The Washington herald., 1916-12-31
TENER WANTS TO See
RIVALRY in LEAGUE
Governor Thinks New Plan Should Be
Put in Operation.

New York, Dec. 3o.-President John K.
Te- :. Of the National League, wants to
see greater rivalry on fr~ part of the
players and clubs.
He believes there should be a new plan
put into operation which would give play
ers and cluos something more to fight for
than q pennant and the honor of particI-
pating In the worlds series.
Mr.. Teners plan, as placed before the
National League meeting here, sounds
feasible. and, although It will necessarily
have to be sanctioned by the American
League before il can be adopted. It is the
belief among baseball men that steps will
be taken to adopt It.
According to Mr.. Tener, the plan can
b worked out through changes in the d.
vision Of receipts from worlds series
games. He suggests, by way of example,
that the players on the winning club In
the annual series be given sl.5oo each. and
the players on the losing club 81 900 each.
The remainder of whatever percentage of
the total receipts be agreed on for the
players end could be distributed between
the players OF all teams in the big
leagues. and the sums to players gradu-
sted with respect to each teams finish
in the percentage column.
This plan. Mr. Tener Is confident, will
provide a means OF increasing interest
among the players. Clubs in the second
division IN both leagues will fight harder
to finish as strong as they possibly can.
and the quality of baseball served to the
fans will be proportionately faster, while
rivalry will be uppermost.
1t has been pointed out that the Brook
lNTN % hn Oh fnr
$500 each for the poor showing they
made in the 1916 series with the Red Sox,
were greatly overpaid. Baseball solons
believe that with stipulated amount
for the players the system will be much
fairsr to every one concerned and that
2 ruling of this kind will not detract from
the spirit OF the teams fighting for the
worlds championship.
The need of stimulating interest in the
major leagues Is apparently almost as
great as it is in the minors, for under the
Tener plan major league players will be
lighting for the same results as will the
players in the American Association and
the International League. under the plan
for their inter-league series next fall
Charles Holiday Ebbets does not be-
'isve thai the present drafting rule is fair
4" Gil clubs. lie would have the rule
"hGnE-d 50 that instead Of clubs putting
in drafts fer players and naming the
players. second division clubs be given
the privilege OF taking first choice of
GRATED players in order that they may
ha st-ength"nc3 Ebbets would give the
ciu0 which is in the last place first choice
o. drafted players. the club in seventh
pace second choice and so on up the lad
do Wien the leading Ciub selected
player TIE system could be gone over
- til rs mary ,inics as necessary.
Hlrn"y D7ryfus also has a drafting
"a, bit it is - b't different from that
o. tn" Brooklyn maGnate. Barney thinks
Z, a. :. stead Cf naming players. the clubs
OItting in drafts should name clubs and
!CFEU"S. and in the business of drafting
Cubs should get first choice Of minor
,lubs and lea cues instead of naming the
p'cEeTs as they do now and taking d
"a &c on -c-tinC or losing them. Drey-
IT'S TO.nts ont that in many cases where
orr cl'i5 n"tCSa shOrtstop and another
IN Cut6elder. Fa chances of landing such
plry"rs would lie enhanced by raining
Clubs or leagues and drawing for the
privilege OF taking first choice of players.
Frcd Mitchell, the new Cub manager.
thinks that many trades which would be
~ @dvantage to clubs in the big leagues
I'D - made every year with both
t"-'~Is GainHg rather than losing
srenC5h.. Mitch"H points out that when
ball PLAYER has he"H with a club three,
four or FIVE years. he often grows stale.
because hs has been with one club and
in Cne city too long.
Trades OF such players. Opires Mitch"
would serve to awaken their interest and
they would get out and hustle harder to
win. Hearing the same managers voice
or the coaching lires from season to sea-
son, and playing under the same system
gets old to the ball player. where, should
he he given the advantage of new sur
roundings, he would take greater interest
in his playing and would try harder to
make good
The Southern Association will play a
schedule Of i54 games next summer, and
at its recent meeting at Nashville a play
er limit of fifteen men was agreed upon.
A player limit in leagues of Glass A cal
iicr means much to the club owners if
it is adhered to. but the first time it is
broken such a rule is not worth the paper
il is written on.
In leagueJ where a player limit Is OBJ
served the rivalry between clubs is
stronger and the value of the manager
Glands out more clearly.
Any time a club loads up with players
hhe members Of the team begin to lose
inter, 81, for no ball player is willing to
give any other player or team a handi-
cap.