The Detroit times., 1910-11-25

was professionally introduced. IL was
conceived and drafted by A. g. NILS.
who was the first chairman OF the
National board.
First of Reserve Rule.
The reserve rule was first adopted
by the National league about 1880
IL gave each league club The right
at the end Of every playing season To
name five OF its players With whom
such club alone would have the right
20 negotiate for their services for the
following season.
or course. there being no National
agreement or central power, such
reservation was respected only by Ma
tional agreement clubs and the newly
organized American association or
1882 made war on the leagues reserve
list. which more than any orher cause
led up TO the conference or the fall
OF that year.
When the National agreement was
formed and adopted, this reserve rule
was Incorporated and the number OF
reservations accorded 10 each club
was increased 10 eleven. The number
was afterwards raised to a figure
which practically meant the entire
team.
The object OF the rule was to pre-
serve teams intact from year To year
after they had been brought up to a
degree OF efficiency worth preserya-
ton, and TO make impossible the de-
structiye practices OF tempting good
players by offers of fabulous salaries
TO desert cities where they had made
| ftia L. Ir a
salaries within money-making bounds
and checked the tendency among the
players 20 gradually demand such
sums for their services as could not
be taken In at the gate.
First Rebellion Of Players.
In 1854 the Union association was
organized and the first revolt Of the
players took place. II disbanded az
ter It's FIRST year.
In 1890 the second revolt of the
players against the reserve rule and
other things developed and the Broth
erhood OF Players league came into
existence. Like the Union associa.
ton, the Players league lasted but
one season.
In 1891 the American association
took exception to the decision in The
National board in a dispute over the
players, Bierhauer and Stoyey. and
withdrew from the National agree
ment compact Another struggle fol-
: lowed and again the National agree
ment forces Won.
Passing of American Association.
Ia the winter OF that year peace
conference was held AZ indianapolis
which resulted in the National league
buying out four OF the American asso-
citation clubs and taking the other goor
into partnership. thus wiping out all
opposition and combining the major
league teams under the one banner
The next ripple on the sea Of or
ganized baseball came in 1900 when
the American league managers in
vaded National league territory.
The Cincinnati peace compact which
ended this war between the National
league and American league was
signed in Cincinnati on Jan. 10. 1903,
by:
Harry c. Pulliam, B. B. Johnson,
Aug. Hermann, Charles A Com skey
James A. Hart, Charles w. Somers,
Frank DeHass Robson and II. j. XII
Flea
Al TINS meeLlng IL was aiSO agreed
that the circuits Of each league should
consist OF the following cities: Ameri-
can league--Boston. New York, Phla-
delphia Washington, Cleveland De
troit, Chicago and St Louis Nation.
al league-Bostcn, New York. Brook
Ign, Philadelphia, Pittsburg. Chicago
St Louis and Cincinnati Neither cir
suit ii was agreed should he changed
without the consent Of the majority OF
the clubs OF each league. It was fur
Their provided that there should be no
consolidation I'm any city where two
clubs exist: nor should any club
transfer or release its players for the
purpose Of iujurmg or weakening the
league Of which II IS member.
The National agreement for the GOV
eminent OF professional baseball was
entered into between the National ana
American leagues aud the National as
ISOLATION, at Cincinnati, Ohio Sept
H. 1903. and II was changed some
what and revised on Jan 1908.
Copyright. 1910. by The National
Game Publishing Coz.
II might be well to add that the