Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-07
BEAT THE BUSHES
is HICKEY REFORM
New President of American As
sociation Believes Fans Like
to See Youngsters.
ONCE OPPOSED TO o. B. B.

Chicago. Jan. 6.-"Beaa the bushes"
for new players, youngsters who have
never had major league experience,
is one OF the reforms started by
Thomas J.. Hickey, the new president
of the American Association.
It's President Hickey's plan to have
each OF the eight clubs carry four
young players for speedy develop
ment Supporters OF the game. he be-
lievcs. want to see the youngsters
perform, They are becoming weary
he thinks, OF the old faces-players
who have been dropped by the major
league clubs.
When player is sent to US from
the major President Hickey ex-
planned, there is usually something
wrong with him. Either he is slip
ping or hasn't arrived. We should
encourage the development of our
own players, not those belonging to
some other organization.
President Hickey also considers the
plan advantageous from a hnancia
point OF view If new star is de.
veloped in the American Association
major league clubs will be eager tc
purchase him, perhaps at a fancy
price, thus making double profit fol
the club owner, President Hickey
thinks. The American Association
magnate would have the drawing
power and services of the new stal
ard perhaps receive big money fol
his release.
Mr. Hickey. the first president ant
one OF the organizers of the associa
ton. has taken up the work OF di
recting the organization after laps,
OF thirteen years. He officially sue
ceeds Thomas M. Chivington as presi
dent on January 8-the date on which
Mr.. Chivington took Office seven year
ago.
Mr.. Hickey was born in Chicago
and was a fan in St. Louis during
the days Of the Browns glory unde
1 Chris Won der Abe and Charles A
Comisky From St. Louis Mr.. Hicke,
moved to Lincoln, Neb.. and it wa
there he organized the Western asso
citation in 1898. He was elected presi
dent OF the league in 1895 and he'll
that Office until the Association dis
banded in 1893. In 1899 he re-or
ganized the circuit as the Westerl
league.
Organizes Association.
Two years later Hickey becam
convinced that such cities as St. Pat
!. and Kansas City were in class abov
y Des Moines and St. Joseph as bas
|, ball centers. So in 1900 he canvasse
"a the circuit with a view to organizin
: the American Association. Wester
league club owners consented to re
lease, St. Paul and Kansas City an
Mr.. Hickey then lined up Columbu
Toledo, Milwaukee, Indianapolis an
Louisville for franchises.
At that time Minneapolis was i
the American league, but one yea
later it was dropped and joined til
: American association, which stand
today as it was originally formed.
Mr.. Hickey was opposed to org;
nized base ball and the associatio
for two years was operated on a
: outlaw basis. Finally, however, II
association joined hands with org
nized base ball and Mr.. Hickey r,
/; tired . f. .... ~.
. During the thirteen years M
y Hickey has not been connected wit
h base ball he has followed the gan
h closely and his return to the pres
9 dency of the association is hailed t
some as a solution of several prol
lens with which members of the o
: ganization have had to contend.
l. Chivington Worries Not.
e Mr.. Chivington, the retiring pres
= dent, has no immediate plans, b
y asserts he is not worrying about ii
future. 1t is probable, however, til
!, he will confine his interests to a p
- = can grove in Alabama.
- :, 81 know I'm a man without job
- Chivington said, but | wish to S;
:, that | haven't felt as free and ea
!. in mind in a great many years,
- 81 have no fear of the future, f
\ l have been makinH my own W;
a = since / was II years old"
NJ Chivington, a former sporting &c
" tor, became president of the associ
ton in 1909, succeeding JOSEF
O'Brien. He had worked on newsp
i pers in Milwaukee and Louisville (
n several years. Previously he was c
" gagged in the railroad business. I
ID also was a detective at one time.
m THAT was when ! was connect
f. with the coroner's Office in Denv'
Id 1t was the custom for the coroner
I'd hire his own sleuths to solve murde
nc and other cases. ....
se '"If l do say it, l was considerat
ay detective"
a 1lI- CI