Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-25
FEDERA[S MUST
DEVELOP STARS
SSAM CRANE
Failure Of American and National
Players to Jump Means Work
for New League.
BY Sam Crane.

| | having great ulHnCuity by All
reports in signing the star
players whom they most desire to
! boom the new organization, an OPP
portunity will be afforded ii for the
development Of young players, and
| this is a chance the Federal League
officials should not ignore.
Not only will they relieve them
selves of much hurtful antagonisn,
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 1t adopts this
plan, will make many friends and
place itself on a more substantial
basis than If it sticks to the raidlng
Of players of organized baseball. The
stigma of outlawry makes very bad
start for any new organization. It is
handicap that should be avoided Il
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 az they are now
doing and stealing marches on their
new rivals The fight too, will be
carried to the bitter end IL the plan
of wholesale raiding is the policy to
be 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 80 much con-
f1dence 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-
cially with their big war fund for the
Federals to make Roadway In a battle
for supremacy on a general ratding
proposition or policy This fact may
not appeal to the visionary minded
and overenthusiastic promoters just
now, but 1t will surely as they get
deeper and deeper mtg the holes they
are digging for themselves.
They have met their first setback
and 1t is q tough Que, toby the
players as a general thing refusing
to listen to their Inducements, no
matter how fiowery and enticing.
The ball players of to-day are a
thinking lot of men, and so 1t has
been a surprise to me that so few Of
the young players have refused to
cast their lots with the new organize
ton and throw over a certainty for
an experiment The 'oldsters who
have signed. and who have only q
very short baseball career ahead of
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 ,Tfem, still that
Is the worst that can be said of them,
and ! can not see how they can be
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 a third big
league let the Federals prove it, and
If 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 will
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 lib
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-
fled 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
due recognition.
Has Been Done Before.
II was the Players League in 1890
that forced the National League to
dig up and develop an entirely new
crop Of young players, and the old
league did so with grand success
Such great stars as Amos Rusie,
kid" Nichols, Herman Long and
many others of almost equal note
were direct results OF the Brother
hood war. and possibly but for that
strife those players would never have
been prominently heard of, Just for
lack 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
| have. The Federals should awake
| too. and grasp the opportunity. The
| field is open to them. and instead of
their league becoming an asylum for
players of declining ability. 1t would
branch out as help to the sport and
a promoter OF its future success, in
| stead OF an obstacle. 1t would gain
| and hold staunch friends.