The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-17

Pittsburgh National League BAH
Club. by Barney Dreyfus, Pres; Amer
scan League Baseball Club of Chicago.
by Chas. A. Comiskey, Pres; Chicago
National League Ball Club, by William
l.. veeck, Pres; New York National
League Ball Club, by John j. McGraw
Vice res.-Proponents.
Chicago, Ill, Oct. 1, 1920
TO All Club Owners:
II baseball is to continue to exist as
our National game (and IT Wild, 1t
must be with the recognition on the
part of club owners and players. that
the game itself belongs to the Ameri-
can people, and not to either owners or
players.
with the physical and moral develop
ment of the youth of the country that
spontaneous public will force owners
and players to the recognition of their
duty to the public, or public opinion
will cause the elimination Of those
owners and players who are blind to
the obligations involved.
With the financial prosperity which
came TO baseball, and consequent good
good earnings to owners and high
salaries to players, it has been fire.
quently charged In the public press
that a spirit of commercialism has
prevailed in the conduct OF baseball,
which has been obnoxious to those
who loved the game for itself.
There can be no denying OF the pub
lies patience with several situations
which have arisen in baseball in past
years, climaxing in the scandals of
players who have been guilty of
throwing" ball games.
Within the past two years at least
three "star' major league players were
black listed from baseball forever, be-
cause they had. been found guilty of
Throwing games or attempting same
The suspicion which, attached to
these players was the first to be en-
gendered against any players in the
National game in decades. 1t had
been the pride OF all America that
baseball was one sport which was con-
Quoted honestly on the playing field
This pride of public opinion was the
corner stone on which was founded
the success of the professional game
When the suspicion was first
aroused as to the conduct OF the play
els in the last Worlds Series, it was
q shock TO the owners of baseball as
well as to the public that such
thought could even find Judgment in
anyone's mind.
Owner Comiskey-whose life has
been dedicated to the National sport
felt that the mere charge made was
sufficient to demand unremitting in
vestigation. Without going into detail
It was through the continuous efforts
OF Mr.. Cosmiskey that the whole truth
attending the playing of the 1919 Sc
ries finally came out.
The grand jury which sat in Cook
County. Illinois, received its main
leads and information from club and
league officials. who. as laymen were
unable to prove the suspicious which
they had been for some time investi-
eating. But these leads. with the force
OF the law behind them, soon ex.
posed all the evils which had been
committed.
When certain owners became con-
WINGED that the game had been poll
luted within the past two years. and
for the first time in decades, they met
with view OF doing that which would
insure that no breath OF suspicion
could ever again attach to the ma
tional game
These meetings were held and a
plan worked out before any report was
made by the Cook County, Illinois,
Grand Jury, but it was felt by those
who are sponsors for the plan. that 1t
would be unfair to present their pro-
posals before the facts as to the World
Series scandal had been fully de-
veloped.
The original proposers of the plan of
reorganization for the conduct of pro-
fessional baseball are: The Chicago
American League Bah Club. the Pitts
burgh. New York and Chicago Nation
al League Ball Clubs. Others. who
have been approached, have signified
their hearty approval Of the plan,