The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-14
As
TO KINGS CASE
Followers of Game Wondering
How Catcher Will Fare Be-
fore Tribunal.
MANY SIMILAR CASES
Mike Kelley and Hal Chase Were
in Same Position-Abselute
Power in Commission.

CHICAGO, Feb. 14--Will the ma
tional commission establish a prece-
dent in organized baseball by render
Ing decision unfavorable to Johnny
King, the Cub hold-out now on the
blacklist, who has applied for read
mission to the fold? This Is a ques-
tion that Is bothering the fans these
days and, judging from the talk
about baseball headquarters, the one
time Cub star lie certain to encounter
rough shedding before he lands back
in good standing minus the black
mark which now bedecks his name
in tho records of the court ruled o1er
~ Garry Hermann.
The fact that the national commits
sion Is without opposition in the
world OF baseball at the present time
makes 1t appear certain that 1t will
make use of its authority when the
time comes to pass upon the king
case. Up to this year there existed
on the Pacific coast the OUTLAW"
league, which seriously hampered the
work of the commission and a pfae-
tice Of granting concessions to players
who had kicked the traces was fol-
lowed by those in charge of the at
fairs of organized baseball.
Chase's Ofyense.
This was exemplified in the case
of Hal Chase, who committed a most
| fragrant otfense by jumping from the
New York Americans to the Cali
fornia League, only to be restored to
good standing short time afterward,
none the worst for his rash act. This
| was done with the one hope OF even
| tually wearing down the opposition
| to the national agreement. and finally
proved effectual, as last fall the out
laws"were taken into the fold. leav-
| ing the Jurisdiction of the great ma
tional game under one tribunal. the
| national commission.
Since Killing sent in his request to
| Garry Herman for consideration OF
| his case with the purpose Of seeking
| the good graces of the high tribunal,
stories have sprung up regarding the
| Chase and Mike Kelley incidents. In
| which the commission fought a losing
| battle. Chase was out on a charge
of jumping in the middle of the 1908
season, when he left the Highlanders
/ to play with the California outlaw
| league. Mike Kelley was in the same
boat as Is King at the present time,
and his restoration was due more to
an error OF the St Louis club than
to anything else. Kelley refused to
report to the st. Louis Americans In
| 1905, and as result was kept out
OF organized ball for two seasons. re-
turning when the Mound City cluh
| failed 10 place his name on the reserve
list through oversight. practically re-
| linquishing claim to him.
Commissions Power.
In the face of these two yerdicts
lie has been stated that the commits
sion is hardly likely to turn arounc
and refuse concessions to king tna'
were granted to the others. Condt-
lions have changed since then, how
| ever, and apparently this has beer
overlooked, as the national agree
ment is now absolute in its power
and for this reason the commission
will no longer be forced to take a
conciliatory attitude toward violators
of the rules that govern baseball.
In the event of Killing being turned
down in his request for reinstatement
II will be the first case OF this nature
in which the commission has won out
due to the fact that opposition to
organized ball In a thing of the past,
and the trio now headed by Garry
Herman are In a position to govern
| absolutely without the wayward
| PLAYERS having the OUTLAW" league:
to fall back upon.