The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-17
BOARDS PECULIAR RULES
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AWARDS
CRIBBINS TO ATLANTA.
Pitcher Never Played with Atlanta
CIub-History of Babb Case
other Peculiar Decisions.

The national board of the National As
ISOLATION of Minor Leagues has rendered
another decision against the Indianapolis
club. Manager Watkins yesterday received
notice from Secretary Farrell, of the Ma
tional Association. stating that the con-
tract Of the Indianapolis club with Pitcher
II. F. Cribbins had not been promulgated
by the National Association, as Cribbinss
name appears on the reservation list of the
Atlanta club of the Southern League.
Manager Watkins refuses at this time to
criticise the action of the national board.
hut he would have just cause for almost
any criticism he might care to make. as
Secretary Farrell and other members of the
board who control the minor league situa-
ton have surely given the Indianapolis
club, and other clubs in the American AS
ISOLATION as well, the worst of nearly all the
decisions regarding players, and have
awarded players to clubs in other leagues
on the flimsiest pretense.
The notification that Cribbins has not been
allowed to Indianapolis was a great sur
prise to Manager Watkins. Cribbins was
reserved by the Minneapolis club last fall
and was later secured by Indianapolis. The
contract was forwarded to Secretary Far
Ieil anu the secretary TeplleQ lndt CTlD-
bins is on the reserve list of the Atlanta
club. AS far as Manager Watkins has been
able to ascertain Cribbins has never played
with the Atlanta club, and Cribbins says
he never signed a contract with that team
Atlanta's claim to the pitcher and the rul
ing of the national board are unjust and the
matter will no doubt be more thoroughly in
vestgated by the indianapolis management.
OTHER RULINGS.
The national board has made many Pc
Indianapolis since the American Associa-
ton was admitted as member to the Ma
tional Association of Minor Leagues. 9th
er clubs in the American Association have
also Jared badly. but Indianapolis has been
hit harder than the others.
In addition TO Cribbns, several other
players who We're signed last fall and this
winter by Manager Watkins have been
catcher, OF the Dallas, Tex, club, signed
an indianapolis contract last fall, but the
national board awarded him to Dallas Ber-
by. the vice president of the club, who hap
pened to be the man who was most finan-
cially interested in the organization, but
the national board held that the release
was not valid because 1t was not signed by
the president of the club.
William Drummer. pitcher with Chat
tanooga last season, signed an Indianapolis
contract and claimed he was not under
reservation to any club. But the national
board awarded him to Montgomery, claim
ing that when the franchise was transferred
the players went with the franchise.
Thirdbaseman Tamsett was awarded to
indianapolis as the national board could
hardly make any other decision, as Tamsett
held release from reservation signed by
last spring, when Tamsett signed his con-
tract to play with Albany. The Albany
club. however, has made foolish demand
that the Indianapolis club pay for the
release of TamSett.
THE BABB CASE.
The most astounding decision made by
the national board was the case of Charles
Babb When Babb was signed in 1901 for
the season of 1902 the contract called for
two years. including 1903. 1t will be remem-
bered that Babb jumped to the Memphis
club. but he never signed a contract with
the Memphis club. Babb was suspended
by President Hickey because the player
jumped his Indianapolis contract, but the
Indianapolis club placed Babb on its re-
| serve list last fall. Babb came to Indian
! apolis and signed another contract for the
| season of 1903 The salary stipulated in
| the contract was the kind that could be de-
manded by players during war times.
| Manager Watkins learned that Babb would
| not be popular on the team next season
| and a deal was made with New York and
| Babb signed a contract to play with the
| Giants this year.
| The national board then ruled that Babb
| belonged to Memphis. The board said that
| in view of the fact that President Hickey
had suspended Babb. the indianapolis
! reservation was not valid and that Babh
would be returned to Memphis. Baseball
| men consider this ruling as ridiculous and
| it is safe to say that the New York club
will pay little attention to it, Babb was
not expelled by President Hickey, but only
suspended. Even if the reservation were
| not valid the fact that he signed a con-
tract with Indianapolis before the peace
pact was made between the American AS
| ISOLATION and National Association OF
| Minor Leagues is sufficient TO make him
a member of the Indianapolis club or under
| the control of Manager Watkins.
Such rulings as have been made by the
national board will serve to cause much
| ill feeling and trouble if they are pursued