The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-27
National Baseball Commission Inter-
pref. the Agreement ON Qucs-
ton of Draft.
MINOR SALES ARE NOT BINDING
TITLE OF MINOR LEAGUE CLUB To
PLAYERS Is QUALIFIED.
between sept. 4 and Oct. Is Any Major
League Club Has Right to Draft
Any PIayer-The Awards.


Baseball Commission. with Chairman
August Hermann. Secretary J. z. Bruce.
Harry Pullam. president OF the National
League. and Ban B. Johnson, president OF
the American League. present. was in ses-
zion here all day. and adjourned tonight
without taking action on the cases OF AM
brose Putnam. John Hickey. z. s. Quick.
Arthur Deviin. Charles Jones, Gus Dun-
don. o. ]. Ferry. F. Mcintyre. John j.
Dillon. p. J. Donovan. Mcpherson and
Perry and Mr.. Laudensleger.
Among those who appeared before the
commission during the day were President
p. r. Powers and Secretary ]. H. Farrell,
OF the National Association of Minor
Leagues; II. w. Lucas. president of the
Pacific League; 7. III. Murnane. president
OF the New England League; NJ. III. Sex
ton. president of the Western League: r.
r. Burke. Denver, T. J. Brice. William
Clymer, Robert Quinn, Columbus. o.; T.
&. Grifaths, J. ]. Eevin. William Murray,
Jersey City; Edward Hanlon. Baltimore;
w. w. Durham. Newark. n. J.; George
Etallings. Buffalo; George, Tebeau. Louis
vile; Edward Barrows, Detroit. and W.
NJ Kavanaugh.
The most important work Of the day was
the decision establishing the absolute right
of the major leagues to draft players from
the minor leagues and when this matter
was settled IL carried with 1t results az
fscting most of the twenty-one contests
presented for PLAYERS; The S:, claims 10, Tor
Columbus and claimed by Decatur, were
withdrawn.
MILLER AWARDED TO PITTSBURG.
The first case decided was that of Roscoe
Miller. q pitcher. awarded to the Pittsburg
Nationals instead of the New York Amer
leans
James Cocknan and Z. B. Kenna,
claimed to have been purchased by the Phil
sdelphia Nationals. were awarded to Mil
waukee.
Two additional rules, Nos "a and 25 were
added to the national agreement
Rule "a provides that each club must send
TO the secretary of the national commission,
before Aug. 20 In each year. list of its pur-
chased players, and that none. not on such
list can ever be claimed after that date.
Rule Is provides that there shall be no
purchases or releases OF players made dur
Ing the drafting period: that such purchases
would not be allowed against the draft
Of any such players: 1t was held that Sec
tIon OF the national agreement was con-
ficting with Section s. and a definite inter-
probation was. made, so that the drafting
period would be from Sept. to Oct. Is, with
Z no sales permitted during that time.
After the commission adjourned the fol-
lowing official document was given out:
Regarding the contention OF the commit
tee representing the National Association
relative to sales, agreements, purchases and
contracts for and with players for 1904, made
prior to Sept. H. 1903.
SALES ARE NOT BINDING.
1T Is contended by Messrs. Powers. Far
rell and Sexton, the committee that repre-
scented the National Association when the
rational agreement was adopted, that all
sales, agreements. purchases and contracts
for and with players for 1904 by club MEM
bers OF said association, made prior to Sept.
IL, 1908 the day OF the adoption of the ma
tional agreement. are binding and cannot
be disturbed: and that Article 6. Section g.
OF the national agreement, providing for
the drafting or players does not apply in
THE very fact that the representatives
of the National Association, at no time
during the discussion of the provisions of
the agreement, providing for the drafting
of players. made any claim of players that
were to be exempt, in itself makes their
position at this time a questionable one
in fact. no claim of this kind was made by
either Of them until the first day of the
fixed on Sept. II OF this year.
when they ratified the national agree
ment they agreed TO II word for word. both
The language of Section g. Article g. is
clear, explicit and cannot be misunderstood
Section g. The right of a minor league
club 10 its players shall be absolute, ex-
cept that from Sept. to Oct. Is of each
privilege OF selecting players from the Ma
tiorel Association clubs for the following
season. etc.
A QUALIFIED TITLE.
'.-Trom this section 1t will be seen that
from Sept. to Oct Is each year the title
Of every minor league club to its players
Is qualified. and that any major league club
ffx~o fuht
league player. providing the conditions of
the above section are adhered to.
While this may work a hardship at
times. It should not be forgotten that
every club member OF the National Asso-
citation under this same agreement is as
gured OF absolute protection in their rights
10 players at all times; and that they can
dispose or players by private sale, either
before or after the drafting period. and are
assured that no player can be taken from
them without compensation any time
1T should also be borne in mind that IL
the National Association committee We're
right I'm their contention. the very object of
players would be violated. for players could
not advance In their profession If this
practice was to be followed
Our finding Is that the drafting of play
ers during the prescribed term must take
precedence over everything and that in all
Instances where players have been drafted.
5 during the drafting period and all of the
conditions of Section g. Article complied
with, the players belong TO the clubs by
whom drafted.
we find. therefore. that the following
players in addition to those about whom
there Is no dispute. have been regularly
drafted under the provisions OF the agree
ment and all conditions complied with and
belong TO the clubs by whom drafted:
Champ Osteen. awarded TO Washington
club. American League; Ed A. Walsh,
awarded TO Chicago, American League;
Thomas Jones. awarded to st. Louis, Ameri-
can League; James Delehanty. awarded 10
Boston, National League; Albert jacobson,
awarded TO Washington. American League;
Fred C. Rayner, awarded TO Boston, Ma
tIonaf League: George Wrigley. awarded TO
Chicago, American League; Fisher, awarded
70 Boston. National League; Roy Montgom-
cry. awarded TO New York. American
League. Frank smith, awarded TO Chicago,
American League: Tom DougEerty. award
ed 20 Chicago. American League; Jos. Bean
awarded 10 Pittsburg. National League.
And all other players which have been
drafted under the terms of the national
agreement in compliance with the condi-
tlons of Article g. Section s. are hereby
awarded 10 their respective clubs so draft
ting them"