The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-22
CONTRACTS ARE VALID
If Ruling Holds, Players Subject to
Reserve Clause Must Come
Back From American
League.

tional league contracts.
Lajoie who formerly played second
base for the National league club in this
city, signed with the Philadelphia Ameri-
can league club for the season of 1901
and 1902. The Philadelphia baseball club
through Treasurer John P. Rogers, en-
tered suit to restrain Lajoie from play
ing with the American league. The lower
court held that the reserve clause was
illegal, and Col Rogers carried the case
to the supreme court, where the decision
was reversed.
If this decision stands it will affect all
players who were subject to the reserve
rule and who are now playing with the
American league.
The case attracted widespread atten-
ton because of the question OF the va
lidity of the reserve clause in National
league contracts. The court decided that
the National league contracts were lack
ing in mutually and therefore oppres-
SiVe to players who desired to sign other
contracts. The courts decision bore es-
pecially on the '"ten days release notice
clause" and today's decision is in effect
that this clause is equitable.
The Courts Decision.
In rendering the decision the supreme
court says:
Upon a careful consideration of the
the provisions Of the contract are rea-
sonable, and that the consideration is
fully adequate. The evidence shows no
indications of any attempt at overreach-
ing or unfairness. Substantial justice be-
tween the parties requires that the court
should restrain the defendant from play
ing for any other club during the term
of his contract with the plaintiff.
1.-THE bill as filed contemplated only the
services of defendant for the season of
1901, but 1t is stated in the argument
of counsel that since the hearing in the
court below and prior to the argument
in this court the plaintiff by due notice
refused the current contract for the sea-
son of 1902.
1.-THE specifications Of error are sus-
tanned, and the decree of the court below
dismissing the bill is reversed and the
bill is reinstated. And it is ordered that
the record be RENTED to the court be-
low for further proceedings in accord
ance with this opinion"
Pitchers Fraser and Bernhard were
included in the Laioie case. but their
names were withdrawn by agreement of
the counsel. They are, however, affected
by the decision.
Manager Shettslin, of the Philadelphia
National league club, said today:
ut is likely that all National league
players now playing with the American
league viii be ordered to report at once
at the National league grounds and in
the event of their failing to do so, suits
will be brought in the cities in which
they are playing asking for an injunction
restraining them from taking part in any
American league games"
johnson Refuses to Talk.
CHICAGO, April 2.-President Ban
Johnson of the American league refused
to talk about the Pennsylvania supreme
court decision that the National league
reserve clause was binding and could be
enforced.
I'm the absence of any official infor-
nation on this point and for other rea-
sons" said Mr.. Johnson, Unjust decline
to discuss the decision. We have at
torneys and they will take action no
doubt"
President Hart Of the Chicago Ma
tional league club, who is a member of
the National league governing commit
tee" said:
This decision brings back to the Ma
tional league over two dozen players,
who jumped to the American league. l
cannot see it in any other light than
fatal blow to the rival league. Undoubt-
eddy the Philadelphia club will ask for
an order Of injunction in the Laioie
case Immediately and Larry will not
play with the Athletics unless he wants
to go to jail.
Every other player, who under cir
cumstances similar to Lajoie who
serted to the American league will be in
Guided. From a long distance view it
would seem the Pennsylvania supreme
court held the contract entered into be-
tween the player and the club as valid
1.-THE decision will affect Hartzen,
Greene and possibly Bradley OF our for
0JI v1,o4 fvYrfih or
legal steps will be taken by the National
league, but we have won great victory"
The Players Affected.
The News prints the following list Of
players that will be affected by the de-
cision:
Chicago-Garvin, Sullivan, E. MacFar
land Daily, Strang, Davis. Green, Jones.
Baltimore-Hughes, McGinnity, Robin
son. McGraw, Kelly, Mccain, Selbach,
Seymour.
Dugglesby, Lave Cross, Mont Gross, Hart
Eel, Flick.
earthly.
St. IouisEPowell, Harper, sudhoff,
Padden. Wallace, .Burkett, Heidrick.
Washington-Orth, Carrick, Townsend,
Wolverton, Delehanty, Keister.
Boston-Young. Dineen, Warner. Col
Inns, Hickman, Stahl, Freeman.
Rogers VIII Act at Once.
PHILADELPHIA, April 2-John L.
Rogers, treasurer of the Philadelphia
Baseball club, after receiving the decis-
ion, said:
''The decision Of the supreme court of
the state of Pennsylvania in reversing
the ruling of the lower court is a COM
plete vindication for the Philadelphia
Baseball club. Not only has the court
sustained our argument in full but 1t
has gone still further in its ruling.
1--WE shall serve notice at once not only
upon Jajoie, Bernhard and Fraser, who
were mentioned in the decision, but also
upon Delehanty, Flick, Monte Cross,
Wolverton, Duggleby, Townsend and Nc
Farland, to report at once for duty at
the Philadelphia ball park.
while we cannot force these men to
play for our club by the ruling of the
supreme court, we can restrain them
from playing in any other club in the
state of Pennsylvania.
Should these players attempt to take
part in any baseball contest outside of
the state of Pennsylvania, we shah
bring suit against the players and the
management of the club for which they
play for heavy damages.
While the decision is a state one, the
fact of it being unanimous would indicate
that judges in other states will recognize
the ruling. We shall proceed at once
against the following players: Dele