Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-11
MAGNATES DISCUSS
LIMIT OF PLAYERS
WAR CONDITIONS MAKE CHANGES
NECESSARY IN BASEBALL
RULES NEXT YEAR.

New York, Dec 10-One of the eff
fects of the war is the necessity for
"a radical REIMBURSEMENT of the pro-
fessional baseball structure and of
the many proposed innovations and
curtailments suggested The limita-
ton OF each club roster TO eighteen
players has aroused the greatest dis
cussion. Magnates in both of the ma
jor leagues are sharply aligned in IA
vor or opposition to this amendment
to the rules and it is likely that there
will be considerable CONTROVERSY be-
fore the matter is adjusted.
The proposal is one which permits
of much argument with plenty of facts
to support the contentious of the de-
baters. For instance, it has been
pointed out that no club is required,
at the present time, to carry the full
limit of players and might go through
the season with fifteen if it so de-
sired. Clubs favoring a maximum of
eighteen offer in rebuttal the state
ment that certain organizations, f.
nanctally capable of supporting
twenty-five player team. would under,
such condition have decided advan-
tage over the club which could not af-
ford, in war times, to carry more than
twenty at the outside. From other
unofficial sources comes the claim
that the reduction is advocated by GER
tain clubs, the pennant chances of
which would be greatly strengthened
IL other formidable opponents were
forced to cut down their playing staff
to conform with the proposed require
ments.
Twenty-Five Is Maximum.
The adoption Of the rule would also
require. in all probability, change in
the national agreement which at the
present time places maximum limit
of twenty-five players upon the clubs
of the American and National leagues
during the greater portion of the play
ing season. This is further reduced
to twenty-five in the case of the Ma
tional league through regulation in
force in the senior organization while
the American league holds to twenty
five.
One baseball authority brings out
the point that the cost of maintaining
a big league team has increased ire
mendously in the past twelve months
and is likely to advance still further
during the season of 1918. The charge
for hotel accommodations and meals,
both on the trains and while playing
in rival cities have reached figures
far beyond those existing in previous
years. The war tax alone on railroad
and Pullman reservations will add
something like 10 per cent to the
transportation charges Of travelling
teams.
That numerous pennants have been
won in past years by clubs with con-
siderable less than the number of
players allowed at this time is shown
by search of the records of the ma
tional game. During the early sew
enties National league teams played
through the season without approach
ing the eighteen player total. The
first of the American league clubs
ranged from seventeen to twenty.
Average % in Series.
A fair line OF the number OF play
ers used in recent years can be gained
from the lists of eligibles for the
world series as promulgated by the
National commission each season
since 1906 The teams. Of course, in
each case wefe the winners of their
respective league pennants and yet
the records disclose that there has
been, hardly case where the full
number OF eligibles were actually
called into action Eighteen players
registered by the New York Giants
and the Philadelphia Athletics y in
1905 is the minimum and the average
for the entire thirteen years is twen-
ty-two and fraction players per
team. The list follows:
National Ieaoue