New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-03-27
kNABE QUIzzED ON
STAND IN FED SUIT
Baltimore Club Tries to Prove
Reserve Clause Violated Law

washington, March 27.-Testimony
| apparently designed to prove organic
| ca baseball a monopoly within the
meaning of the Sherman antitrust
act was introduced yesterday in the
lFlal IN the District of Columbia Su-
PFeme Court of the damage suit of
The Baltimore Federal League club
against The National and American
| leagues and certain officials of the
former Federal League. The Balti-
more club is seeking to recover
damages of 100000
Counsel for the Baltimore club call
ed two witnesses yesterday, F. Otto
Knabe, assistant manager of the Chi
cago club of the National League and
formerly manager of the Baltimore
Federals, and L. Edwin Goldman,
former director Of the complainant
club. The former said he had signed
numerous players who came to the
Baltim ore club and that the club was
compelled to offer unusually large
salaries.
This was due he said, to realiza-
ton by the players that they were
going to q, new organization and fear
that if anything happened to the new
venture they might find it extremely
difficult to return to the ranks of or
ganized basebalH and might even be
out of employment for the rest Of
their professional lives.
Both witnesses were asked many
questions regarding the reserve in the
contracts of professional baseball
players, Goldman asserting that it
was through these clauses the organi-
zation maintained control Of players
from one season to another. For the
benefit of the jury the witness re-
viewed the formation of the two older
professional baseball organizations
and their m ethods of operation, which
he claimed TO be nonopoiistic.
Says It's a Trust.
In response to questions regarding
the relative value of baseball players
Goldman gave it as his opinion that
actually there were not enough real
first class ball players in the country
to form one team. He explained tho
system through which players are
purchased and drafted, and agreed on
cross examination that the Federal
League in paying big salaries to Ma
tional and American League stars
who jumped to the Federals did not
have 10 take into consideration the
original draft OF the mdlNldualS.
We would have been glad of the
opportunity to draft men, however,
he added, land would have paid for
them accordingly"
Asked About Reserve Clause.
George Whartin Pepper, counsel for
organized baseball interests, asked
the witness whether he considered
that the salary paid professional
ball players was given them in con-
sideration of the reservation the clubs
held upon. their services for the next
season. MI. Goldman said it was not
his understanding that the salary OF
ball players was so divided into two
parts. He said the Federal League in
it's contracts with players also insert
cd reservation clause.
The examining attorney asked the
witness whether he considered that
the rules and regulations of organized
baseball regarding relations between
the various clubs did not in effect
work to prevent rich clubs from buy
ing out the poor ones. In reply the
witness said rich club could get
certain advantages by reason of its
wealth, but that it would not be good
business for one club to have playing
for it all the really first class players.