Evening star., 1915-01-31
IS SLAP At PLAYERS
Release of ReuIbach Causes
All Sorts of Rumors.
WAS IN BAD WITH OWNERS
Activity as Secretary of Fraternity
Believed to Have Had
Effect.
WAS IN BAD WITH OWNERS
Special Dispatch 10 The Star

4
! NEW YORK, January so.-The un-
conditional release of Pitcher Edward
Reulbach, which WAS announced yes
terday by the Brooklyn club, is re-
sarded as u direct slap at the Players
! Fraternity. 1t is believed to indicate
the attitude club owners are beginning
to take toward those members of the
fraternity who show undue activity in
the ranks of the ball clubs.
Several players who were around to-
day expressed the opinion that Reul-
bach had not been released because it
was thought that his days as a big
league pitcher were over. They be-
licved that President Ebbets had OBJ
tanned waivers on Reulbach through
gentlemen's agreement, in order that
he might be rebuked for the mission
ary' work he attempted to do among
the Dodgers last season.
Reulbach is secretary of the Players
Fraternity and has been one of the
chief aids of President Dave Fultz.
Brooklyn fans, as well as the manage
ment of the club, believe that Reul-
bach eXerted the influence on the play
ers last season that was not for the
best interests of the club, and which
is. by some, accounted as the cause for
the cligues that spranS up in the club.
Reulhach has been In bad favor with
the management of the Dodgers since
before the season opened last year, and
his actions throughout the season, ac-
cornpanied by the fact that he did not
show Manager Robinson anything much
in the pitching line. did not tend to i'm
prove platters for him. He never made
any attempt to leap to the Federals OF
use the outlaws as a wedge to pry off
raise. but one time last fall. when
several of the Dodgers were th1eatening
TO jump, Robby was overheard to say
that he would not mind if Reulbach
would take the leap.
-. Reulbach first got himself In bad favor
early last spring when he tried to call
strike Of the players during the spring
training trip because of some little in
convenience that the team was forced
to put UP with. Robby remarked after
ward that the pitchers mind was too
much taken up with unionisn to make
him of any great value to the club.
Reu'bach came to the Dodgers from
the Chicago Cubs in the season of 1913.
His unconditional. release makes lAm a,
free agent and he is now at liberty to
seek employment anywhere he can get
it, and can SO over to the FEDS with
out any claim being made for him.
How ever, ii it is true that he was
waivered out through so-called gen.
tlemen's agreement. it is not likely
that he will get on with any big
tcd uS CIuD, anu IL ne goes 10 lnS
minors the question is raised as to
whether he can continue as a member
of the fraternity.
Along with Reulbach's release comes
word from the coast that Orval Overall
has been given his unconditional re-
lease by the San Francisco club. This
seems to mark the passing of the old
Cub machine. I.eulbach and overall
We're two of the star pitchers, and
Miner Brown. il is said, IS about to be
released by the Feds. Frank Chance
got his release and retired from base
ball last fall, and Johnny King has
passed out, though he threatens to
come back this year. Jimmy Sheckard
was dethroned as manager OF the
Cleveland Association team this year,
and Artie Holman, now with the Feds,
got his release before he went to the
outlaws. once great machine row
is only Il memory.