The Washington times., 1917-01-19
YOUNGSTERS AWAIT
STRIKERS PLACES
Few Who Hoped to Feds Are
Now Identified With Big
League Clubs.
BY JOE VILLA.

! the players union, who have been or
dered TO strike. must not forget the
tate of numerous young men who de-
serted the major leagues three vears
ago to aid the Federal hackers in the
disastrous struggle with organized
baseball. I can name more than two
dozen players who have dropped out
of fast company because their former
employers have filled their places with
ambitious and capable youngsters.
! In 1913 the big leagues paid liberal
salaries to such players as Joe Think
er, otto Knabe. Tom Seaton, Mike
Doolan. Ad Brennan, Russell Ford,
Jack Dalton, Rebel Cakes, Jack
Quinn. Edgar WiIlett. Cy FaIkenbere-
Indian" Johnson. Mike Simon, Harry
Lord. Guy linn. Frank Laporte, Enos
Kirkpatrick, Marty Berghammer. and
| others who left the ranks of organ
lied baseball, feeling sure that the
Federal League would be a bowling
success.
Deserted the PhIIIis.
Knabe, Doolan, Seaton. and Bren-
nan deserted the PhiIlies, who won
the National League pennant two
years later. Enabe will have to ind
employment In the minors this year.
Doolsn will try his hanOat manag-
ing the Rochester club. Seaton's
$4,000 salary has been cut'in two by |
Owner Weeghman, of the Cubs. who |
finally decided to let him go. Brennan
was turned loose last season by
Weeghman and has dropped into OBJ |
security.
Tinker. who jumped the BrookIyns
/, to hprnmp Of he
was a dismal failure as the Cubs |
| leader last season and will devote his |
time this year to the management of |
the Columbus club.
Russell Ford, who received $4,000 /
year from the Yankees, has retired.
Jack Dalton, who jumped the Brook
lyns, is minor Lacquer. So is Rebel
Cakes, who turned his back on the
Cardinals to accept a position with
the Pittsfeds
Jumped to Baltimore.
Quinn broke his contract with the
Boston Braves to join the Baltimore |
Feds. He pitched for a California |
club last season. Willett, who de-
serted the Detroits. was released b.
Fielder Jones when he took hold OF
the combined st. Louis Browns and |
Feds
Faikenberg left a good berth with |
the Clevelands to play with the In |
dianapolis Feds and is now in the
minors. Mike Simon violated his con
tract with the Pirates and never re
turned to the big leagues.
These deserters probably will ad
init that they made a fatal mistake
when they ran away from the men
who financed the game. They OBJ
tanned fat salaries for a while, II lie
true, but their major league careers
were shortened by several years.
Taking Same Chances.
Many of the strikers are taking
similar chances. If they go out the
magnates are sure to find men to fill
their places. and it is reasonably Ger.
tain that the club owners will try
TO keep all such deserters out of the
fold.
The magnates are determined to
put an end to contract jumping and
hoId-ups There will be no half way
methods this time. The Players Union
has thrown down the gauntlet and
the magnates welcome the oppor-
tunity to crush the playing element
which has made endless trouble since
the inception of the Feds.
Are Receiving Letters.
All Of the sixteen major league
clubs are receiving letters from sensi-
BILE players to the effect that they
are not in sympathy with the strike
order and the attempt to put the
union into the American Federation
of Labor. Most Of these players have
informed their employers that they
will not remain away from the South
ern training camps.
4 local club received letter from
a star player yesterday which throws
light on the attitude of many union
members.
Didn't Expect Strike.
81 signed an agreement last sum
mer to stick by the union" says this
player, but ! had no idea that there
would be a strike. have no griev-
ance. and ] know that practically all
the players are satisfied with their
treatment.
THE idea of keeping the major
league players idle until the minor
League men receive some concessions
is entirely out of order. As nobody
will pay me while / am expected to
remain on strike / do not see how I
can be benefited. I have a family
tn support and ] need my salary. I'll
report on the LIST of March"
Another prominent player has writ
ten To his employer that II is unfair
to ask him to hold out while other
players already under contract will
report and draw their salaries.