New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Phillies Pick
Birmingham as
Training Site
Baker Says Resignation of
Hermann Would Help
Move for New Chairman
BY w. J. Macbeth

William F. Baker, president of the
Philadelphia National League club, dur
ing an official visit to President John
A. Heydler Of the National League. an
nounced yesterday that his team would
go to Birmingham, Ala, for spring
training next March. Now that the
Phillies have picked a training base,
every major league club is provided
for the 1920 preliminaries.
Baker said that "Gavvy" Cravath,
the manager of the Phils, had shown
partiality to Birmingham because of
the wonderful minor league baseball
park of that city. The Southern Asso-
citation plant is a modern steel and
kept field that puts to shame number
of major league parks. The place is
equipped with every modern conven-
fence and comfort for players.
"In my opinion" said Baker, "too
little heed is taken of training facili-
ties and too much attention is devoted
to climate. The result is that big
league teams often suffer as a conse
quence. Not being properly taken care
of after their workouts, they suffer
any number Of minor Affections that
championship races in very little bet
report to their managers"
Baker declared that the joint COM
mittee of the two ma jor leagues ap-
pointed to suggest a successor to
Garry Hermann, chairman Of the Ma
tional Commission, was trying its best
to function, but without making any
headway. He bames the refusal OF
Ban Johnson to sit with Colonel Jacob
Rupert for the deadlock that has left
Hermann in Office.
No Change in Sentiment
"If Mr.. Hermann were serious in
his announcement Of December 10
last, that he would resign after thir-
~ days if there was no change in SEN
timent opposed to him, then his resig-
nation in the near future may clear
fast slipping away, and so far as | am
aware there has been no change in SEN
timent.
Il think there was a general misun-
derstanding as to the purpose of the
proposed conference among the joint
committee and Presidents Heydler and
Johnson, of the National and American
leagues The terms of the national
agreement provide that the chairman
of the commission be selected by the
presidents Of the two major leagues.
elSS "do hpPOilIttQ W Gull
slder candidates for the Office, the Ma
tional League having decided it was not
the part of decorum to have Mr.. Herr
man, a president of one of our clubs,
continue in the chair.
The meeting which Mr. Johnson re-
fused to attend In company with Colo
mel Rupert was planned so that an
understanding might be reached be-
tween the committee and the interested
major league presidents on just who
might be acceptable as a new chairman.
Naturally the committee did not wish
to approach any one who might not
finally be acceptable to the two exec
utives. The committee also wished to
know just what sort of allurements. in
the matter of time and remuneration
for the office, they might offer
The failure to hold this meeting leaves
the Craftsmanship of the National Com
mission just about where it was when
the committee was first appointed"
In connection with the national com
mission Craftsmanship tangle it NAV be
stated that so far no call has been
issued for the annual meeting of the
trlumvirate, which meeting is set by
the peace agreement for Cincinnati .hc
first Monday of each year. Usually the
call has been issued by the chairman
before this late date. Hermann Will
doubtless remain in Office until some
compromise is effected breaking the
deadlock, annual meeting or no annual
meeting. But if he should make good
ms threat to resign meanwhile there
would be no national commission.