Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-03
About 200 Will Draw Blue En-
velopes Because of Agreements
in Both Big Leagues.
MUST DEPEND ON MINOR LoUPs
And There Salary Limits Will Make
Profession Less Enjoyable.
WHEREIN DOES THE FAULT LIE ?
Player DIames the MagnRte, while
the Mag Declares Player "TSilled
Goose that Laid Golden
Err"


Despite the Increased salaries in major
leagues, due TO the Federal league bid
ding Tor stars. even the major league
athlete and certainly the minor Lacquer,
lie a little bit dubious about the coming
year. The major Lacquer has to worry
about one thing first. the lower player
limit, while the minor Lacquer has TO
worry about the player limit and the
salary limit both
The base ball player has had a hfe
OF roses for few years but the roses
have faded and he is very likely to have
life OF thorns this coming season.
The National league has announced
player limit OF twenty-one men and
the American league limit of twenty
two men, When the knife is welded
about 200 ball players viii be released
from major league clubs. And those
200 must look toward the minors for
employment.
Coed Salaries Last Year.
Last year II wasn't so bad to be re-
leased by the minors. Several athletes
are known TO have drawn moro salary
with class AA clubs than with tho major
league club from which they were re
leased Even In class a, In the western
circuit. some players received just as
good salaries as they drew in the big
top
But this year every league has clipped.
For instance the salary limit in the
Western will be 81, 500. while last year
It was Sa,eoe, and pretty generally disre-
garded. This year the player who gets
$500 a month In the Western WIN be
drawing the very top and there win be-
Favur ~ t.
drew as high as $500 a month.
Cuts In Miners Hurt.
But the man who Is In the minors viii
have still another worry The player
limit again. The minor leagues have all
reduced their limits, the Western TO fif-
teen men. The 30 who viii be released
by tho majors will take the riaces Of
many minors In class IA and class A.
and these chaps will have to fall back
to class b. where the salary limit Ia
still lower. Then some OF the athletes
In class Il viii go back to c, and some
c back to N and some ID to the In
| dependent mines. SO It is going TO be a
hard year for the athlete.
IL Is a unique situation. a slssgreeable
one to the players, and they are asking
where to place the blame The blame
Is by some attached TO the National COM
mission. by some To the National and
American leagues, and by some to the
Federals. And Dave Fultz Is starting
to fuss a little lie dIsliles to sec his
men fall under the axe and he has pro-
! tested. , .srs-
Az Players Fault.
But where VIII his protest land? Speak
ing on the subject, a well known mag
nate declares that the players brought
the reductions on themselves The mag
Mates" declares this particular one, ARE
putting on the screws II only to con-
vince the players they should leave well
enough alone. We have grown weary
OF the ingratitude and selfishness dis
played by the jumping athletes. Before
the Invaders came base ball was more
I popular, players salaries were moro
liberal We are cutting down to punish
the players, to teach them a timely les
son. The goose has been put 60 death
ana the golden eggs are scarce"