Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-21
SPORTING GOSSIP OF WEEK
Glass A ksgnatss Still Sore at RESULT Of
Chicago tsnveation.
BAN JoHSsoSs CONTROL is COMPLETE
His Reason for Turning Down GriIIo
Was that the Latter Had written
Criticisms of the Big
Mans Course.
Content7

mates Of the Glass A leagues do not like the
experience they underwent at Chicago.
when the microbes of the National associa-
ton ran all over them. any better now that
they have had time to think it over. While
the drafting rule for which they made their
fight has been enacted into law by the Ma
tional commission. and will govern proceed
ings until changed. the Glass men feel
that the interests OF their leagues are jeo-
pardized by having them under control Of q
body made up TO suit Ban Johnson and
Garry Hermann. 1t is a dangerous oondi-
ton, but nothing can be done until the
next session Of the minors, when the little
fellows may have had a light shown them
on the question. Base ball politics moves
slowly. and Just now the eyes of some of
the men who have votes are blinded by the
glitter Of the halo that surrounds the heads
Of some OF the big league magnates. After
these little fellows have become more
customed to gazing on the effulgent forms
that now overtop them they may be able to
descry the sinister features that menace
them and be willing to take some further
steps for self-protection. Class A teams are
most In danger from the big leagues, for the
great bulk of the graduation is from their
ranks. The little fellows have to give up
their players to Class A. Isn't II more TO
the advantage of the microbes to be on good
terms with the men with whom they have to
DEAL and whose interests in a measure
their interests, rather than to be tied up
with a bunch whose interests are opposed
to all minor leagues? All the minors can
do for the big leagues is to graduate play
ers. close organization among the minor
leagues might be made Of value, but an or
gnnization in which one end is opposed to
fha oth I'LL. ~ af
service. And that is just what Ban John
son wants. 1t suits his purpose to have no
opposition. and just at present he has none
-
Ban johnson explains that he dill not
object to ]. Ed Grille a personal basis
but because Grille had criticised the great
Ban while writing base ball for a Gin
cinnati newspaper. Here is what Mr.. John
son says:
II is not a personal matter between
Grillo and myself, by any means
The trouble started a year ago when the
and Griiio was one Of the most bitter
writer's at the time in condemning the
American league for the attitude we felt
Tebeau, Griffiths. and stallings we're. so
bitter against the American league that
the conduct Of Grifiths was such during
the summer that the national commission
felt that for the good of base ball lie had
we talked this matter over then and the
minors agreed that only men who We're &C
IN again wsy Wien be
elected he was not agreeable to me ana
to several others; 1t was found out that
he was of the men who wanted the
Glass A leagues organization Continued
for a purpose inimical to base ball and his
not fitted for the place on that national
board, which should be made up OF men
who are willing to decide cases on their
merits and not for personal purposes.
Chairman Hermann made the minors
promise last summer that no man would be
harmed on that board but what would be
the national commission; Grillo resigned.
The draft rules were all accepted oo, psa1
owner OF the Toledo club, has ordered
Grillo, the president of the club, TO with
draw the club from the Class a orsaniza-
ton.
II I'd Grille earns martyrdom for having
spoken what was in his mind in way of
criticism concerning Ban Johnson, what
sort OF a crown do you suppose awaits
Joe villa for the fulsome hattery with
which he has beslavered the mighty Ban
during the last two or three yearsf
-
Tim Murnane shouts gleefuliy over the
Harmony" that prevailed at Chicago.
Sure, the session was harmonious, for II
landed Tim and his dinky little New Eng
land league away up in the high place
where he will always have chance to
vote just as Johnson wants him to, and be
as big a man as though he were rea
magnate. Kavanagh of the Southern
league thinks the Glass A association has
done its work and ought to be dissolved
Kavanagh thought SO a year ago wheI
the Glass A teams were making the figh
80
to a raid. The American association is di
vided. four and four. and the Watkins
Qrilo end of the struggle is In favor o.
disbanding This is principally for the rea
son that the Tebeau-Havenor end of tn
dispute is in favor of keeping up the or
ganiEation. Much work remains to be dom
by the Class A teams, for one of the great
est abuses OF the draft system has not ye
been done away with, and that is tn
waving Of claim" clause. Under existing
Conditions a player once drafted by biz
league team does not revert TO the team
from which he was taken in event of tn
drafting team releasing him until after al
the other teams in the big league hav
waived claim on him. This means that tn
team that developed the player may neve
get him back. even though the big leagu
team doesn't want him.
Another abuse, and one that ranks alon
with this waving OF claim injustice, is tn
fact that a player once drafted is snoile
for service in a minor league by the yer
fact that he given a chance. He get
taste of big league pay. and thinks h
ought to have It, no matter where he Hay,
Generally this is more than the mino
manager can possibly afford to give, an
the result is he has Discontinued plsye
on his stan every time he takes back
major discard. Here is lots OF work 70
the Glass A organization. for unless thes
points are settled. they will always hay
more or less trouble. The fight must b
kept up until the drafting rule will be o
such basis that the big leagues wi
draft only such players as they want. an
Will keep them when they get them. A
present IL amounts only 10 taking a young
ster for a try-out, and II he makes goo
he may be kept or farmed. IL he doesn
make good he Is thrown back 20 some {
the minors. a disconnected. disappointe
man. his ambition checked. his pride hur
and his disposition turned into that Of