Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-03
LIFE OF LUXURY
OF BASEBALL MEN
Diamond Expert Shows Alb
surdity Of a Strike.
THEY RECEIVE SPLENDID PAY
Many Players Get Bank Presidents
Salaries For Easy Work-Have Five
Months Lsisure-Their Labor Is Play
and Keeps Them In Good Health.

Months Lsisure-Their Labor Is Play
and Keeps Them In Good Health.
II ball players have grievances
against club owners the latter have
many, many of them against their mer-
cenary hirelings. or some of them at
least, writes Ed Wray, the st. Louis
expert.
One clause Of every players contract
Is violated annually and by every luke
warm player who signs document.
Here it Is:
The player agrees to render for the
club owner - his best services as a
Dali player, and he agrees to keep him.
SELF In the best possible condition from
the date to the termination of this con-
tract"
Despite the splendid pay and easy
work. certain players cannot be faith.
ful to their employers In these two VI
tai particulars, although they have al.
most six months in which to relax and
pursue their own whims after the sea.
son is over.
AS nearly as an outsider can Judge
therefore, the ball player who would
strike against his present "slaverv"
ought to be examined In his ton story.
He doesn't know good thing when he
has it. His shortsightedncss may cause
him to open his eyes In case Of de-
clslve action by the magnatcs.
lie will get what is coming to him
then-less pay and more work.
The ball players arduous life. In nut.
shell form. looks like this:
lie works approximately 300 hours
year.
lie Is paid from s., 400 to $4,000.
He has five months lcasure. subject
to no orders.
He has his travelling and other cx.
penses paid.
He gets enormous bonuses for cue.
cess and no penalties for failure.
He has been known to receive as
high as s. for every ball pitched for
an entire season.
His labor is play; it also keeps him In
splendid health.
His employer pays TO put him IN
shape to do the very work for which no
Is so exorbitantly rewarded.
And yet he talks of striking.
President Tener Of the National
league, who has not upliftcd much of
anything except his voice since he was
hog tied, thrown down and forced to
accept the position he occupies plus
$4,000 year, has been interviewed
again. Mr.. Tener had nothing to say
and confined 1t to two columns, but at
the end Of 1t he violated rules by EN-.
bodying an uncopyrighted idea as FOL.
lows:
Il do not think that any games
should be played in major league cities
until the opening Of the regular sea-
son. Exhibition games in the south are
all right, but played at home they take
the punch out Of the seasons open
ing"
May be all right, but thousands think
1t would be hard to find a real punch
In any Of the ante-season big league
games.
Battles for first base will be features
of three American league training
camps. Manager Griffith Of Washing
ton has decided to pit Howard Shanks
against Joe Judge for the first base
berth Of the Senators, and Louis GnIs-
to, the slugger from the Pacific coast,
Is to battle Chick Gandil for his place
with the Cleveland Indians,
AT the camp of the Chicago White
Sox the competition will be more spirit
ed. Besides Ness and Fournler, Man
ager Rowland has two young first sack
ers from the minors to fight for the
Job. The other American league first
basemen Of 1916-Pipn, McInnis, Hob
litzell, Burns and Sisler--are in no
danger of being displaced.