Evening journal., 1911-12-11
new RULES
FOR BASEBALL
Tri-State viii Take Up the
Troublesome Salary QueS-
tiOn First
HECKERT FIGHTS The OP-
TIONAL AGREEMENT CLAUSE

While the footbtll experts are talk
ing about proposed changes in the
rules, baseball magnates are also busy
on a number of changes which will
come up at the league meetings to
be held during December and Janu-
airy.
If all the changes referred to are
adopted, the game will need careful
study in order to understand it. How
ever, those who are responsible for
the success of the national game are
of the opinion that the game will not
need many important changes.
In the Tri-State there is a desire
to have a salary limit of about $4,000.
with no individual limit, and allow
ing each team fourteen men. Some
of the Tri-State managers are of the
opinion that with $4,000 limit the
league would be better, as, figuring on
fourteen men, a general opinion pre-
walls that each team could count on
four pitchers and two catchers. It was
in the batteries that most of the Tri-
State teams we're weak last season
and the cry was that good men could
not be had for the money paid.
There is also some talk about
changing the contract which players
are obliged to sign. This is advocated
by only a few managers, but the play
ers are almost unanimous in favor of
a contract that will give them some
rights. Baseball men frequently have
admitted that the form of players S
contract in vogue in all the major and
minor leagues-under the perfection
of organized baseball"-will not
stand the test in a court of law for
the reason that it contains a ten days
notice of release clause, while the
player, under compulsion, must give
an option on his services for the fol-
lowing year. In short. the player can
be held for an idofnite period at a
salary dictated by his employer or he
can be discharged in midseason with
no chance to collect salary after the
expiration of the stipulated ten days
: while also he can be sent to any other
r club which may buy his release with
= out his consent.
Little Redress i'm Court.
In the cases of players who threat
en- court proceedings and appear tC
have money and influential friends tc
help them the magnates usually show
a willingness to compromise rather
than have the contract torn to shred'
in court. But i'm many cases recall
citrant players have been gradual,
forced to obscurity after resorting e
such methods, so that the rank ant
file have become resigned to existing
1 conditions rather than get thcmselve
into a pack of trouble.
Heckert Opposes Option.
. George W. Heckert. part owner an
- manager Of the Trenton Tri-Stat
D League club, is decidedly opposed 4
: the optional agreement adopted b.
the league at il recent session Il
/ Harrisburg. Heckert says he has beel
! quoted as favorable to the farming
2 plan. but that on the contrary, he il
not in favor Of it.
! Another thing that Heckert says h
n objects to is the continual breaking
{ of the Tri-State League rules, tn
4 making of exceptions" in order Il
favor some of the weaker clubs.
/ The Tri-State adopted a rul
5 whereby there could be but one play
n ing manager and then straightwa,
broke it to allow Reading to start tn
n season with Coughlin and COckill las
- year." the Trenton man continued
@ "The result was the race was one
sided throughout the season. Certai
Il clubs Eave been permitted to brea'
o the rules since I have been a mem
ber of the league and the result !
4 that other clubs find it mighty har
@ to compete with those teams receiy
S ing the favors. Consequently, patron
o of the games become disgusted wit
h the team and the manager and the al
tendance falls off.
= What this league needs is a bus
=, ness meeting. not a baseball meet
z. ing"
Il Ramsey Also Sore.
= Hank Ramsey is another man VIII
= is sore on the Tri-state. Hank
trying his best to break away frol
" the Carpenter fold and may purchas
. the franchise of the Syracuse club
the New York State League. Han
q has an option on the Saline City teal
, and may close the deal for the pui
NJ chase at the baseball meetings in Ne
York city this week. He is also aftt
n an option on the Troy franchis
Hank has sold his cigar store in Hai
g risburg. and from now on will devol
his entire time to baseball.
- Another familiar face expected
- vanish from Tri-State League affall
-, within short time is that of Mar
- Hogan, the peppery little lrishma
who for two seasons past has iaal
aged the Lancaster team. Hogan h;
dissolved partnership with "Snak'
4 Deal. the former Tri-State first bas
man, i'm a cigar store and pool roo
in the Red Rose City. and is plai
ming to return to his home at Young
AZ town, Ohio Hogan has no plans 4
~ 1912, he states.
Altoona Indifferent.
of They are still having trouble up
e- Altoona With a manager to
r. chosen and a bond to be furnished. O
IS 80 stockholders of the team cam
ie, even be assembled in a meeting to 81
ed whether they want the club TO rema
in the circuit next year or not. lie
100 than a quorum attended the meetil
be called last week.
nd
he he BELMONT WANTS