The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-05

- management OF the st. Louis American
League Club in rounding up its stars for
rext season is proof that baseball players
when treated as gentlemen and equals. can
Se handled without the aid OF the courts 4,
Tina vas when q professional baseball
player was classed in the category Of
.touehs.' when the spectators liked 10 see
trouble on the ball field. when the services
u expert diamond performers were sold or
bartered for sums far IN excess OF the sal
nrles they received. and when few club
owners were personally acquainted with the
raen who made money for them That time
mas passed. but Il has taken some people a
ong time 10 find II out.
A year ago when the American League
quietly prepared 10 enter st. Louis Few
thought the venture would succeed. and. IN
deed. after the team had been organized
and n plant built Il seemed that the en-
terpTtSe would die from lack Of support
But Il didn't, and because the men behind
Il were game and their gameness Outlasted
public sentiment that cast a blight over the
early part OF the season.
IN the face OF the Well-directed efforts OF
certain National League clubs 10 wreck the
splendid team put together by Jimmy Nc
Aleer, the Browns have stood together 10 a
nan. It wasn't because they lacked other
opportunities. that they stuck together: Il
wasn't because the majority OF them pre-
ferred one league to another. but It was
because they received substantial evidence
that their efforts were appreciated, and
they turned down outside ohen and frus-
trated well-laid plans to scatter the SPLEEN
did organization.
The average man can and VIII go further
when he is led than when he is driven. II
you tell him he must do this he will be
sure 20 do the other thing. The Browns
have stood together because the club that
employed them has Lived. up 10 its olliga-
lions in many ways Jimmy McAleer ana
Secretary Hedges formed a combination
that hold the nrg1nfwaeFnu snrafhar
It would have been just the same n these
men were running a team in the National
League. It makes no difference as far as
that was concerned. and the lesson Is one
from which club owners in any league may
study with profit. The grievance that the
players have against the old league is that
when 1t controlled professional baseball 1t
ground the players to the point where many
OF them chose to forEake their profession
rather than TO put up with shabby treat
msnt- The American League provided These
men with an opportunity to stand on their
own merits. 1t created competition. and
forced & war from which nobody but the
players are bene6tinR.
The reason that the American League has
prospered is the fact that the recognized
stars Of the game are more numerous Il its
ranks than IN the National There Is an e1-
PLANTATION for this IN the fact that the ma
iority Of these men had grievances against
the clubs that employed them when The ten
yeRr agreement WIS IN force. Tn first year
the johnson organization started out on a
major leRsus scale a number OF stars de-
serted to Il in order to enjoy more freedom
than was accorded them in the National
and to draw better salaries.
The men who control the old league have |
eeea too long in the game. Until a few OF |
Them are eliminated the old league isn't |
gong to be popular with players. The
younger organization included hustlinE club !
owners who were not too good TO meet and
clasp hands with their players-men who
believed more In the owe Of persuasion
than IN compulsion and men who were able !
TO make good their promises.
Tsks the cases OF players on the local
American League team and YOU have rood |
examples OF the influence OF good fellow !
ship. Several OF them were severely criti-
cised because they chose to leave the en-
p!oy OF Frank De Haas Robson. owner OF
The 81. Louis National League team. The
few players who knew Mr.. Robson liked
him., but the trouble was he didn't know
enough OF them To most OF them he MAS
simply the man who signed their cheeks. J
Being a resident OF Cleveland. and having
otner business to look after. Mr. Robson
could not closely observe the Affairs of his /
club. He rarely. Travelled with the team.
Before the close OF the season OF 1901
there were rumors Of disruption. and Mr.
Robson was warned In plenty OF time.
Certain players on the team were willing |
10 renew their allegiance to him. but he
neglected 10 come TO terms with them. The
American League agents made o6ers IN |
these men. and still there was nothing do
Ing IN the Cardinal camp. Finally. after
the players had failed TO satisfy them
selves as 70 whether the ST. Louis Ma
tsonal League club desired their services
for $50 they made sure OF a berth and
enough Of them deserted TO form the 1
nucleus OF the St Louis American League
team.
Those who know Mr.. Robson do no,
think his disregard OF the PLAYERS, Innor-
tuniueB q meditated Enub, but lay n 10 l
his o~ver-conndence and neglect. But the
same was not true Of other club owners.
Iake the case Of the Philadelphia team.
Inc z passed 81. Louis and Brook
lyn landed In second place. The PLAYERS
were popular In Philadelphia. and drew
large crowds The American League disor-
ganized the Philadelphia team by its VIII
ingneS 10 employ players who were dis
gusteo with their treatment in Philadel-
phia. Napoleon Lajoie. the star OF them
al. went a year before the others. No A.
gument except a legal process WIS used
on him. Colonel John l. Rogers was the
active spirit in brewing troubles He did
ssrted 50 many pieces OF merchandise n
they didn't chose to obey him .tben he /
would compel submission. Persuasion was
not thought OF.
FRANK Donahue was considered the hest /
pltcher OF the club. He was confronted
nlsn a enolSe OF working on his arm for
Hhaiever return the Philadelphia club saw
~ TO make He had 10 do II or quit pIay-
4ns naiL he couldn't 60 10 any other club
N any lesgue, for the National League con- 1
Lsoled them all The same was true Of
~ LoWnsend, bolyerton, Deiehanty
Fear OF the Law caused Pitchers Fraser
sc nogs5eoy TO return to the Quakers az
sGf slsy gaa gone over 10 the Athletics. /
N91lo tneE exert themselves N any unay- ]
~ ny S1ter such z move? Beyond keep |
lle Up TIER regulations a. bah playe-S
tneg probably didn't care whether EehooI !
Kept or not D Game conditions exiSfed !
- toe New York club, where Andrrw
freeman treated his players as servants.
0nen the American LeaEue created an m
p~ortuuity, Barrett and others left the Cfn-
Ssnnau club because OF John T Brush. |
mercer AcGtnnity, Seymour ana sever1I 1
.otnefs quit the New York and Brooklyn 4
teams for the same reaecns.
This year there was \ docking or starr
70 the American League and the reason
ll2et o. them Jumped was because the /
etu9 owners DID not apparently appreciate
Snest enorta and. because they didn't care
20 os treated As interiors when asking for
nnaneiAi appreciation OF their efforts.
Players have quit American League club.
TOT the sane reason, but Il Is q dlderent set
ol men Win whom they have TO deal there. |
Lnsre 9 head to the American League
spin csused BY s1afdlnEs candidacy for the
presidency Of the Eationa1 put Brush n
power as Chairman OF the Executive Com
nlttee 40 one man had the power to act
opal oTnet OF the 81 Louis club, has com
mnnoed the respect and admiration of his
PlaSers because he took a personal interest
u tasm enS their work He travels with