Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-25
MUST
DEVELOP STARS
SAYSSA|M CRANE
Failure of American and National
Players to Jump Means Work
for New League.
By Sam Crane.
row that the Federal League is

reports in signing the star
players whom they most desire 10
boom the new organization, an 90
uortunity will be afforded ii for the
development of young players, and
mis- is a chance the Federal League
officials should not ignore.
Not only will they relieve them
selves of much hurtful antagonism,
nut many players who will be of great
value in the future will have been
brought out, the field for develop
ment having been greatly broadened.
The new league, if it adopts this
p,an will make many friends and
place itself on a more substantial
basis than if it sticks to the raiding
Of players of organized baseball The
stigma of outlawry makes a very bad
start for any new organization. 1t is
handicap that should be avoided i
possible.
All the clubs in organized baseball
consider their players under reserva
ton as their chief assets, whether
legally so or not is a question that
is not to be discussed in this article,
but the clubs under the National
agreement are sure to make a big
fight to protect their interests and
player possessions as they are now
doing and stealing marches on their
new rivals. The fight, too, will be
carried to the bitter end If the plan
Of wholesale raiding is the policy tc
he adopted and players under con
tract are induced to do the hurdle
act.
Have Played Best Card
That players have not flocked like
sheep to the new league, as its pro-
motors anticipated with so much con-
IoI ra1 N
ker. Brown and Knabe, ought to con-
vince them that they have played
their only ace and had nothing, net
even the sentiment and well wishes
If the baseball public in their new
venture, to back up their first play
The American and National Leagues
are altogether too well fortified finan-
cially with their big war fund for the
Federals to make Roadway in battle
for supremacy on a general raidlnS
proposition or policy. This fact NAV
not appeal to the visionary minded
and overenthusiastic promoters just
now, but it will surely as they get
deeper and deeper into the holes they
are digging for themselves
They have met their first setback
and 1t is a tough Que. toby the
players as a general thing refusing
10 listen to their inducements, no
matter how f1owery and enticing.
The ball players of to-day are
thinking lot of men, and so 1t mas
heen a surprise to me that so rev OIL
the young players have refused 10
cast their lots with the new organiza-
ton and throw over a certainty lot
an experiment. The oldsters VINO
have signed, and who have only a
very short baseball career ahead OIL
them at the most, looked after them-
selves pure and simple, and while they
may be accused of disloyalty TO the
game that has made ,nem, still that
is the worst that can be said of them
and l can not see how they can ne
blamed for securing. all they could IN
their declining years as players.
Veterans Taking Chances.
They have signed their contracts to
play with the Federal League WITH
their eyes wide open, and know the
consequences if the new organization
makes a losing fight.
If there is a chance for third big
league let the Federals prove it, ana
II they win out by fair means they
will have earned their spurs, and in
all fairness by right minded and non
prejudiced people be welcomed Tor
what they are worth, and that VIII
mean able to cope with their rivals IN
all that goes to make up-to-date
baseball, and the fans of to-day have
been catered to most lavishly and llo-
orally. and are very eXacting in con-
sequence.
The Federal Leagues only chance
now to make any real showing
against their strong and well foru
fed rivals is to develop young play
ers and there is just as good oppor-
tunity for it to bring out stars as
their rivals, and if they do, both the
organization and players will receive
Que recognition.
Ii was the Players League in 1891
mat forced the National League to
dig up and develop an entirely new
crop of young players, and the ola
eague did so with grand success
such great stars as Amos Rus1e,
KID Nichols. Herman Long and
many others of almost equal note
We're direct results of the Brother
hood war. and possibly but for that
strife those players would never have
been prominently heard OF. just for
Iack of opportunity TO demonstrate
their abilities.
The present . war will doubtless
prove another blessing in disguise to
Young players by affording them the
chances they otherwise might not
nave The Federals should awake
100, and grasp the opportunity. The
neld is open to them, and instead OF
lneir league becoming an asylum for
players of declining ability, 1t would
branch out as help to the sport and
promoter of it's future success in
stead of an obstacle II would gain