Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-06
-AMATERS TONIGHT
COMMISSION AND r. A. A. F.
TO UNITE AT JOINT SESSION
President Fuller Calls important Meet
Ing. Results OF Which Mean Much
to Amateur Baseball PlRyers.

tcuf Baseball Commission, has called
a meeting Of that body for o'clock
tonight in Murphy's Hotel for the
purpose Of ratifying tho resolution
passed on Thursday niSht by the
ccutirc committee Of the Richnond
Amateur Athletic Federation looking
toward union Of tho two local anna
tcnr organizations.
with members Of tho commission to-
night VIII meet representatives Of the
Richmond Amateur Athletic Fedora
ton az well. and II is expected that
the amaleamation plans will be
brouGh 10 Il successful conclusion in
short order The meeting is regarded
~ ore OF the most important. from
tn" standpoint Of the amateurs, that
has been hold in recent months. and
mcmbcra Of both bodies havoSS.JoAn
urged to be present. % "
The fact that amateur haaSbRl! ! itfs
Richmond has been suffcrthG,afor thod
laat several years. ~ result OF 4 wj) A
separate organizations. madf itSoI2 ab-
parent TO those interested IN tile isport
some time ago. and efforts tyern lmuda
10 unite tho bodies FOR the Nehchtiof
the individual players. Negotiations
on the proposition Of necessity have
been slow. and IL is duo 10 the broad
mindcdncss Of officials in each orSani-
cation that the plan now seems GER
tain of success.
The Amateur Baseball Commission
made the federation a proposition some
time ago, and after some time elapsed.
during which informal conferences
were held several times on tho matter.
n meeting OF tho executive committee
OF the federation was called for Thurs
day night. The matter then received
careful and detailed consideration, with
the result that resolution way adept
ed that no doubt viii lead TO the for
NAL union Of the bodies at tho meet
ing Tonight
irh
mond Amateur Athletic Federation
withdraws entirely from the baseball
field and. in the future. Viii devote it
self solely TO athletics. In which tho
rules of the Amateur Athletic Union
arc recognized az being the controlling
factors. The commission viii have
entire charge Of the amateur baseball
field here, and the amateur standing
Of no player will be questioned by the
federation officials. provided he plays
with team urdci commission con-
troll
one OF tho principal factors in bring
ing about tho decision TO unite the
Richmond amateurs for the approach
Ing season is said to have been a
statement made by Dr. Burdick. regis
trar OF TIL" South Atlantic Amateur
Athletic Union. Dr. Burdick was ask
Cd how the Baltimore amateurs were
controlled and II the rules Of tho Anna
tour Athletic Union were enforced
there On hareba'i players. lie is said
10 have replied that they were not
and tina, baseball! was considered "a
separate ana distinct sport. although
efforts 10 discourage professionalism
were made.
\ fact that all amateurs here recos
nizcd was that The men playing base
ban could not hc controlled by ANA
teur Athletic Union rules without
working great hardship on hum
dreds or players. one man who had
played semiprofessional baseball would
have disqualified all other players who
might have played n 4 game with him
The far-reachInc effects Of a rigid
enforcement OF this ruling has made
itself felt In tho local amateur baseball
held for several years aud has done
much TO hold hack the game with
the union OF the organizations, and
nc more generous rules Of the com
mission in vogue. II is expected tina,
the game Viii he ono ~ the mos, pros
porous III years during 1917.
ihe resolution that probably Viii
lie ratified ~ the meeting tonight IL
as follows:
The Richmond Amateur Athletic
Federation and tho Amateur Baseball
Commission II Richmond Va. each
recognizing the Importance Of the other
IN us especial field of effort. namely.
the Il. \. \ F.. IN general athletics. and
the \. B. T. c.. in baseball. the fol-
lowing agreement is hereby made be
tween the X y. \. +. and tho a. Il. H.
-. whereby the baseball interests Of
r. y. \ + arc TO he handled by the
commission This agreement shall hc
III force for the calendar year 1917.
r. y. a. +. Oh its part agrees a. TO
refrain from organizing and conduct
ing baseball. and ~ that no athlete
shall on account ~ participation in
baseball IN l"iI nave his aniatcurism
questioned. provided he plays under tho
issinn conducts bip,ScIT 49,.
cordine TO the rules and standards OF
the commission
Tie Il. y. \. T.. reserves the right TO
act in cases not coming under this
agreement
Tho Amateur Baseball Commission
on its part agrees rD 10 appoint to
vacancies i'll It's membership two rep
resentativcs Of r. \, A. l.. To be uomi-
mated hy r.. y. A. r. who shall have
voting and other rights equal To thosc
Of other members: ,2) 10 organize and
conduct baseball leagues aud contests
in fun observation OF amateurism ac-
cordinC 10 tho standards set forth in
the constitution. bylaws and rules OF
tho commission as amended and pub
lishcd. as follows:
Rule 1. No PLAYER or manager shall
offer. give. or receive. any money or
thing Of value, promise Of remunera-
ton or valuable consideration for play
ing on team under tho jurisdiction
OF this commission. Violation Of this
rule shall render such player. manager
or team ineligible 10 participate in
the post-season series and liable to
such other penalties aS tho board may
Xix. When charges arc preferred
against player, manager or team.
they must he tried within ten days.
Sundays and legal holidays excepted.
MI charges must he in writing. aud
presented to tho board within forty
should n player or manager take part
in any game while charges arc pend
ing. and I've found guilty. the team on
which he plays shall forfeit the game
I" the opposing team ranalty to he
ordered as the board may direct.
Rule :. During the suspension or en-
pulsion OF player, any manager or
player knowingly participating in
game with or against him shall be i'm
mcdiately suspended. fined, or tho game