New Britain herald., 1915-02-12
HON. SAN'l MILAN
 WILL P|TCH NO MORE
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When baSeb ball in New England gets under way in just about eleven weeks from now, there will be one face missing from the ranks of the ball players. and it will be one that was eagerly looked fo. by the fans many years back That will be the face of sam Mclean, the Glaston- bury chicken lancer, who of late sea sons has been working on the mound for the Waterbury club. 1t is not a forced retirement into which sam is going, but rather a voluntary one, and the decision was reached at the close of last season, and Sam main tains he will stick Co it. 4.
 This COnnecticGt league idol of former days is just now starring in a new career, being a member of the present general assem ply; represent ing the town of Glastonbury in the house of representatives having been elected on the democratic ticket from that town. He is taking to his new work at the state house very indus triously, and is a keen followe- of the work of the committee on labor, of which he is a n member. However, he is not too much tied down by his legislature duties to talk a little base ball now and then, and the other day when asked what were his intentions for the coming season, he made it very plain that he will not be found again putting them over with that control for which he was noted dur ing his years on the diamond in tn neck of New England. ta.@
 Spikes Shoes to Floor.
 "I have taken those baseball shoes of mine and spiked them to the floor in the spare attic. This is no josh l am handing you. That spike is a good long one, and 1t is dr. on clean through both shoes, and there they will stay" said Sam. "I do not intend to play any more professional baseball, primarily because there is no more money in it for me. Sal aries in the minor leagues have gone down fast the past few years, and to a person like myself who has other business interests at home and must try to return every night possible the travelling expenses make the profits so small with the advent of another reduction in salary as to make it of no value to continue in ba seball."
 What do you think of the advent of the Federal league into New Eng land baseball?" was the next ques- tion asked of Sam, and he was noth- ing loath to say a few words about the present outlook in this section as he viewed it. In fact, he was very set in his opinion that the Feds would rout the present Eastern asso- citation and New England league, if their present plans go through HIS announced and felt that much of the
 
 days. when club owners put profits after the real sport of the game, and not before, were m m.ssing.
 Feds Will Rout o. B.
 There is a very poor outlook for the two minor leagues under organ ized baseball in New England, with the Fcderals making a drive against | them. What I cannot see is why the | two leagues have not worked together | before this for a combination cir i cult of the best cities in both or ! ganiza tions. Even though they | never thought such a com bination | was possible before this, they must l realize by now that the Federals are seeing some advantage in a combi- i nation of the best cities in New Eng | land, and that such a league opposed | to cities in in both circuits, that they | can hardly hope for success the com | ing year.
 "The best season We ever had in | baseball in this section was back in | 1908. In those days club owners 1 were not thinking solely of profits, . but the baseball sentiment, the sen timent of winning was the predom- inant note, and the value of it was seen in the large gate receipts that resulted. Since then the tendency | has been to put profits ahead cf everything else. and the slump that i has struck baseball in minor leagues is the result. What is needed more than anything else, is return to tho | old fighting spirit among the clubs. and the money consideration will take | care of itself"