The Washington herald., 1916-12-08
FRATERNITY SCORED
FIRST Big VICTORY
Compelling Mssnates to Pay Injured
Players Salary Speaks Well
for ORGANIZATION.
for Organization


The Baseball Players Fraternity has
scored another victory. and this time one
that looms larger than any other conces-
sion that they have been able to wrest
from the magnates and owners
Prior to the organization Of the ira
ternity, the player, as he figured out.
was trodden under heel. oppressed. and
constantly the subject Of tyrannical prac-
tices upon the part Of the club owner.
Under the old contracts he could be
handed his walking papers" on mo-
ment's notice; his salary could be made
to automatically cease, In case Of injury
on the field, after such injury had IN
capacitated him for q period longer than
fifteen days; he could be sold, traded or
exchanged Gas Roger Bresnahan testi-
fed in his case before the National Com
mission) for q yellow dog.
But better times were coming. The
players feeling that they were not get
ting all that was due them, organized,
and through that organization, the Base
ball Players Fraternity, they have ac-
complished more for the individual player
than he could ever have hoped fer had
the organization not asserted itself, as
It was In a position to do after its for
nation.
Under the new contracts q player Is af-
forded protection at all times; in case
of injury sustained during a game his
salary is paid to him during the time Of
his incapacity, regardless Of how long
he may be out Of the game. The new
contract also provides that he be given
ten days notice prior to his unconditional
release, sale or transfer to another club.
All in all. the contracts under which the
majors win play during the coming sea-
son are most gratifying to the player and
at the same time fair to the owner and
manager. The Baseball Players Fra
ternitY has accomplished much good for
the player and 1t Is to be hoped that they
ization to make some foolish or unneces-
sary demand upon the owner.
Connie Mack, the Athletics pilot. has
already announced his lineup for next
season, and comes to bat with the state
ment that his club VIII no longer be
kicked about and finish in the ruck.
Mack's infield will be Stufry McInnis,
Grover, Bates and Lawson Witt, the out,
fielders will be Strunk, Bodie and
Thrasher.
With Joe Bush and Chief Myers as a
neuclus, five other pitchers will be car
ried, including Nabors and Tom Shee-
han Meyer, Haley and Schang will do
the catching.
From where we sit it is hard to see
how Mack Is going to be a whole lot
stronger than last season, for the reason
minor leaguers, and it is seldom that
minor leaguers break into the big show
with a real vengeance.
Grover Joined the Athletics here in
Cleveland last September and only looked
like an ordinary player. Thrasher Is a
Southern Association product, tempera-
mental and a strea<y player. Pacific
Coast sport writer's are not going crazy
over the prospects OF Bates, who played
with the Vernon club, and batted .2SS.
Sam Crawford, Of the Detroit Togers,
refuses to view the future with any but
the brightest optimism. he refuses to take
seriously the hints that he has about
played out his string as a major Lacquer.
and is planning to go South early In Jan.
uary. in order that he may put himself
in good playing trim for the 1917 cam
paign-
Crawford, of course, realizes that he
has slowed up considerably, but feels that
the poor start he got last season ham
pered him considerable and he does not
intend to let it occur again.
Joe Gedebn, the second sacker obtained
from Salt Lake, Of the Pacific Coast. Of
whom much was expected by the Yankees
last year, probably will be shipped back
to SaN Lake before the 1917 campaign
opens. After a great start, Gedeon fell
down badly last season, and at the clase
was a bench warmer. Donovan figures
that second base Is the weakest spot on
his club and will make efforts to strength
en- it before the next campaign opens.
-
The Giants next season will blossom
out in violet uniforms, the same kind
that they wore in 1913, when they last
won the pennant- The Giants have not
won since they adopted the uniforms
which are cross-striped and resemble the
garb worn In institutions Of involuntary
confinement.