The Detroit times., 1914-01-08
President Navin, of Detroit, An.
ticipates Most of Frat
Requests
CASE OF DELAHANTY Is
SIMILAR TO CRAWF0RD'S
Jtmdei Was Given Unc0nditiOn-
al Release and Sold His
Own Services
BY RALPH L. YONKEB.

- HERE wasn't thing asked for
by the Players fraternity IN
= their demands made upon the
commission that was granted or not
granted that will have any effect
whatever on the Tigers.
Everything that was reasonable
has been or would have been granted
them anyway by President Nayin.
The players enorts were useless as
! far as the Detroit CLUB is concerned
~ II had anticipated them IN many
things.
However, there are probably some
players that will benefit by some OF
the rulings. not all of the magnates
being OF the caliber OF Frank Nayin
of the Detroit club.
Here Is an example OF the demands
OF the fraternity and how similar
cases have been treated in the past
The players demand that when a
player has been in service 10 years
or more he shall be given his uncon-
ditional release provided the club
owning him doesn't want TO retain
him and no other club in the league
wants him.
Sam Crawford is the only Tiger TO
BE- Immediately effected by this rui-
ing. Crawford began playing with
the Detroit club in 1903. According
to the concession OF the commission,
sem must be kept by the Detroit club,
released TO some other club II the
league or given his unconditional re-
lease.
James Delahanty was in major
league baseball over 10 years when
the Tigers felt forced to let him go.
Al managers job was sought for
Jeems but the club he wanted TO go
td made arrangements for another
man. So Del was given his uncondi-
tional release and allowed TO dispose
OF himself He finally decided TO go
to Minneapolis.
George Mullin is another example.
the only other man employed by
Navin who would have come under
the ruling Mullin was released TO
Washington. SO that Detroit fulfilled
the demand OF the players. Washing
ton sold him TO Montreal, but that
was Washington's business. not De-
troit's.
Sam Crawford would have been
given his unconditional release by
Navin IL he couldn't be sent 70 some
other club in the league anyway.
Navin has made this statement pub
holy and has repeated IT since the
fraternity presented their demands.
= s FAR as the demand OF the
~ players that they shall be no
y - tiAad oP t.,afyarc bafpp aGkad
Is concerned, II would really do no
harm TO allow 1t without comment.
There are only eight men In each
league who would have 10 get togeth-
er and pledge themselves to offer men
for sale among themselves quietly.
This Is one OF the main uses OF the
weiver--to try other clubs sentiments
I'M regard to its players. Surprising
N&vin has player that he believes
he can trade for John Doe on the
Cleveland club. He asks for waivets
on his player. He finds that Cleve-
land and Chicago refuse to waive. He
knows then that there Is a chance TO
make the trade or sale he desires.
He withdraws waivers and PROCEEDS
to conduct negotiations for the sale.
Now do away with the secret waiver
and the club presidents can merely
offer their men for sale at the waiver
price, $4,000. TO see II they Can get
any takers.
There seems 10 be an easy way TO
evAde the waiver demands OF the
players.
~ ETROIT and other American
league players have always
been furnished uniforms. al
though there was no rule making II
possible for them TO demand them.
The National league players furnished
their own uniforms.
Detroit players have been given
their spring training transportation
~ demanded by the fraternity.
Navin field has blank green wall
I. that furnishes the background for bat
( 4ofp. as demanded The only adver-
thn no tt,os