Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-02
PITCHER A|TCH|SON
FORCED TO RETURN
TO DODGERS FOLD
Bengals Lose Star Twirler Be-
cause of Big League
Rules.
WILL PROBABLY LEAVE
NEWARKERS AUGUST Is
President Ebbets, of Brooklyn,
in Statement Declares This
Action Is Compulsory.

Raleigh Aitchison, the star pitcher
OF the Newark Baseball Club, will
ne recalled by Brooklyn on August
10. President Charles H. Ebbets, of
the Brooklyn National League Club,
and part owner of the Newark Inter
national League franchise, makes a
direct statement today explaining to
the Newark fans his object in recall
ing Altchison, 1t was reported that
the Newark Club would not allow
Aitchison to return to Brooklyn un-
less Pitcher Clifford Curtiss came
mere. President Ebbets has full con-
troll of the matter, and his statement
published below shows that he has
been fair to the Newark public. His
statement follows:
Ebbet's Statement
Considerable has been published in
various papers recently relative to
the desperate scheming' of the
Brooklyn Club to take Pitcher Aitchi-
son from the Newark Club and how
unfair and unjust is was for the
Brooklyn Club to think of taking this
player before the close of the Inter-
national League season on Septem-
Der 81.
1T Is proper and fair to all con-
cerned that the real facts should be
explained to the baseball public of
Newark. When we purchased con-
trolling interest in the Newark Club,
1t was with two objects in view, as
stated in the public press at the
time, viz; First to give the Newark
public first-class baseball team,
operated along proper line, and next,
II any player or players developed
sufficiently for them to advance in
their profession, then in justice to
the player and the Brooklyn Club.
we were to have first call on the SER
vices of the players so developed.
Now there are several Newark
players who seem ripe for major
league berths and the increased sal
aries that go with the advancement,
one of whom is Raleigh Aitchison.
The Brooklyn Club purchased Aitchi-
sons release some three years ago
and we have carefully looked after
his development ever since, placing
him under such wise baseball mana
gers as Johnny Dobbs, of Montgom-
cry, in 1912, and this year under Har-
fy Smith.
II believe every baseball fan VIII
concede that Aitchison should secure
q major league berth and | doubt
if any one will deny that Brooklyn
is entitled to his services. This be-
ing the case, then the important
question to the Newark public is how
long can Newark retain him in order
to assist in winning it's first cham
pionship, which has been made pos
sible by the wise assistance of the
Brooklyn club.
"It has been said that the Brooklyn
club erred in not placing Aitchison
with the Newark club under an op-
tional agreement, which would have
permitted the player to remain with
the Newark club to the close of their
season and report to the Brooklyn
, club on September 22. This was i'm
possible under Section B, Rule 13, of
the National Commission, relative to
transfer of title to a player which |
quote herewith:
"A player recalled under an op-
tional agreement, or who has been in
the service of a major league club
for season. shall not be subject to
release again under an optional
agreement
Can't Have Optional Agreement.
"Aitchison was recalled under an
optional agreement from the Mont
gomery club in 1912, therefore, as per
Rule 13 above quoted, Brooklyn
could not place him this year with
Newark under an optional agreement
1t has been incorrectly stated by
one not familiar with baseball laws
that Brooklyn could purchase the
players release with a condition in
serted that the player was to remain
with the Newark club to the close of
the International League season.
This, too, is impossible, as a careful
reading of the following rule of the
National Commission relative to the
transfer of titles to a player will
prove
"'Rule 14-When a major league
club releases a player on whom 1t has
previously exercised an option and re-
purchases his services, such player
must report to the purchasing club
on or before August Is following such
repurchase or be subject to selection
from the minor league club with
which he Is playing after that date
"But even though the player had
never been under the control of the
Brooklyn club. contract cannot be
made at this time with the Newark
club for the release of a player with
clause inserted permitting the
player to remain with the Newark
club to the close of the season, this
being covered by Article VI. of the
national agreement as follows:
"'Article VI, Section THE sale or
league club to a major or minor
league club within twenty days of
the commencement of or during the
drafting period is prohibited. At any
other time a major league club may
purchase the release of player from
a minor league club to take effect
at once or at specified date, not
beyond the beginning of the succeed
ing season. Provided, however, that
if the selling club be member of
league in Class AA, delivery of the
player, unless he shall have been Sc
cured by it under an approved OPP
tional agreement, permitting his re-
tention to the close of the season,
mus - made forthwith
1--WE shall take Aitchison, as we
have a right to do on the very last
day possible which will probably be
August % There are several more
PLAYERS of the Newark club we should
, like to have. but under Article vi,
Section L of the national agreement.
we hesitate to take the players. as
II might iniure the Newark clubs
prospects of winning the Interna-
tional league championship.
nHaAI TuIEn IN Alto