The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-23
Demand for Pay by Players May
Force Owners to Taboo
Camps
NAVIN SAYS LEAGUES
WOULD LIKE TO DO so
Would Require Players to Re-
port in Shape on Own
Hook
By RALPH L. YONKER.


ers' fraternity to coerce the baseball
mAgnates into paying them salaries
during the time they are on spring
training trips" unused Frank Nayin
president OF the Tigers, today. as he
swung around on his swiveled chair
out at the baseball office.
His musing was in response TO a
suggestion that the players were go
ing to make the nsagnates cough up
pay for the time spent IN the south
The baseball fraternity. II - reported,
has threatened to do that
The players side OF the story that
he ought to be paid for the time he
puts In for the club. is interesting. SO
is the magnates'
President Nayin's remarks follow:
Il believe that an attempt by the
men TO force us to pay them their sal
aries, as well as expenses, during the
southern trips would result in the
saving of over 100000 a year TO the
two major leagues | believe that IL
would result in the abandonment or
organized training trips by the clubs.
Each club now spends from $4,000
to $4,000 yearly simply 10 get its
men into condition for early spring
dates. II the men demanded pay
think the magnates would simply say:
Gentlemen, you may report TO us
April 10 to begin the baseball season
in condition. No fat, no poor wind,
no weak legs. no sore arms. You
must be in shape or you get no pay.
our salary starts when you are in
condition TO play baseball.
In the days when such men as
Jennings, Charlie Bennett, Sam
Thompson, or even Jim Casey, were
playing, the men conditioned Them
selves In the spring by gymnasium
work done at their own time and eX-
pense and Inconvenience. There were
no training trips The owners said
Report In shape and the men re-
ported.
They didn't send the men south at
the clubs expense and give them a
month or six weeks at good hotels
and Pullmans TO get into condition.
IL was the clubs who started the
training trips as benefit to the play
ers and now they threaten TO make
us pay for their time
There isn't a magnate who cares q
snap OF his fingers whether the men
go south or not as long as they APP
pear at the beginning of the season in
shape to play ball The value or
every man lies in the services he rem
ders. II the player cannot play base
ball, he won't be played. II he isn't
In condition at the beginning OF the
year. he can't play.
For my part believe that spring
training trips are of little value eX-
cept to pitchers, anyway. II does do
them good IN getting them into shape
But the other men can get in condi.
ton in the north IL need be.
IT was thought once that the spring
trip was good chance to get a line
on the youngsters. However, we have
come to the conclusion that il is bet
ter to have the youngsters report
late in the fall than early in the
spring as far as getting a line on their
abilities is concerned. You can GER
tainly see better what they can do
when they are in the best shape in
the fall than when they are just get
ting hardened up in the spring.
so II seems 10 be unfair that the
players should even mention the
spring training affair. Last year the
old Tigers reported about as their
best judgment dictated that they
should. They were men OF experience
and should have known when they
were in shape. II players should make
good in their threats that | hear 10
ask for pay they may be asked TO re-
port in shape without southern
trip"
While the National league Is being
all stirred up over the Murphy and
Fogel controversies, the American
league clubs are peacefully planning
to send out their contracts 20 players
and conducting the usual routine Of
business.
The chief difference between the
two leagues is In presidents. The next
difference Is in magnates. Otherwise
the leagues are much the same.
The difference In presidents makes
difference In amount OF scraps in the
organizations that Is amazing. Ban
ohnson rs president OF the league,
practically for life His thirty-year
contract has 20 years to run YET.
Nothing but his resignation or death
can GUST him from his position. lie
has no fear whatever OF his job. He
does as he sees fit, knowing that his
Is in good for good
The magnates have absolute conf
dence I'm ohnson They know that ne
ran and has made mistakes. Ea
nagnate is likely to he temporarily
embarrassed now and then by his ac
tons But each magnate is willing Z
Ike that chance for he knows that 10
the long run, ohnson will be OF bene
nj TO the league
The American league magnates are
better baseball business men. They
haven't woman owner in the league
10 contend with, which is always al
annoyance The magnates have conf
dence I'm each other.
II is little wonder that the Nationa
league is in turmoil while the Ame.i
can sails peacefully on
Saturdays Divorce Grist.
judge Hosmer granted divorces "
the following ca ses.' saturday. Ethel 10
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