The Washington herald., 1913-07-27

ball, in general has shared that pros
perity.
To the untiring efforts of Barrow IS
| largely due the fact that the three most
powerful minor leagues are graded
higher than had been the case before he
| assumed office. The more exalted rating
| carried with 1t any number of advan-
tageous privileges. The Class A A clubs
are not only better protected in every
| way. but the new order of things made
| compulsory a revision of rating and priv
| ileges all the way down the line from
| the two major circuits to the mort OBJ
| scure brush organizations. In short.
new working agreement had to be
framed; more up-to-date peace pact, as
IL were.
i. Real Champion.
Barrow has already done quite enough
| for minor league. baseball to establish
his name as a real champion of the
cause. But he is not a man who is con-
tent to live on reputation. He purposes
next year TO inaugurate the most radi-
cal changes In the hope of solving the
principal disadvantages under which the
big family of the national pastime now
tolls. Barrow has the nerve to try a
scheme which, IL successful, is bound to
do no less than revolutionize the ad-
ministration of the game.
League next spring will be pooled at
the spring schedule meeting after they
have all been put under contract The
various magnates will cast lots for first
choiceA They will draw for the various
prizes Of the circuit. Barrow believes
that in this way. and only in this way
will 1t be possible to distribute the tai
ent as evenly as possible among the
various club owners He believes that
will S,, 4,
better balanced organization. That
every team will have a chance for the
pennant, and that the resulting closer
competitions should prove more inter-
esting to fandom in general and more
remunerative to the magnates.
Remedy for Drn wback.
II the International League club own
ers have the nerve to indorse the
scheme Of their president. it will at
least assure fine trial of the proposed
remedy for many OF the present draw
backs of the game. The experiment
should be worth a great deal for ad-
vertising purposes alone. 1t would at
tract more attention to the Interna-
tional League than to either Of the big
leagues.
Barrow's theory appears most sound
one. So far 1t is only theory. II 1t would
stand the acid test in the minor league 1t
is certainty 1t would be welcomed in the
big show. There is no more discouraging
element in the promotion of major league
baseball than the seeming inability Of
second division clubs to secure competent
talent The New York American club is
a very good illustration OF this. In the
last five years Frank Farrell has spent
fortunes trying to build up a losing club
Today 1t is right where ii was in 1906
away back in the ruck. All his money
has been thrown away. There is abso-
lutely no sentiment in baseball Not a
rival manager would give Frank Chance
worn out bat bag If he thought IL
would serve later to help the Peerless
Leader win game from him. 1t is al
most impossible to dig major league class
from the bushes. Talent has TO be de-
veloped. There Is a dearth of material
not enough good players to go round Ana
naturally minor league clubs with some
thing to sell prefer to do business with
the successful major outfits not because
the market is any better but because of
the fact that their stars are more likely
to be turned back again at some sort of
sound profit.
Farming stin Continues.
The principles Of organized baseball are
quite sound and just enough. But there
are too many loopholes for evasion. Even
the roster limits are not conscientiously
observed. In spite OF the national COM
MISSIONS vigilance, wholesale farming
continues. Every big league club has
raft of embryo stars covered up as an
emergency reserve. Nothing can be
done to stop il. Players who might help
the weaker clubs are kept on the |
benches of the flag conten srs or planted |
out somewhere in such a manner that |
they are safe from the dragnet Of rivals. |
II 1t could be proven by fair trail that |
Ed. Barrow's idea is practical. then |
would be solved not only one Of the |
greatest puzzles Of the promoters, but |
one Of the greatest ills of the players as |
well. BY the same stroke would be can
celed the necessary evil Of the reserve |
clause. which has threatened Congress |
sional investigation Of baseball as q |
trust. Baseball contracts as at present
constituted are illegal. They are not |
equitable. A player may be discharged |
on ten days notice; he is bound for ath- |
letics' life to the club with which he |
signs, through the instrument Of reserve. |
That no greater injustices result is dua |
largely to the d-mindedness Of the 1
national commission. Yet in spite Of all, /
injusticess exist.
Take the case of any star ball player |
who is SO unfortunate as to be a MEM \
Der Of a poor club. Rucker, Of Brooklyn. |
ample. Brooklyn could not afford to
pay him as much as could, say, New /
York. There was absolutely no hope for
the future. Bound hand and foot to the
Dodgers. no ray of worlds series sun
shine broke through to cheer him.
Suggests Drawing Plans.
1t should be the best thing in the world |
for players If they were put UP to be
drawn each season There would be far i
more novelty to the life, a better chance
of general advancement in salary be-
cause of ever-changing interest OF fan
dom. and less likelihood Of discomfort in |
the ranks. It might come hard at first /
to give up old idols of years. We all |
would grieve to see the gallant Matty |
go to Chicago. But we might learn sitter
a while to tolerate a Hans Wagner or q |
Johnny Evers in his stead. OF course,
the main objection to such plan would |
come from the champions. who consider
the worlds series prize theirs by right i
of habit. Connie Mack and John Nc
Graw should not be expected to go into /
over Barrow.s scheme. But
even at that these crafty pilots could |
prove their true worth by sitting in at
the draw and by hammering home their
ideas to a new brood Of athletes each