The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-28
RESERVE RULE TO
Benefit BASEBALL

New York, Dec. 2S.---The two major
leagues have widely adopted reserve
roster limit Hereafter no club will lie
able TO carry on it's reserve list more
than thirty-fye players at one time.
Between May 90 and Aug. 20 of each
playing season this number will have
to be temporarily reduced to twenty
five. 1t is now UP to the national COM
mission to see that the major leagues
respect this wise measure, which both
major leagues have adopted
The national commission is composed
of men directly interested in major
league affairs. Two of its three MEM
bers are the presidents of the rival
clubs. Under the circumstances a rule
reported by the commission would
make any violations an fimpossibility.
Until the national commission takes
such action there is no certainty that
either of the major leagues will stick
religiously to the reform. The Nation
al league simply endorsed a measure
which the American league adopted of
its own will. But there must have
been an understanding between the
two. The American league would not
have undertaken the step single hand
ed 1t would have been two a great
sacrifice Of drafting privilege IL 1t was
limited to a few minor league recruits,
while its rival remained unhampered
in number of substiutions.
The American league once adopted
just such a rule, but 1t always remain
ed dead letter. 1t was in the days
when the rival organizations did not
pull together. The National league
competition for players was so keen
that American club owners could not
stand the gaff. The American league
in the old days may have been too
strict. The roster list was placed at
sixteen. That was too few players for
a major league club. Under that rule
it made it impossible for Lajoie, Flick
and Bradley to play in Philadelphia. In
junction proceedings barred the trio of
stars. It was Cleveland that was in
directly responsible for the beginning
Of the end of the defunct American
league roster limit.
Leagues in Harmony Now.
Now it is altogether a different prop
osition. The leagues are in harmony.
A mandate from the national commits
sion would straighten the matter for all
time. An unlimited roster is not only
an injustice to the minor leagues, but
to the playing fraternity as well. Play
ers cannot develop by warming the
Bench Throughout the entire past. sea-
son the Yankees had thirty five active
players. Brooklyn carried thirty-one
and the Giants thirty. Many of these
performers were of absolutely no use
to the club. Their salaries had to be
paid. They had to be toted around at
tremendous expense. Had they been
actively engaged in the best minor
leagues they would not only have bene-
flied baseball in general but improved
the usefulness. of themselves.
The major leagues might even go
step further and limit the roster to
even fewer members than the present
plans go. Twenty-Five players through
out the brunt of the season leaves each
manager with four catchers, ten pitch
ers six infielders and five outfielders.
This gives each club couple of utility
outfielders, as many substitute infield-
ers, and one more catcher than is usu-
ally necessary. Such a staff as ten
pitchers is fully more than is neces-
sary to develop a winning team 1t
leaves any club fully equipped for such
emergency as disaster or any run of
i'll luck.
New Rule Means Saving.
In salaries and other expenses alone
the big league clubs will reap small
fortunes from their enforced economy.
While few majors take south more
than thirty-flve candidates for trial,
some carry that limit well into the
season. The new rule will make the
managers rid themselves as soon as
possible of wholesale talent. The.
wholesale "dribbing' tactics by pur-
chase prior to the drafting season, and
later by draft will save all but the
cream OF minor leaguers from the big
league mills of chance speculation.
Lastly the boon is one for which the
minor leagues have striven in vain for
some time. The implied protection was
granted the big minors last spring at
the famous Cincinnati conference, not
because the majors feared the Ameri-
can association and the eastern leagues
but because the injustice and burden
of unnecessary expense was felt by the
majors. If the plan sizzles now there
will be no one to blame but the ma