The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-25

any other idea which has been
brought into the game since the sport
was professionally introduced. II was
conceived and drafted by A. q. Mills,
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.
II gave each league club the right
at the end of every playing season to
name Ave OF its players with whom
such club alone would have the right
TO 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 of
1882 made war on the leagues reserve
list. which more than any other cause
led up to the conference OF the fall
of that year.
When the National agreement was
formed and adopted, this reserve rule
was incorporated and the number OF
reservations accorded to each club
was increased TO 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 preserva-
ton, and to make impossible the de-
structive practices OF tempting good
players by offers of fabulous salaries
to desert cities where they had made
regulations and friends. 1t also kept
salaries within money-making bounds
and checked the tendency among the
players to gradually demand such
sums for their services as could not
be taken in at the gate.
First Rebellion Of Players.
In 1884 the Union association was
organized and the first revolt OF the
players took place. 1t disbanded af-
ter its 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, Bierbauer and Stovey, and
withdrew from the National agree
ment compact. Another struggle fol-
/ lowed and again the National agree
ment forces won.
Passing Of American Association.
H.,
conference was held at indianapolis,
| which resulted in the National league
buying out four OF the American asso-
citation clubs and taking the other four
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. Comiskey
James A. Hart, Charles w. Somers,
Frank DeHass Robson and II. J. Kill
lilea.
At this meeting 1t was also agreed
that the circuits of each league should
consist of the followin gcities: Ameri-
can league-Boston, New York, Phila-
delphia Washington, Cleveland, De-
troit, Chicago and st. Louis. Nation
al league-Boston, New York, Brook
Ign, Philadelphia. Pittsburg, Chicago,
st. Louis and Cincinnati. Neither cir
suit, 1t was agreed, should be changed
without the consent Of the majority of
the clubs of each league. II was fur
Their provided that there should be no
consolidation In any city where two
clubs exist; nor should any club
transfer or release It's players for the
purpose OF injuring or weakening the
league OF which II is a member.
The National agreement for the gov
eminent Of professional baseball was
entered into between the National and
American leagues and the National as
ISOLATION, at Cincinnati, Ohio. Sept.
IL, 1903, and 1t was changed some
what and revised on Jan. 1. 1908.
Copyright, 1910. by The National
Game Publishing Coz.
1t might be we'll to add that the
National agreement was so thor
oughly made and so pleasing to all
interested that II is in force today
and there Is no baseball league In the
United States outside its Jurisdiction.
The last league to come In was the
Pacific Coast, which settled It's differ
ences with the organization shortly
after Bill LANCE went to the coast ut
the instance Of the National commits
sion In the summer OF 1908. Since
then there has been no outlaw"
leagues and there has been steady
Increase IN the amount OF players sal
aries in spite of the fact that base
ball Is a trust.