New-York tribune., 1920-12-27

players all the year round and ena
aries approximating big league sala
the two major leagues. But they d
bill, especially Of the lower grades,
At the moment there are on the in
eligible lists of the minor leagues al
most as many names as are on the re-
serve lists for 1921. The ineligibles
are players who either disregarded the
reserve clause or jumped contracts.
Some few major leaguers are of the
number, but comparatively few. They
are PLAYERS of more or less mediocrity,
or of q temperament that made it very
easy for their maj or league employers
to forget them.
To Operate as Side Line
The trade leagues will figure very
little in the seasons play of 1921. be-
eau the great majority Of trade
leagues have been disbanded or will
disband Natural readjustment Of in
flated wages is to put premium on
skill for work and net Skill for play.
Those leagues or teams that are to
operate will do so as side line and not
Ball players classed as unskilled labor
ers will draw the pay of unskllled
labor
The proposition of "ineligibles" is
rather serouse one just now and may
command unusual attention at the joint
meeting of the ma jor and minor leagues
in Chicago on January II, when the
new peace agreement between these
branches of the big organization is to
ia
angle likely to prove quite as interest
ing as the draft question.
When the minor leagues were fight
ing the trade leagues that made war
on them and robbed them of their best
players the National Association, or
governing body Of minor league base
ball, took stringent action against those
players who jumped contracts or dis
regarded the opticns CT the reserve
clause. 1t was voted to disciplin ali
offenders; contract jumpers were to be
kept from playing in organized baseball
for period of five years and those who
sighted the reserve clause for period
of three years. Though the National
Commission was not functioning as
usual owing to a vacancy in the chair
manship, both major leagues indorsed
this proposed punishment as just and
went upon record as favoring it.
Now, it appears, certain of the bigger
minor leagues which lost players Of
worth are reported to be working for a
general whitewash of the malcontents
who jumped to the trade leagues For
personal interests and advantages they
woul restore them to good standing at
once, with eral fines
1t is to be hoped the major leagues
(and the minors as we'll, for that mat
teri will countenance no such policy.
Organized baseball can get along very
we'll without contract Jumpers and
there seems no better time to make
q striking example of the dissenters
than now, when the leagues that en-
t!ced them away are about to cast them
adrift. There can be no question of
dishonor in the reputation of a con-
tract. either in full or in part, and all
who went over to The trade leaguers
wee guilty to a degree These play
ers, as we'll as the major league play
ers indicted for dishonesty in the 1919
world series, should be shown no
mercy.
Case of Hal Chase
Such a case Of whitewashing was
done eleven years ago and with dire
results In the height Of the pennant
fight of 1908 Hal Chase Jumped the
Yankees and acting manager Kid Elber-
field He cast his lot with San Jose,
Of an "outlaw" league, in California;
principally because the American
League did not wish to lose such
star as Chase the "outlaws" were en-
tced back into organized baseball in
the spring of 1909. Chase and all the
"outlaw" players were pard med with
out fine. Chase returned to the Yam
KEGS that spring and was ever after
ward disturbing elemey4t Of the game
There is little doubt his misbehavior
had much to do with the shaping of
conditions which led to the present
serious predicament with which the
game is confronted.
Provided business continues so we'll
as it proved in 1920 the minor leagues
should find most profitable season
ahead. 1t should not take the lower
classes long to rebuild their fences
without the aid of the deserters.
But while the outlook for minor
baseball is improved wonderfully real
problem has arisen for owners OF
major league franchises. SO much
money was made last season in indie
pendent and semi-pro ball and this fall
III the exploitation Of Babe Ruth and
stars Of lesser luster that it is planned
by the big hotels of the winter resorts
OF Florida and elsewhere to form hotel
'NaSoSS lOi the entertainment or
guests, bolstering the teams with such
talent as Ruth, Cobb. Speaker, Col
Inns, Sisler and the like.
There might be little objection to
such wonderful drawing cards turning
their talents to account in the winter
time Providing the athletes took fair
~ good care Of their pm scal condi-
tlon, several games week in the off
season would scarcely injurc them. 1t
might even do good, as in the old days
ball. "'''-''
Rigid Discipline Needed
But certain it is major league plav-
ers should be under rigid discipline If
allowed to play in the winter time
mere seems greater need than ever A,r
form Of contract giving the employer
control Of the player throughout the
entire twelve months of the year
For decade or more the nlav;ns
manager mas been the exception rather
than the rule in the major leagues. In
me old days the playing manager wag
me popular system, az witness Arson
cconiskey, McAieer, Fielder .Iones
Clarke Griffith, Fred CLARK, Franz
Chance and others. With the Dassjng
OF Chance and Cf.~L yli =, ,''S