The evening world., 1919-09-13
By Hugh S. Fullerton.

WHO AOWlns
Take the National Commission, for |
instance. Last fall this same COM
mission, by refusing to meet with or
listen to the players OF the Chicago
Cubs and Boston Red Sox teams,
brought on a strike that was the
uglicst little scandal In recent his
tory OF the game.
The strike resulted because the
commission decided TO allow the
teams finishing second and third in
the major leagues to participate in
the receipts of the series. They set
the sum to be paid players OF the
second teams and third teams. The
teams playing for the championship
we've 10 receive a percentage Of the
receipts. Conditions reduced attend
ance TO the lowest record and when
the Red Sox and Cubs discovered
that the teams finishing second In
the leagues were guaranteed more
money than the teams playing for the
pennant would receive there was a
howl.
That ought TO have taught the
commission a lesson. Yet they meet
In solemn conclave and announce
that each player of the winning team
this fail ought to receive S2,sSi, each
losing player $3.50, each member Of
the two teams finishing second Si5
and each member Of the third team
t3l5.
Bone7 Sure! II tho figures fall
under these sums the players Of six
teams will let out a howl that Will
be heard all over the land.
The funny thing about II was that
there was no necessity whatever for
the commission 10 mention or guar.
antee any sum after stating the per-
centageS allotted the teams.
The other problem OF the series Is
what to do with the shine ball. The
star pitcher OF the White Sox and
Reds each is a shine ball artist, 50 1t
Is hardly to be expected that either
team viii desire the abo!it4pn OF the
sinner. But each team Is sure 10
kick hard on the delivery of freak
balls when their own man is not
using that style. Perhaps they viii
kick to conceal their own methods.
The thing to do is for the commls-
sion to have a full and complete un-
derstanding with owners, managers,
players and umpires before game Is
played, 80 that arguments aA~y DO
avoided.
If the series is to be merely an
exhibition of skill in throwing freak
balls, why don't some team sign an
Australian boomerang man ana let
him amuse the crowd. The real idea
Of a Worlds Series is TO see Two
teams play, not to watch two pitch
ers exhibit, and If the commission
checks up the use OF the sinner, the
chances are the crowds Will witness
"A test OF strength between two teams.
There is sure TO be powerful lot or
hitting in the series, even II the stars
Eller and Cicotte, are permitted 10
use the sinner freely.
The major leagues have taken
rather a wise course in the draft mat
ter instead OF forcing the issue ana
compelling the minors either to sur
render or declare war. 1t would nave
been better, OF course, II the MAJOR
leagues had stuck TO their NeIDai
agreement OF last winter and entered
into a written agreement with the
minors. Many OF the major league
owners declare the minors are max,
ing big mistake ana thau they yoHid NH
regret 1t. II that Is true, why shouIu
the majors decline to sign the agree
The abatement that the majors
have at heart the interests OF the
young players is rather slckenlnS'
The only use the majors have Tor a
young player Is to place him with
some friendly club which VIII tram
him and turn him over to the majors
later n ne develops. The claim that
the drafting season gives the Young
ambitious player a chance to advance
is ridiculous. If n major league club
thinks that a player Is good enough
10 hold a major job he Is not drafted
he is bought before the dratt
season. ~.
,~ear that the evil Of farming" young
OIpyers would be stopped. In fac',
IN majors have declared that II has
bcen stopped. Legally it has, but
there probably Is not club in either
major league that has not placed
PLAYERS with friendly minor league
clubs subject 10 orders.
The minors wisely decided TO stor
f1he practice OF farming amonT them
selves and passed rules forhdd,ne
olacinp men with lower class teams
Tlfbject 10 recall. To get around
Ihis some Of the clubs have entered
into "gcntlemCn's agreements witt
khe lesser clubs concernirT the re-
arn OF such players.
Alas for the faith Of man in man
The Ploomlngton club Is charged
Tth selling a player who WINS place.
with IL under a "gcntleman's agree,
ment." Roger Brcsnahau of the To
ledo Cub claims he placed two younl
nitchCrs with the BLOOMINGTON CMl
last spring to ''hclp Bloomington" 1
was not strictly according 10 the laws
OF the league, but Bloomington wa
in sore straits ana "iog' says III
loaned them the players nndor gen
a.