Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-11
BASEBALL UNCERTAIN
1918 SEASON PUZZLING
FOR PLAYER AND OWNER
Downfall of Minors Reacts Majors,
Because Field for Develop
mcnt Closes.

NEW YORK. November lo-The
baseball outlook for 1918 is filled with
uncertainties for club owners and
players.
According TO present plans. the major
leagues will continue TO operate in an
effort TO keep the game going. but IL
the world war is raging next March.
with no evidence of peace in sight. II
* practically certain that the minor
leagues. with the exception of one or
two. viii keep their parks closed.
The plan to continue baseball in the
major leagues includes a provision for
keeping several OF the minor leagues
iii operation for the purpose OF taking
care OF a limited number OF players
The major leagues cannot live without
a source OF supply from which TO draw
playing talent. and they must have the
minor league to assist in the Develop
meni of players who need more sea-
sonnE.
So, ii the WAY continues, il is prob
able that the two big minor leagues
the American Association and the In
ternational Lcague-may be encour-
aged TO. operate. The salaries OF play
erS Will probably be greatly reduced
IN the majors, and further cuts will
be made III the minor leagues in Ques-
ton IL they continue 10 operate next
ye8r. The powers that be in baseball
are playing waiting game just now,
for there is nothing else for them TO
do: but at the winter meetings Of the
two big leagues and the National
Baseball Commission steps will be
taken toward meeting gigantic OBJ
stacles which Will arise next spring
unless peace comes.
The club owner In any league who
has ball players ~ tho draft age on
his team roster cannot be sure that
club will ha %
by the Time April /. 1915. rolls around
For this reason the major leagues
! were wary about drafting players from
til" miners last month, and in most
| cases the eligibility Of the player for
the national draft was investigated be :
. fore tn" club owners put III a baseball
| draft for him. Many players who were
| purchased prior I" the opening Of the
| drafting season We're bought with the
! proNiso that i'll case they were drafted
! for the National Army the purcha ser
| should be released from the obligation
OF paying for the titles TO them.
Majors Mny Lose Heavily
MajT league club owners. who have
thousands OF dollars tied up in PLAYERS
/ alone, stand to lose heavily AT any
time. but the minor league owner who
depends on tho sale of players 10 tide
MN over. especially in lean years such
AS 1911 has been, WAS mighty hard hit.
Baseball men who stand GU, AS the
protectors OF tho game are agreed that
major league ball must be continued.
practically At any cost. They would
gladly consent 10 its continuance UNI
de. government supervision II neces-
sa?y. y whole year without organized
ball Of any kind would be terrific
blow to the game, for organized base
ball is big business. in which mil
lions OF dollars are tied UP, and should
IL be KILLED for the period of even ons
year it would he set back at least ten
Years. according TO those who are in -
position 10 know
The confidence that has been ex-
PRESSED by men high up IN the baseball
business that the game can be con-
tinued along modest lines is born of
the belief that the public would be 10th
30 sec the national paStimc torn TO
pieces. Baseball is Il red bioodcd gam.
that has more followers than any other
sport in the world. and after the war
II is believed that the game Will spread
20 all parts OF the globe in due time.
IL the game is protected ii may not be
so many years until fandom will be
oHered the chance to see world
series in every sense OF the word.
win teams representing nations, rather
Than leagues. playing for the title.
This may sound like an idle dream, but
such baseball men as Clarke Griffith,
CHARLEY Comiskey and Ban johnson
have considered il possible