The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-17
MINORSQUIT
ORGANIZED BALL
Refusal of Demands Made on
Major Leagues Brings
on Revolt.
ACTION is SURPRISING
Big Organizations Make No
Effort to Keep Insurgents
in the Fold.
ACTION IS SURPRISING

TIE minor leagues broke away from
organized baseball last night. At joint
conference OF the major and minor
league officials at the Biltmore the Ma
ional and American Leagues refused
roint blank to yield to the demands made
by the smaller leagues. Accordingly the
minors announced that they desired to
dissolve the National Agreement, which
had been In force for sixteen years, and
continue business without any aff1liation
with the major leasues. The abolition
~ the draft and certain conditions un-
der which the ma jors could purchase
ard return players were the bones OF
rontention.
In taking this drastic action. however.
the minors requested that the present
agreement remain in force until they
can reorganize and draw up a new
asreemcnt among themselves. This re-
quest was yielded to. and 1t also was
agreed that when the new agreement is In
force the major and minor leagues will re-
sp.ct the contract. reservation and ter
ritorial rights OF each other.
The question OF disputes over players
was raised and this matter was left for
,uture adjustment. The request was
granted with the provision that the
reserve lists Of the minor league clubs
shall not include more than twenty-one
players, the limit adopted by the major
leagues. 1t also was agreed that all
present liabilities shall be adjusted.
The proposition TO break away from
the majors followed a long debate over
the demands OF the minors. When their
requests were refused A. F. Tierney.
speaking for the National Association.
said: I'VE would be the happiest men
In the world II the major leagues would
let us shift for ourselves and handle our
own affairs"
Don't Try TO Hold Them.
They were taken at their word with
out a dissenting vote. A committee.
consisting OF Tierney. Ed Hanlon. Joe
Tinker and John II. Farrell retired
from the room and drew up the request
regarding the respecting of each others
rights. This also was quickly agreed to.
The action of the minors created a
sensation among baseball men. II was
the genera, opinion that they had
started trouble for themselves. II could
not be figured how the majors could
suffer. In the future the majors will
ave TO purchase a player outright in
stead OF drafting him. but instead OF
taking a chance on a player being ready
for major league company they will
MOI buy until they know he is capable.
The money obtained from the drafting
OF players has kept the minors alive in
tie past and It is not explained how
they expect to operate without major
league support.
Il will work a hardship inasmuch as
70 Young player OF promise will sign
With the minors when he knows thai
he Ia doomed TO remain In the lower
ranks until the club that owns him gets
What I. wants for him
Nothing was said against a minor
league club taking a player from the
majors with an agreement TO return him
when wanted, but one OF the minor
'eayue men said that provisions would
he made In the new agreement that will
n-event the practice OF farming out
PLAYERS.
The minor leasuers we're taken of
Their feet with the prompt action OF the
majors in taking them at their word
and seemed bewildered when they
got more than they asked for" as one
~ the minor lcasuers expressed himself
In the meeting.