New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-17
Small Minor League Clubs
Are Nou Facing Extinction
Action Taken at Louisville
Fatal to Hopes of
Weaker Circuits "
By w. J. Macbeth

The annual meeting Of the Nations,
Association in Louisville appear. =.
have been quite bust" The end a,
the conference found minor league eo,.
ditions in no wise improved from N.
chaos that prevailed throughout la.
season and which forced a number a,
the smaller minor organizations 10 ans.
pend.
In the proposed plan for redistribu.
ton of minor league territory, which
was voted down, to 2, the great ma.
jority of the humber circuits saw n.
possibility of light ahead. With TIL,
hope gone there seems little TO be don.
in their case but to close shop during
the period of the war at least.
These little minor leagues believed
with the two majors and a certain few
others of higher classification that ter.
ritorial retrenchment was absolutely
necessary for the life Of minor leay,.
baseball as a whole. unfortunately
| they lacked proper representation on
the national board to force respect FOR
their wishes.
Personal Prejudice Counted
The voting powers of the board were
/ largely confined to Class IA and Class
/ A and Glass B circuits, and person,
/ prejudice, or fear, of these defeated
and reform resolution. They saw BE-.
/ hind the amendment an unusually large
territorial eruption, for such an amend.
ment would have left an opening for
| the proposed merger Of the strongest
clubs of the American Association and
international League into new, near
major circuit.
Whether or not the Union League
would have solved the present dffcul.
/ ties of the two most prominent Class
/ AA organizations, the fact remains
| that the defeat of the proposition for
territorial redistribution is likely 70
crush the life out of the LITTLE opera.
tors. The closing of this field will 81.
/ feet the more prominent minors jus.
/ as major league baseball will be al.
fected by all minor league depression.
II seems doubtful, indeed, whether
the International League will sttenp.
| to operate next season. -Four Of the
clubs are pretty thoroughly diseour-
aged over present conditions. These
were willing to step aside for their
confreres to join hands with the Amer
lean Association in the contemplated
amalgamation. 1t was those Associs-
ton clubs which were TO be left on.
in the cold that baked the plan.
For very apparent reasons the major
leagues can i'll afford to see any Of
the more prominent minor associations
| lock up shop. The major leagues have
determined upon common policy Of
I retrenchment. This applies to salary
expenses as well as schedule. The
major leagues to-day are pretty well
stocked up with players. To get down
to a rigid roster limit will require the
placing of an unusual number OF sth.
letes in slower company. The fewer
| the minor league clubs that operate
the greater will be this difficulty.
New Material Essential
Furthermore, major league baseball
in the end must suffer proportionately
with the minor conditions. The Ma.
tional and American could not lone
maintain their high standards Of play
If new material were not being
educated. The present stars have bat
a limited course to run. Once the BIC
fellows lose the class which disan-
cuisines them from the bushers, Just 80
soon will the public resent an intenor
article Of play at major league prices.
Some sixty major league players are
already enrolled in war service. The
number is likely to be doubled Or
trebled by spring. This circumstares
may help to solve the roster problem
of the big fellows to a degree. but OILY
minor activity can develop fitting sub
stitutes. Unless the National Commits
sion, acting for the major leagues, can
/ influence the National Association to
display slightly more sentiment toward
/ the obscure minor leagues organized
baseball throughout is bound TO sunef'
Though all the major league clubs
| have waived on the services OF Johnny
the Phillies, the noted Trojan canno'
receive his unconditional release TO-
some days. This information vas
vouchsafed by John A. Heylder. SEE
rotary Of the National League.
after the closing Of the waiver
I period" said John yesterday, "heN
still remain ten days within which n!
major league club may lay claim
such a players services without mons.
tary consideration - the customeT
waiver purchase price. Such a CLAM
ing club. however. must satisfy u'
salary demands Of the player so elsine'
or waiver title. In the case 81
Evers this ten-dsy period has not e.
pired. Hence, Johnny is not i'''
agent" -,
IL would appear that Evers Is ";
being turned out into the colo -.
cruel world by Pat Moran. DouoHess
the former Keystone King OF the oos'
and Braves sought his own release
order that he might better himself ~
early as the world series it was ..
mored that Evers would manage =,
Boston Red Sox next season u
should happen that Jack Barry va
called into the service 70 whien "a
volunteered. Barry has been ealles
the colors and it is doubtful II ne w. -.
be able to continue as pilot o. ~
former world champions. IT. A.
Out st. Louis way the critics
clare that Branch Hickey is seiiSvs
considering Evers as manager o. 90
Cardinals. With two such cpeI,.Jss.
it Is reasonable TO suppose tns' ~ y.
J., Of Troy, will land on bis 'ees .;cf
fore the opening Of another
league campaign.
Charles H. Ebbets and Edvs ~
and Steve McKeever. who eonu'' III
Brooklyn National League cruz ,,c.
entertain twenty-five soldiers psy
Camp Upton at ThsnSsglylns, IN.
dinner. Brooklyn fans have the Pa
lege Of swelling this number ,sss
nitelv through personal contrlou..Aa