The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-07-22

being the best of the three In going
outward and catching balls over his
head.
Baseball Law.
Understand in the first place that
baseball claw" is illegal, contrary to
civil law, in direct violation Of the
federal laws regulating combines and
the black list, and in principle, direct
ly in defiance of the Constitution of
the Rights Of Man. Yet, because of
the nature of the peculiar business,
the greater part of baseball law is
necessary.
Having accumulated at great ex-
pense and enormous labor a baseball
team capable of winning, and upon
which depends the value of large in
vestments in land and structures, the
owner Of a club Is entitled to some
protection. And from the first 1t has
been the principle of all baseball or
CARNATIONS that there shall never be
an appeal to civil law. No contract,
drawn in the form adopted in orga-
nized baseball, will hold in civil law.
The owners of clubs playing under the
National Agreement openly bind them
selves to the policy Of blacklisting Of
Tending players and depriving them by
written conspiracy from their e
of making q livelihood. They enforce
their claims of absolute ownership OF
the services Of players by an .iron-clad
agreement never to employ any player
who in any way offends against the
other parties to the agreement and
compel the players to sign contracts
which, In theory and effect, are life
contracts and are unconstitutional.
These facts are indisputable and
admitted. Baseball club owners and
officials have placed themselves be-
yond civil law by agreement; have
pledged themselves not to appeal to
the courts, and to punish anyone who
makes such. appeal. They Justify this
action on the grounds of the peculiar
nature of the business.
The theory upon which basebalps
legal code was framed was the pre-
lection of the weak leagues, the re-
striction of salaries within the means
of each league, the prevention of con
tract jumping and violation OF agree
one major league pitcher who re-
ceived So, 500 a season. In a game he
hit the manager of another club three
times with pitched balls, finally injur-
ing him severely. The manager &C
cused him of hitting him purposely.
Two years later the manager traded
for the pitcher, offered him a salary of
$500. explaining that he was getting
revenge, and drove the man out of
baseball.
The players do not oppose baseball
law, regarding some final court as
necessary to the welfare of the game.
1t is the frequent abuse of the power
and its use to Cypress that foments
the rebellious spirit among the play
ers. One constant scource of friction is
the rule governing reporting for spring
training. Many players have other
business interests and object to spend
ing six weeks training, without pay,
when the time might be profitably oc-
cupied. Their contracts require them
to report at a stipulated time before
their salaries begin, and special laws
provide fines for failure to do SO.
Recently laws have been enacted by
the commission to prevent players
from engaging in games out of sea-
son, the club owner desiring to re-
tain absolute control ove players for
the IL months of the year. @
The complaint of the players is not
SO much against baseball law itself as
against the manner in which it is ad-
ministered, and against the custom of
not allowing the defendant player an
opportunity to present his side of the
case either to the president OF his
own league or to the national commits
sion. The player who has failed to
report to his club in the spring or
violated (perhaps technically some
fractional part of his contract, finds
himself in trouble. His case Is taken
up behind closed doors by the national
commission and he is fined without a
chance being given him to present q
defense, or to offer an explanation.
A club owner. who is called before the
court, is told to prepare q defense
against the charge which has been
made against him. Frequently the
commission, or one member Of it,
states weeks in advance Of a hearing
what the decision will be, and that
before consulting other members OF
the commission.
Creating 4 Winning Team.
Creating a championship baseball
team is a question Of luck, patience,
brains and money. with patience and
luck the principal elements making.
toward success. Critics Of weak teams
complain always: Why don't they
buy some ball p~layers?" Nothing more
suggestive Of ignorance Of the game
and conditions prevailing was ever
voiced than that wall. The scarcity
|aG.L. &N- - ~ SNNA.