The sun., 1916-04-16
INDIANAPOLIS CLUB
LOSES KAUFF CLAIM
National Commission Turns
Down Plea Of Benny's
QuOndam Employers.
GIANTS NEED NOT PAY

The National Commission has just
denied a claim Of $4,000 against the
Giants for the services OF Outhelder
Benny Kauff which was presented some
time ago by the indianapolis club Of
the American Association.
Kauff was the property Of the Hoosers
so far a. the reserve clause Of base
bal, contract eoes--when on August ?s.
1914. they contracted to sell him to the
New York Nationals. The management
Of the Giants was to pay indianapolis
$4,000 for kaufY's services provided he
was retained after May I. 1915. In case
Kauff was not retained he was to have
been returned to Indianapolis.
Indianapolis. however. tried to sell the
skin before Il was taken from the bear.
At the time New York was dckering
with indianapolis for Kauff that youne
man was playing with the Federal
League club OF Indiana polls. The Hoo
siers drafted him in the fall OF 1913.
but Benny refused to report and the
next season went over with the inde-
pendent opposition.
In the winter Of 19it-i5 Kaun was
transferred from the indianapolis Fed
eral League club to the Brooklyn Fed
erals. In April, a year ago. on the as
surances Of the player that he was not
under contract to Robert y. Ward Of
the Tip Tops. kauf was signed to a
Giant contract, being assured Of a bonus
Of 5000. IT was a dispute over this
bonus. by the way. that made Kaun a
holdout for several weeks this spring
McGraw attempted to play ksuff in
centre field against the Braves at the
Polo Grounds. James e. CARNEY. then
president Of the former worlds cham
pions. hurried to q telephone and ap-
prised President John X. Tener Of the
National League Of the fact Tener told
Gaffney not to permit the Braves to
play against Kauff. an ineligible player
| who had not been reinstated by the
National Commission. Meanwhile Tener
| tried In vain to reach the umpires by
| telephone. Before he was successful
| in this the arbiters. on Boston's refusal
to take the feid. forfeited the game to
! New York Later when Tener reached
Umpire Nal Eason and explained the
| situation the teams agreed TO play with
out Kaufr. Boston won. McGraw
thought IL only an exhibition game
but learned TO his sorrow that the de-
feat counted as one Of his regularly
scheduled battles.
Meanwhile Kauff and the New Yorl
/
to reinstate KauY. The triumviwt'
turned down the application May J last
Robert X. Ward convinced the Giants
that he had valid contract TO Kauf''
services for the seasons Of 1915. 1917
and 1917, 20 Harry ". Hampstead
Onshed his hands OF the player. II !.
this same contract under which kauf
is now playing in New York. The Giant
purchased It. at stin figure. from
Harry +. Sinclair after peace with tn
Federal League was esta blished.
The commission points out IN It's d"
nial OF the claim of Indianapolis tina
KaufY is only one OF many players lis'ct
as Fedora! League means Of retrench
ment through sale to organized baseball
in keeping with the peace terms. !
points out further that In the agreeuen
for the purchase Of Kaun from Indianap
oils the New York club stipulated &
the effect that the bargain would b.
void IL Kauff was not actually unde
contract to the Indianapolis club AT tn
time. indianapolis admitted II held m
contract with Kauff-that its only CLAIM
to him lay in tho reserve clause o
Benny's contract with the club fror
which he was drafted by indianapolis.