The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-23
In the
Mornings Mail

70 the Sporting Editor:
1t seems to be a habit here lately
for Southern sport writer's to chmb
on major league magnates for every
thing, good, bad or Indifferent that
they ever had a hand in, and the draft
law in particular. Just what course
Of reasoning these worthless pursue Is
a mystery to me, and how they figure
that the draft law discriminates against
the minors to the benefit of the ma
jors is equally mysterious. Another
thing | fail to see is how the break
with the majors is to help the minors
any, and il they are the monsters they
have been pictured they will not hest
tate to violate the gentlemen's agree
ment as regards territorial and player
rights, and as the majors still continue
to pay the larger salaries, they will be
able to grab off all promising talent
without going to the time. trouble and
expense of acquiring them in the reg
ular way.
AS far as the draft is concerned
what percentage OF big league stars
go up through the medium Of the
bushes is purchased outright, because
competition in this line is so keen
that when a man shows exceptional
ability the big %leaguers much prefer
putting out from $4,000 II $4,000 for
him than giving Is other clubs an even
tIldItt 10 get MN lIlIouRH lllt uIdIl
process, despite the fact that 81 500
would be the price when he was award
ed via the draft route. In addition to
the regular scouts that the majors
have. practically every one Of the l6
teams in the big ring employs a vet
eran in each Of the smaller circuits to
look over promising talent in his
league, For instance, if you ever won
dered why so many Southern leaguers
are on the roster of The Pittsburgh
team, blame it on Tommy Leach. the
old Pirate star, who played center field
fos the Lookouts last season.
The worst feature of the draft game
is one for which the minors themselves
are to blame-their system of cover
ing up" players, otherwise getting a
friendly major club to put in a draft
for a player on a rival team, and then
after a time turning him back to their
friend In the bushes, and this was done
right along, despite the fact that near
" every league in the country had a
rule against the practice.
How many players have the Chicks
lost in the last few years by the draft
route? You could count them on the
fingers OF Mordecai Browns pitching
hand, but when YOU go to counting the
sales of talent, that is something else
again.
In 1917 Ruel and Wick went to the
80 W. ' ~ y
and $3.50 iron men, and not only that,
but the two pitchers were allowed to
Join the Chicks at once, while Wick
and Ruel finished out the Southern
season, and us both were drafted into
the army early in 1918 just ask your
self how the local club came out on
that deal, Blodgett was also drafted
early, but Vance was the best pitching
ace on the local staff.
Had there been no agreement be-
tween minors and majors, would the
big league scouts put out this flock
Of coin or would they talk to the play
ers they wanted and suggest that a
Charley Horse or a lame wing was
easy to acquire, or hat indifferent
work would probably draw Il release,
and that would be the shortest route
to the big tent. and II the scout sweet
ened the pot by suggesting that he
would prefer to see the player get the
money rather than the magnate, would
the player listen to him?
These are my views on this impor-
tant question. B j.
Memphis,