The Detroit times., 1914-09-12
QfneIal Draft Doesn't Come I'm
~ September Is. But the
Drawing Is All Over
FEDERAL LEAGUE FORCES
IS MAJORS TO NEW METHOD
They Sign Their Men Now Be
fore They Made the An
nouncement Of Drawing
4 By RALPH L. YONKER.

XNX\HE omclal draft or the Amerl
can and National leagues doei
not take place until Tuesday
"Wednesday morning the papers VIII
tell how Frank Navin, Charles Co
miskey and the rest OF the magnates
drew slips out OF hat and stopped
their hearts for q moment while they
looked at what they had pulled.
S But In spite OF the fact that there
WILL probably be an official drafl
meeting Tuesday, the allotment Of
minor league players who are to &c
up through the draft has already beer
made. Every big league nagnats
Knows now just which players he Il
going to get.
Furthermore, every big league mag
nate Is right now busy signing uI
the men he has been fortunate enough
3 q draw from the bushes. Some are
10ing so far as to send their per
sonal ENJOYS to the cities from which
they have taken men to see thai
their names are attached TO mutually
& satisfactory contracts.
All this Is because OF the Federal
hague. Such precautions as have
!. been taken by the members Of or
sanixed baseball this year have never
been seen before. No Official an
nouncement about any player is forth
coming until that player has put his
John Hancock to some paper. The
\ frst lot OF these drafted men knew
about their good fortune was when
they were approached by the repre-
septative OF the big league club which
had secured their right to them.
The sale OF Lejeune Of the Sioux
City club to the Pirates was the sign
that tipped on the fact that the draft
was over. The period during which
the assignments Of players to the
majors are made is closed to the sale
and purchase of men. Lejeune was
oold as soon as the draft was salts
s factorily settled.
Z Billy Purtell, Tiger utility infielder,
was left at home when the Tigers
went on their short western trip.
Manager Jennings mas several infield
yecruits he wants to try out when
ever he has an opportunity. 50 he
didn't need Billy with him.
Purtel IL one OF the real hard luck
men of the game. Several years ago
he was playing great major league
Il baseball. While with the Boston Red
6ox he threw his arm away and II
took him some time TO recover II.
2 When he did, he worked himself up
7. (hrough the bushes back into the ma
jors. The Tigers drafted him last
Purtell was coming along nicely on
The southern trip and looked to have
chance for Tiger position when
he ran into some hard luck at Jack.
oon, Miss. When the Tigers played
/. III exhibition game there for the ben
*e1t OF the Legislators. who adjourned
70 see Ty Cobb, the field had to be
marked out and dried on with burn
Inc gasoline.
Purtell played third base and De
Baker caught Somebody popped ny
y short ny. -Purtell and Baker, neveI
having played together. both went
after the short ny. II was Purtelli
{ ball, but Baker made q break for II
+: He stepped all over Purtelrs feet and
rank his spikes deep into Billy's toes
That put Purtell out Of the game ai
> very critical time for him. BY the
J time he was able to get back into thu
4 Eame. the team had practically beer
formed and Bill had the tremendous
K task before him of breaking up {
& Gombination that had been decided
upon- He was unable to do this.
Purtell showed remarkable sports
<mnnohip In this matter. For q mo
nont - he felt the grind OF the spikes
hro1gh HIS flesh he lost his temper
Io drew back in pain and anger a
20 hit Baker. who is . man abou
. urtolr's Size. Then he remembered
&InSelf and limped on the field. Tn,
mt Day. he and Baker were doini
- rounds Of the movies together, al
ood friends as ever. Purtell real
~ that Il was through no malice
~ Bakers and through no particular
oarelessness on his part that he had
SUFFERED the injury.