Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-25
MUST
De VELOP STARS
SAYSSAM CRANE
Failure Of American and National
Players to Jump Means Work
for New League.
By Sam Crane.

reports in signing the star
players whom they most desire to
boom the new organization, an OPP
portunity will be afforded it for the
development of young players, and
his is a chance the Federal League
officials should not ignore.
Not only will they relieve them
selves of much hurtful antagonism,
but 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
plan, 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
a handicap that should be avoided l.
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 II the plan
Of wholesale raiding Is the policy tc
be adopted and players under con-
tract are induced to do the hurdle
act.
Have Played Best Card.
That players have not f1ocked like
sheep to the new league, as It's pro-
motors anticipated with so much con-
fdence after they had secured Tin
ker. Brown and Knabe, ought to con-
vince them that they have played
their only ace and had nothing, not
even the sentiment and well wishes
Of the baseball public in their new
venture. to back up their first play.
The American and National Leagues
are altogether too well fortified finan-
cally with their big war fund for the
Federals to make Roadway in battle
FOR supremacy on general raidins
proposition or policy. This fact may
not appeal to the visionary minded
and overenthusias site promoters just
now. but 1t will surely as they get
deeper and deeper into the holes they
are digging for themselves.
They have met their first setback
and It is a tough Que, toby the
PLAYERS as a general thing refusing
10 listen to their inducements, no
matter how fiowery and enticing.
The ball players of to-day are
thinking lot of men, and so 1t mas
been a surprise to me that so few OF
the young players have refused 10
cast their lots with the new organizaI-
ton and throw over a certainty LOT
sn experiment. The oldsters VINO
have signed, and who have only
very short baseball career ahead OF
them at the most, looked after them
selves pure and simple, and whlle they
may he accused of disloyalty to the
game that has made tnem. still that
is the worst that can be said of them'
and I can not see how they can De
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 IL the new organization
makes a losing fight.
If there is a chance for third big
league let the Federals prove 1t, 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 for
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 I'D
orally, and are very exacting in con-
sequence.
The Federal Leagues only chance
now to make any real showing
against their strong and well forti-
ned rivals is to develop young play
ers- and there is just as good oppor-
unity for 1t to bring out stars as
their rivals, and If they do, both the
organization and players will receive
cue recognition.
II was the Players League In 1890
mat forced the National League TO
ulg up and develop an entirely new
crop of young players, and the ola
such great stars as Amos Rusie,
KID Nichols Herman Long ana
many others OF almost equal note
We're direct results of the Brother
mood war, and possibly but for that
sure those players would never have
oeeh prominently heard of, just Tor
.sck Of opportunity to demonstrate
'heir abilities.
Inc present war will doubtless
prove another blessing in disguise TO
Young players by affording them the
snances they otherwise might not
nave The Federals should awake,
90 and grasp the opportunity. The
neId Is open to them, and instead OF
Ielr league becoming an asylum for
PAYERS Of declining ability, 1t would
S'ahch out as a help to the sport ana
promoter of It's future success, in
seeau OF an obstacle. 1t would gain
enl hold staunch friends.