Evening journal., 1915-03-26
johnson FOR REFORM
Of NATIONAL CANE.
Baseball Due 0verhauling,
American League Head
Says
SAYS MANY
j CAMPS ARE Jokes

Baseball is in for an overhauling
such as il has never before experience
ed il the suggestions Of B. B Johnson
president OF the American League. arc
carried out According to the head Of
the junior circuit, there is uecd of rc-0
form along bo,h artistic and financial
lines. Included in the scheme for a
new dea.' lie the closing II the
sttes Of SOME 80 bail l.arks aud the
abolition of the spring training trips.
ltf pddlOcks would be distributed
3mong five or siV ml1Or leagues, whiic
the American AMI National lsaagles
would be princiDaiiy affected by the
new system Df training
The apparent lack OF interest in
baseball in smaller towns Is the rea-
son for the first suggestion. and need
,css expense. coupi,d with chilly fc-
ceptiOn, both ut the gate ant by thc
"eatherman &C tha southern training
camps, is responsible Tor the sCcund.
The policy Of closing the gates of
scores Of minor leagde clubs has been
brought home with added pressure
the last few days through appeals TO
the national commission from ball
players for back salaries. Ii seems
that the majority on minor leagues
failed TO make Goth ends meet last
year and the players are al present
in possession of the I. o. US on which
they have been unable TO collect. Not
being able TO get any satisfaction
from their employers. the players
have flooded the commission with re-
quests for money.
The supreme court Of baseball has
been unable to offer much encourage
ment and It was pointed out through
Mr.. Johnson that tie worst is yet TO
come. Hundreds IF players are Ike
( ly to be out of jobs the coming sea
son with no relief in sight, regardless
of whether certain clubs lose their
gates or not.
President Johnson pointed out that
National League will have to get rid
OF probably $50 players, while the
American league will discard almost
as many. The larger minor leagues
will cut their rosters TO 16, II ana 1'
players for each club, and thes,
moves will throw more men out o
jobs.
"We have come to the parting of tn
ways" said Mr.. Johnson, "and eithe
have to furl our sails and run befor,
the wind or take chances OF neinl
wrecked on the financial shoals. ] an
not referring TO the American or Ma
tional leagues when I say this, excep
that retrenchment along certain lines
may be necessary. What ] refer to il
connected with the minors. Most oil
the leagues throughout the country
are in a bad way.
There is no question but that il
would be a good thing for the game
we're the gates of FIVE or six minor
league clubs closed during the coming
season. In fact, l cannot see how the
smaller club owners can afford tC
keep their parks open. Few made any
money last year and il does not lool
as if they are going to this.
"The National Commission has beer
bombarded of late for requests fol
back salaries. These have all com,
from minor league players who wer,
unable to collect from different clubs
last fall. The commission naturally
tries to satisfy the players TO the best
of its ability, but If the club OWNS
the money is bankrupt our hands are
tied.
81 am going to suggest to the clul
owners in the American and Nationa
Leagues that hereafter all players b,
compelled TO report in condition tC
play one or two weeks before the sea.
son opens.r said Johnson.
These training trips are getting {,
be a joke. They are of no benefit ant
cost the clubs $4,000 to $4,000 every
year"