New-York tribune., 1920-12-08

For instance, there comes along
every once in every twenty-five years
or so Babe Ruth. The Yankees
paid a record price to wean this home
run slugger from the Boston Red Sox.
Ruth has earned more money hippo
droming the "sticks" since his Ameri-
can League season ended than he
earned under contract for his Ameri-
can League endeavors--even though he
slammed out fiftyfour home runs
through the seasons drill. In New
York Ruth is an asset of incalculable
worth. He was signed to a contract
for 1921, rs we'll as for 1920 when he
at Jacksonville, Fla, last spring.
The decision of the Appellate Court
ms handed down yesterday assures to
the New York Club the services of
Babe Ruth for the prospective season.
The decision recognizes the validity of
the reserve clause-heretofore re-
garded as necessary evil-in the
player contract.
Breathing Space Assured
There probably will be an appeal taken
to the Supreme Court. Irrespective of
that outcome, which will require two
or three years if the Federal Leaguers
do appeal, a breathing space will be
vouchsafed for the champions Of or
ganized baseball to realign and re-
construct their fences.
Next Saturday in this city there will
meet the joint committees represent
ing the two majors and the various
minor leagues to draft new working
of this big family.
1rIno Tor1;c povy u;.L raw,
missioner of Organized Baseball, is
to preside at this meeting. The reserve
clause of organized baseball was one
of the keen problems of his judicial
mind as expressed in conversation with
baseball writers here recently. 1t was
the problem. he frankly confessed, that
stayed his decision when the Federal
League sued organized baseball under
the Sherman antitrust law.
The decision of the Appellate Court,
for the time at least, will iron out
many perplexing problems Of the i'm
mediate future. 1t is felt it will ruin
resurrect the Baseball Players Fra
ternity. 1t is understood plans were
already under way to organize the
laying fraternity into gigantic
union such as was formed, and inci-
rentally ruined. by the Federal League.
Better Line on Situation
At the meeting here Saturday, when
& new working agreement is to be
drafted. promoters of baseball will
lave a better line on the situation than
vas possible before. 1t was suspected
hat subterfuges would have to be re-
sorted to to cover up that fundame entail
principle on which the game is laid
the idea of preventing the clubs with
he biggest bank rolls from weaving
way the greatest stars of the game.
The annual meeting of the New In
ternational League is to be held next
Monday at the Hotel Imperial. At that
'ire the league will be confronted
18th the proposition of declaring for
or against the privilege Of draft upon
minor league clubs by major league
teams. Jack Dunn, the Baltimore mag
nate, is unalterably opposed to the
draft He operates on q major league
scale to win pennant after pennant
He has pledged his city never to sell
a player SO long az be does not stand
in danger of losi. ( him by draft.
But in this way Dunn and others
like him close to the minor league
players the avenues for advancement.
The big meeting here next week has
tor its object the safeguarding Of base
ball interests-minor as we'll as major.
The Appellate Court has opened the
door to reform in baseball, which has
been 30 widely discussed but which
has seen little real action to date.