Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-01-08
BEATING BUSHES
FOR NEW PLAYERS
YOUNGSTERS WHO HAVE NEVER HAD
MAJOR LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
ARE NOW BEING SOUGHT

10y iHNo'idiru iItNN-l
CHICAGO. Jan. S.-.Beat the bushes
for new players, younsters who have
never had major league experience, is one
II the reforms started by Thomas j.
Hickey, the new president of the Ameri-
IAN Association.
lis President Hickey's plan to have
1ght clubs carry four young players for
recdy development. Supporters of the
.Gme, he believes. want to see the young
tiers perform. They are becoming weary
ne thinks. OF the old f~aces--players who
have been dropped by the major league
Tubs.
when 4 PLAYER D. sent ~ uS from tn
majors President Hickey explained,
there i usually something wrong with
him. Either he II slipping n hasn't ar
lived. We should encourage the develop
ment If our own PLAYERS. not those be-
longing "a some other o~rgaavatipn"
President Hickey also considers the
plan advantageous from 4 financial pom.
If view. HI \ ncw STAR H. developed ~
the American association. major league
Tubs will he eager Ia purchase him. per
haps at q fancy price. thus making a
double profit Tor the club owner. prc~i-
lent Hickey thinks. The American a~~o-
citation macnaie~ would have the drawing
power and services ot the now star and
perhaps receive hig money for hi release.
Mr.. Hickey. the first president and one
VI the organizers II the association. has
taken MP the work of directing the or
sanization after u lapse ct thirteen wears.
He officially succeeds Thomas NJ. Chiv-
ington. H. president on January She
date on which Mr.. Chivington took office
>even wears ago.
Mr.. Hickey was horn in Chicago. and
was \ fan III ST. Louis during the days
II the Browns glory under Chris. Won der
Abe and Charles A. C,miskey. From 81.
Louis Mr.. Hickey moved To Lincoln. Neb.,
nj ID was there he organized the West
ia association in 1898. He was elected
resident III the league il 1895 and held
hat office until the association dlsband-
a in 1895. In 1919 he recognized the
.ircuit ~ he Western league.
Two years later Hickey became con
need that such cities as st. Paul and
| Kansas City were in a class above Des
Moines and ST. Joseph as baseball cen
| ers. 50, IN 1900, he canvassed the cir
.uit with 4 view "a organizing the Amer
ean association. Western league club
owners consented 10 release 81. Paul and
Kansas City and Mr.. Hickey then lined
~ Columbus. Toledo, Milwaukee. Indian
polls and Louisville for franchises.
At that time Minneapolis was in the
American league. bat one year later II was
dropped and Joined the American asso-
iation which -tuud- today W. il was orig
nally formed. 4.
Mr.. Hickey was opposed TO organized
baseball and The association for tvs
ears operated NJ an nn,iaw basis. Fin
Lllv. however. the association loinet
lands with organized baseball and Mr.
Hickey retired.
During the thirteen years Mr.. Hickey
ia~ not been CONNECTED with baseball III
,a~ followed the game closely and hIs re-
urn 10 the presidency of the asSocia.
ion III hailed ~ some AZ q solution o
rvcral problems with which members y
~ organization have had tn contend.
Mr.. Chivington, the retiring president
la~ no Immediate plans, but asserts b
Y not Worrying about the future. N j
probable. however. that he will contin
his interests 10 q pecan grove in Alabama
Il know I'm q man without a Job.