The Indianapolis journal., 1903-06-07
SPECIAL FUND PROVIDED
ASSOCIATION CLUBS ARE PROTECTED
AGAINST BAD WEATHER.
Schedule VIII Cost the Association
$25,OOO-Inferfor Ball Cause of
Lame Arms-Ban Gossip.

The American Association has adopted
plan that may prove beneficial to some or
the clubs in the organization, in view OF
the fact that the weather in most cities this
spring has caused the loss of thousands OF
dollars. The association directors, with
the consent of every club in the organlza-
ton, ordered a certain percentage of all re-
ceipts TO be paid into fund for the pro-
lection of all clubs in the association. Many
of the clubs have lost heavily this season,
but none has yet called upon president
Hickey for loan from the special fund.
This fund was created for mutual protec-
ton, and in case a club needs money 1t
can borrow from the fund by giving collat-
eral security and paying per cent. inter-
est, sum to tide it over few weeks OF
bad luck. The sum borrowed is charged
against the club and must be paid the
same as any other loan.
The association provided this fund in
order to make 1t possible for clubs In i'm
mediate need of money to draw from the
association instead of borrowing from
bank. 1t is considered most worthy plan
and will provide against any club being
embarrassed In case of bad weather caus-
ing heavy losses for few weeks. The at
tendance in the Western cities during the
trip OF the Eastern clubs concluded last
week was very small, on account of the
bad weather, and every club lost money.
In the northern cities the indianapolis
clubs share of the receipts was just enough
to pay hotel bills. sleeping-car berths and
buss hire. Manager Watkins says his club
lost over $500 the trip.
XXX
The miserable schedule arranged for the
American Association by President Hickey
for 1903 will cost the American Association
over $4,000 this season. 1t is safe to say that
another schedule of the 1908 kind will
Hickey made a mistake by having the
Western teams and the Eastern teams open
the season playing among themselves. The
weather in the West and North is generally
cold and rainy the last of April and early
May, and it would have been much better
to have the Western clubs open in the
East. When the first series of the West
ern clubs in the East was finished then the
Eastern clubs would begin their series
among themselves and the Western clubs
would do the same This would bring the
Decoration ny games in the East and
schedule provided. President Hickey
showed poor judgment in taking the teams
West for the first holiday. There is more
observance of Decoration day in Indian
apolis, Toledo. Columbus and Louisville
than in any of the Western cities In the
Western cities stores were kept open on
decoration udy. 81. 1dQl ana MlnnedpOlS
were both scheduled at home this year on
Decoration day, and four clubs had to di-
vide the receipts of the day in the two
cities. Minneapolis and st. Paul should be
scheduled together for that day and the
morning game played in one of the cities
and the afternoon game in the other city.
the benefit of the holiday and the big
crowds. Nearly every club in the Asso-
citation has registered a very strong kick
against the schedule and President Hickey
Vil no n
other schedule like the 1903.
XXX
The fact that about twenty pitchers in
the American Association are laid up with
sore arms is we'll known, but the wrong
cause has been attributed to their condi-
ton. 1t has been said that the cold wealth
er has caused the pitchers to register on
the hospital list. The weather might have
had something to do with their condition,
but the principal cause of the lame arms is
the poor ball that is being used in the
American Association this season. Indian
apoliS pitchers who have been laid up this
year, and every one has been in the
''sore-arm brigade some time during the
season, say the ball used this year should
never have been adopted by the Associa-
tion. The balls not uniform in size
weight or condition of the cover, and this
has caused the sore arms. A pitcher
will start the game with one ball, and
after pitching awhile with II another ball
may be put into play that Is heavier or
lighter than the first one. In short time
the pitcher strains his arm, and is sub
ject for the hospital. Just why the ball
being used was adopted is not known only
by those on the inside, but the effort to
force out the ball adopted by the National
Association of Minor Leagues and use an
inferior ball will cost each club in the As
sociation at least $1,000 this year.
American Association teams were sup
posed to be cut to thirteen men on June L,
but the Indianapolis club and several 9TH
ers are carrying fourteen men, The Indian
apolis team will not be reduced, as Man.
ager Watkins will not take chances on
crippling his team by releasing one of the
pitchers and carrying only four box men.
The experience so far this season has
proved that the team would be weak with
only four men, and this is the result of that
bad ball. 1t is believed that if good ball
had been adopted the clubs could get along
with thirteen men, but with an inferior ball
they are forced TO pay the salary of an ex-
ira man.