Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-10
TROUBLE OYER KID SISLER
Barney Dreyfuss Alleges Claim to
New Brown Star that is Over
Five Years Old.
RIcKEY WILL PUT UP FIGHT

PITTSBURGH. Oct. EFT appears as
though interesting revelations will attend
tho investigation which It Is understood
the National commission Will institute
concerning the Sisler case. sisler, Il will
be recalled. played ball for the Uniser-
sity OF Michigan until recently and then
Joined Branch Richey's 81. Louis team,
where he has made good and Is a draw
ing card. According to affidavits filed
by the Pittsburgh club, in line with the
fight this outfit is making TO get sisler
away from ST. Louis. the colleglan was a
professional long before he entered the
seat OF learning at Ann Arbor. Dreyfuss
asserts he purchased the release OF the
player from the Akron club Of the Ohio
ana Pennsylvania league five years ago.
This was Immediately after Sisler was
graduated from high school and prior to
the time he entered Michigan. Manager
Fred Clarke. according to Dreyfuss, felt
the young player needed seasoning and
turned him over to the Columbus team OF
the American association. team which
Pittsburgh uses as a farm II was at
this time. the story gees, that siser wrote
to President Dreyfuss begging the Pitts
burgh owner to release him and mention
nothing about playing professional ball
az he was about to enter Michigan and
did not wish his amateur standing TO be
impaired. In return for this favor. Drey-
fuss says, the player agreed to sign with
Pittsburgh as soon as he was graduated.
The Philadelphia Ledger gives further de-
tails OF transactions as follows; 'Drey-
fuss was suspicious. and exercised his
option on Sisler and placed his name on
the reserve list OF the Pittsburgh club for
two years. Sisler became worried and
wrote Dreyfusa again, asking that his
name be taken from the reserve list, as
Michigan was about to start an investi-
CATION, This time Dreyfuss agreed 10
help Sister. and his name was Withdrawn
from the reserve list In return for these
favors Sisler proceeded to sign up with
Branch Hickey. who had coached the
Michigan team when Sisler first blus-
somed forth as a star.
According to recent decisions OF the
United States courts. a played becomes a
free agent In the eyes Of the law II he
remains out OF the game for one year,
but according to the National Commits
sion. which governs Organized Ball, a
player Is the property of a club In that
body go long as that club cares to re-
serve him. To reserve him the club must
send the player at least one contract a
season. Pittsburgh failed TO send Slsler
a contract during the last two years, only
at Sisters request Sisler has proved
a splendid player. and there will be much
trouble before Hickey consents to give
him up In case the National Commission
decides IN favor OF the Pittsburgh club.
In presenting his testimony. Dreyfllss
mournfully remarked that sisler was the
fourth college player he had covered up
for several seasons. advancing them
money. etc, and that he had been fooled
on three Of them. Dreyfuss declares tnat
the next ool.esiaR he wants ne Will sho "
him up as a professional before signing
him. and then he will not be 'doable-
crossed. d"