New Britain herald., 1916-12-07
NOW ITS THE COL.
 WHO IS AFTER DAVY.
Ruppert Denies That Injured Play
 CTS Were Unfairly Treated

New York, Dec. 7.-Colonel Jacob Ruppert, president of the Yankees, returned yesterday from French Lick and lost no time in issuing a sweeping statement contradicting the statements which David l.. Fultz, president of the Players Fraternity, has made rela- tive to the New York clubs treat ment of injured players. Fultz has cited the cases of Dizzy Vance and Ray Heating, Yankee pitchers, as in- cidents where the disability clause of the players contract worked against the welfare of the players. Colonel Ruppert explains these and several other cases to show that the New York club was libra1 with injured players.
 When the facts of the Vance case were compiled by the National com mission it was shown that Vances claim did not have a leg to stand on, said Colonel Ruppert. "Vance was re leased by us to the Columbus oluf which assumed his New York con tract. When he reported to Columbus he complained of his pitching arm which he undoubtedly injured as have been informed, pitching winte baseball in California. When it borne in mind that Vance was no hurt in the services of the Columbu club I think that they were more thar fair in paying him over half his sal. lary."
 MT. Ruppert declares MT. Fult7 gave the wrong impression to the pub lie by saying that Vance was suspend7 ed without pay by the New York clul for disability. Later Fultz admitted to the commission that he would no have presented the Vance claim if h had known of a paper given by Vancd to the Columbus club. Describes Heating Case. I've inherited Ray Keatings con tract in 1915 calling for $5,000 sal ary.' continued Colonel Rupert Heating pitched two months tha( season and then began to have troubld with his back. We engaged physi clans in every city on the road ans finally Keatings back was placed h a cast and he was sent home and worked no more that year. He dfey his salary of $5,000 that year, not tt mention an additional $175 for med ical attention which the club paid Heating won three games and lost SIX making his winning games cost u for his services $1,666.66 per game The disability clause did not keep thu New York club from paying King Col' his salary of $3,S00 in 1915, togebhe with a doctor bill of $365, althoug Cole was unable to pitch all season a the result of disabilities received out side of baseball"
 MT. Fultz has, unwillingly nt doubt created in the mind of the pub lie false impressions of the relation existing between owners and players His time could be better employeS in turning his attention to improv1nt the morale of the profession by urgina indifferent players to do their who'll duty.
 Calls Indifference and Evil.
 During the two years that Capta Huston and myself have been in base\ ball we have paid out S25,G09 to in competent players. All major league clubs have shared cur experience IT this respect more or less. Thls featur9 of indifferent playing has constituted an evil in baseball which, as far as have heard, Mir Fuitz has made no effort to eradicate.
 Injuries in 1916 to players Baker, Maisel, Gilhooley, Mogridge, Magee, Cullop, High, Nunamaker, Baumaun and the sickness of Fisher, Oldrins and Gedeon undoubtedly cost us thG pennant, and while the loss of nsonos cannot be accurately computed would, beyond all question, reach thd neighborhood of $200,000. The mcdi cal treatment which the club assumed for the players amounted to $3,0o0 H while the actual salary loss on these players for the time of their disabili tv was s17,000. Neither Captain Illus ton or myself ever dreamed of dDdg ing behind any technical interpreta ton of the disability clause to eas, this drain on the clubs bank bal ance."