The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-18
MANAGERS
WOULD REVISE RULE
Desire More Ex-PronessionaIs On
i Teams-Will Leave Matter to
Commission and Rules Com

With the first meeting OF the ANA
tour Baseball commission OF Rich
mond comes the onnual review of the
constitution and bylaws of that or
sanitation and the appointment OF
committee on rules. which will have
az Its duty possible changes In the
playing rules in general. II has been
tne case for the last several years to
allow the rules to remain intact with
Few minor corrections, but this
year, probably will see q number OF
cnanReS in the playing rules covering
me point CT professionals.
Three years ago the commission In
serted In its constitution a clause
whtch prohibits a manager from
having on his team more than three
players who had previously had pro-
fessional experience. This was neces-
sary on account Of a number OF the
ex-pros banding together each sea-
sou and forming an aggregation
which went through the season and
mad a walk away in the race for the
psnnAnt In the league they repre-
sentec.
Managers have been discussing the
three man clause since the last meet
ing OF the commission and are won
dering IL II cannot be amended and
|sallow four or Ave professionals to the
Team. 1t Is pointed out that there
are About twenty ex-professional ball
players in this city and as the class
A league probably Will consist OF four
teams and allowing three men to the
team this will leave eight former
pros out and result In their not being
able to play amateur ball this year
unless they enter a league of a lower
classification than the major organi-
xation,
There Is a difference OF opinion
| among those interested In amateur
baseball here, Some of the adherents
OF the great national pastirae favor
| relaxing the rules and allowing the
number of ex-pros on q team 70 be
Increased. while with others II Ia
vice versa. and they state that three
professionals are enough II amateur
bali L. to be conducted on the same
high plane as in the past.
Those in favor of amending the
rule state that IL six club class A
organization is formed will not ad-
socate a change In the rule but on
the other hand If the four-club AFFAIR
begins the season they will put in
their claim for revision OF the rule.
The matter OF the number OF clubs In
the Organization has not been de-
terfniped yet and hardly Will De UNI
III the next meeting OF the commits
sion, and II may not he settled then
The governing body or amateur bdii
here will so slow in forming the
big" circuit In order that managers
will have plenty of time to file their
applications for franchises.
No controversy or disruption OF any
league or team will result from the
proposed amendment of the rule. All
amateur managers are in perfect har-
mony with the comm ission and Will
be only two glad TO abide by any de
cision that the governing body rem
Iders In view Of this fact 1919 prom
iaes to be one Of the biggest and best
seasons that amateur bali has had
here for many year.
X In pointed cut that the number
or ex-professionai 10 Richmond at
this time can be accounted for by
the fact that severi players. who
never before had played professional
ball went into the game last year on
account OF the inroad made upon the
professional team by the draft In
view Of these conditions II Is believed
th A. the men who took up baseball
Ia q profession on account OF the war
will be reins ated by the com mission
land not branded professional players
Tf the commission decides to rein
xfetc the wartime professionals 1t
viii cut down the number Of ex-proa
here and thus enable all the men to
bake part in amateur bail.