Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-06

They are not up there fighting back the
way they did last season. Any talk OF
dissension on the team is foolish. They
are as united and as eager to win as any
band of ball players that ever trod dia-
mond. They are just disorganized and
are now making desperate efforts to get
themselves together. Can they do ii?
Jennings faces a harder task than he did
last year. This year the team went into
the field overconf1dent and had that firm
belief in their own superiority shattered.
Jennings must rebuild their hopes.
Like the most ignorant Of immigrants
who come to this country thinking that
the cutters are filled with gold nuggets
waiting for them to pick them up the
young graduates from minor league
teams can see nothing but unheard- of
wealth when they once strike the ma iors.
They picture the diamond laid out in gold
dust instead of whitewash and anxiously
await the arrival q their contracts from
the major league Club owners who have
either purchased or drafted them. The
Immigrant is to be excused, for he is
naturally ignorant. but there is no excuse
Tor the young man who graduates from
a minor league club to the majors, for If
ne does not know that major league play
ers are not paid princely salaries during
their first year up it is his own fault.
There is an awakening for the immigra mt
when he arrives in this country. His
dream OF wealth Is shattered during the
hrst few days. There is no easy picking
such as he imagined. Instead. he must
get out and hustle il he wants the money
The same is true with the youngster who
iards a big league berth He. too. must
make good. His awakening comes when
he receives his contract
Instead of calling for 81 900 or 81. 900. a 9
ne honestly expected the stipend for his first
year as a major Lacquer is generally slim.
lated as $1,000. What does this star"
DO but get up on his ear, sit down and
write the club thai Il am no cheap guy.
ana II you want me you will have to come
across with the spon, and don't you for
get II. Naturally. the young man ex-
poets such a letter will set the club Of
f1cials guessing. but it doesn't They
don't have to worry for single minute
Ihey have complied with the base ball
law when they submit a contract to the
young man. II he doesn't care to sign it
he doesn't have to. Nine times out of ten
these young men who get gay" are not
even offered a chance to show whether
or not they are of major league caliber.
Instead. they are sent to a minor club, as
waivers are easily procured. and at a
smaller salary than was offered by the
major league team. Big league club
owners can scarcely he blamed for not
paying a young man $1,000 or $4,000 wnen
Usually the proviso is made in the con-
tract submitted that the player will re-
ceive an additional $500 If he makes good.
But even the 81 800 total does not look al
Turing enough to the rockies. and they re-
fuse to sign.-that is, at first.
Later. they generally come to their
senses. Ty Cobb did not receive $1,000
his first year in the American League
Last year was his second season and he
led the league in batting. Next season
he will pull down probably $3.50 George
Stone of ST. Louis was satisfied with
1920 his first year in Last year he
received over $4,000. Both he and Cobb
had to deliver before they were in q posi-
ton to demand a big salary The same
Is true of Hal Chase and Il large number
of other new big league stars. Only the
other day Jack Warhop. a youthful
pitcher, scorned 81. 500 contract sent him
by Detroit. He wants s.. 400 or he won I
play. Well. If he waits for the s.. 4OO he
won't play with the Tigers next year. and
that's no idle dream. Last year WARRIOR
received less than 500 for five months
work. The minor leaguers generally state
in their letters that they received as much
money as the big league contract calls
for with a class or c club. as the case
may be. Little do they realize that their
minor league contracts with their John
Hancocks Affixed and calling for $500 or
$3.50 are in the possession of their new
owners. Still, they turn down the S1,UO