meeting, In February.
The question of fixing a. time limit for
the holding Of players in reserve was sug-
gested by Chairman Young, who, at the
time, was unaware OF the protest which,
later in the order of business, was made
by the Eastern League managers. After a
brief discussion oc the matter by the men,
bers of the board the protest made by the
managers Of the Eastern League was dis
cussed. So far as the individual members
Of the national board were concerned there
was only one opinion, and that was that,
in justice to the minor clubs, time limit
for holding players before they are paid
for should be established.
The annual election for chairman, sec
retary and treasurer resulted. as IL has for
years past, in the election OF y. l.. Young
to the position.
A number of appeals for final decision
between players and various clubs were
considered and disposed OF. Prominent
which was dismissed, and the Reading
CPa) club sustained in its reservation OF
Hill. In the case of Gilman and Whaley,
whom the Norfolk (Va.) club charges with
jumping their contracts in the latter part
Of last season, the board decided that nei-
thcr of the two men are eligible as players
in any club under the League rules until a
settlement has been made by them with
the Norfolk club through the chairman of
the board. George a. Flynn was released
by the board from reservation by the Pc
oria club.
Another somewhat lengthy case to come
before the board was that OF Herman El-
berfield and the Montgomery lAlal cluo.
The club claims that Elberfield failed TO
play with the club in 1895, playing with
the Dallas Crex) club instead, although
having been in correspondence with ard
gomery management. In view OF these
facts the board decided that the Montgom-
cry club was entitled to the services of FL
berfield for the season OF 1886. The case OF
John Freeman, who is claimed by both
Detroit and Toronto, was laid over until
the February meeting. The claim CT De-
trot to the services of George Harper,
who, after suspension from Detroit. played
without protest the part of Detroit with
the Nashville and Rochester clubs, was dis
allowed.
At the final session tonight this addition
was made to Article 6:
IA club making selection of a player, as
authorized in the preceding paragraphs OF
this article, shall have the right within
thirty days Of notice to the secretary OF
the board of such selection to withdraw
from such selection, and on notice 10 the
secretary he shall return to the club the
amount deposited with him. A club failing
TO exercise this right within the time spec
iied shall not be allowed subsequently 10
withdraw its claim, and Immediately on
signing the player to a formal contract
the secretary OF the board snail remit 10
the original club, reserving the amount 10
be deposited with him on account OF such
selection. The selecting club shall, within
sixty days OF its original selection, tender
the player selected a formal contract. as
in Paragraph A of this article, and in case
of its failure to do the secretary OF
the board shall remit the amount deposited
with the club for whom the player was Sc
lected."
The managers then adjourned, to meet
again at the annual schedule meeting on
Feb. "a, when all important questions now
before the League will be finally disposed