The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-03-20
SHOT IS
FIRED IN BIG
BASEBALL WAR
SuitIs Filed by Federal League to
Secure Catcher KiIlifer

Grand Rapids, Mich, March 2O.-The
first legal shot Of the baseball war Of
1914 was fired here today by the Fed
eral league in filing a petition with
the United States District court for the
Western District Of Michigan asking
for an injunction to restrain William j.
! Killifer Jr, formerly catcher Of the
Philadelphia Nationals, from playing
baseball with any club other than the
Chicago Federals.
Kilifer signed three year con-
tract with the Chicago Federals but
afterward was persuaded that the re-
serve clause in his old contract with
the Philadelphia club held him legally
to Philadelphia, and he joined his for
mer team. The suit involves the Legal
ty of the reserve clause, long regard
ed as one Of the bulwarks of organ
lied baseball. The suit was brought
in the Western Michigan district be-
cause Killifer is resident of Paw
Paw. Mich.
After reciting the organization OF
the Chicago Federal League baseball
club, for the purpose Of maintaining a
baseball club. the bill declared that il
was necessary TO engage the services
Of baseball players Of unique and eX-
traordinary skill and expertness
among whom was the defendant" B'uI
Killfer.
Big Salary offered Player
The complaint which was signed by
Charles Weeghman. president Of the
Chicago Federal League Baseball club,
told of the signing OF the contract by
killfcr in which he agreed to play for
three years for the Chicago Federals
for "a total Of S17,500, or $6,S33.33 a
year. The contract, a copy OF which
was attached TO the petition for an en-
Joining order, expressly stipulated. the
court was informed, that Killfer
agreed To devote his entire time and
attention to the service of the Chicago
Federals. The court was Informed
that $500 was advanced to Killifer on
account, and was accepted by him, and |
is still retained.
Failure to report for practice, in ac-
cordancs with his contract, was al
legged against Killfer.
The bin then set forth the informa-
tion that baseball team consist Of |
nine regular players, besides substi-
tutes, each Of whom play i'm different |
position, To wit: pitcher, catcher. first |
base second base, short stop, third |
base rightfeld, center field, and left !
field that one of the priu-
cipal position ON baseball team is
that of catcher. that on account of its /
Importance and of the extraordinary
skill, adaptability and training neces-
sary for the expert playing of this po-
sition it is more difficult to secure an
expert catcher than any of other
players"
Tribute to killifer's Skill.
\ tribute To the ability of Catcher
killifer was contained i'm paragraph
which informed the court that the de-
fendant is a baseball player, To Wit:
a catcher, of unique and extraordinary
skill and eXpcrtncss, and of such per-
sonal and intellectual character that
his loss cannot be substantially COM
pensated for by the services Of some
other baseball catcher
The bill set forth that the Chicago
Federals will suffer irreparable injury
unless a restraining order issues en-
Joining Catcher Kilifer from playing
with clubs other than the Chicago
Federals and more particularly with
the Philadelphia Nationals, with whom
the complainant believes Kllifer il
now in active practice in preparation
for the opening of the baseball season.
Judge Sessions is absent from the
city, and it is impossible to secure a
temporary restraining order The
prayer for this was stricken out anl
instead April 3 was fixed as the date
for hearing the question of a tempor-
arN iufunCfion