The times., 1898-02-02
HANLON'S IDEA OF FARMS
The Baltimore Manager Looks Upon
Them as Evils.
He Contends That the Player Is
Not Being Treated Fairly Under
the Present System.

A question as to what he thought of the
report that Brodie was to be sent to the
farm by cittsburg, says the baltimore
Sun, led Manager Ra nlon to discuss what
he considers one of the greatest evils i'll
baseball al the present time. He said:..The
way some players are treated by some Of
the clubs is grossly unjust to the pla yer, to
the other big league clubs, and the other
minor league clubs II would, of course,
be unjust to send Broiie to q minor lea sue
club, and If Pittsburg does not want him
he ought to be releas sed. Will not criticise
anybody, however, but will simply show
how the thing is worked and What a n in
justice il is.
Under the present rules and practice
j could send Jennings or Kecler to a farm
ana keep :hem there permanently il /
wanted. suppose, for instance, | had an
agreement with Richmond to make IL my
farm would first OF all write TO ali
the league clubs asking them to wake
claim tn keeier, unless they wished to buy
his release for, say $25 200.
Nov kee.er, II tree - sign, could get a
job Oh any team in the country, but /
would put th2 price too high and they would
all have To waive claim 10 him. Then |
would sell him 10 Richmond for 200,
the sale being, OF course, fictitious by pre-
vious agreement. Then next fail i would
buy him back from Richmond before the
drafting season began for SOME eNorbitant
price, that sale being also regular in form,
the checks passing through President
Young's hands, and The transfer being
regularly made, but by previous agree
nient no money would actually pass, the
sale being Il mere matter OF form to pre-
vent his being drafted. Then kecler would
belong 10 fue until a year hence, when /
would again set a tremendous price on his
Release, which no club coult. afford To pay,
they would waive Claim again, and again
he would sold fictitiously To Richmond and
so ON year after year. Now of course no
body wOuldje foolish enough 10 send Kceler
or Jennings In o farm, but am showing
how IL coul'i De done, ana know numbers
OF players who are good enough for the
big league vlo are treated in Just exactly
that way, ana have been kept in minor
leagues year after year.
II know some young pitchers who We're
drafted for $500 whom several League
clubs would like to have for $500, but
the clubs shat drafted them run up the
prices as high as $4,000, and as nobody
will give that they will go 10 the farm
know old National Lea que pIa yers whom
other clubs would like to have who will
be sent To farms and liai,! Stlail salaries,
simply because the prices put upon their
rrieases are out OF all reason It IS siii-
ply an out-age-nOtliing less and ought
TO be stopped, but it will not be because
too many clubs profit by tie traffic.
There Will be trouble from it some day,
and there ought to be, for there is nothing |
right in it,
Mr. H6nlon Is q oonSilerate manager, |
10 players when il comes to |
making deais or reea sing them and he |
has never yet forced one Of his men /
fto minor league where there was any
This was iilustrs ted last wear
II the case of Horton. Horton was in a
Inherent position from that OF a PLAYER
Rho mad been in the big League, for he
lad come from Il little Western league |
tnd mad been in the hig League prac-
ically on Sufferance. Mr.. Hanlon gave
nm trial and he failed. Then Toronto
ffered 10 huy Horton and paw him n
'iSger salary Mr.. Hanlon could easily |
ave forced him to go there or nowhere
and 1t would have been 10 injustice at
III, because 10 National League club
wanted Horton. But Horton wanted his
eiease and Mr.. Ha nlon gave IL 10 him.
the Baltimore club lost several
undred dollars by so doing. Mr. Han
IN could have sold Mem z hons and Es
er's release TO minor league clubs, but
e released them outright and lost what
e might nave received. He did sell
sper's release to Milwaukee, but when
sper wanted to sign with Won der Abe.
IT. Hanlon sent back the money to Con
lie MACK and gave ESper his release,
lowing hin to sign with st. Louis.