New-York tribune., 1921-12-17
Team Rosters
To Be Limited
To Forty Men
Advisory Council Also Makes
Waiver Rule and Optional
Agreement Corrections
BY Jacn Lawrence

WHiCh Sre expected TO De mAd9 at to-
days meteing of tho advisory council
at The Hotel Commodore A meeting
ss that body was held yesterday, and
there was some lively skirmishing
around the matter of the draft, but no
definite action was taken. The session
to-day will be the last and marks the
end Of a highly important week for
baseball.
Another matter which will be taken
up by the council to-day is that of
the transforming rule which Babe
Ruth. Bob Meusel and Bill Piercy, of
the Yankees, violated Immediately
after the last worlds series, and there
by forfeited their worlds series money
and drew from Commissioner Lands
suspensions which will keep them out
of the game until May 20.
There is strong feeling among
baseball men that this rule, which pro-
hibits players OIL contending worlds
series teams from engaging in barn
storming tours, is unfair to these play
evs and should be abrogated. The
subject has been argued back and forth
throughout the week at both National
and American League meetings, and it
was generally considered that it would
be a subject OF discussion at the joint
session.
transformers Case
Judge Lands has not expressed him
self officially as to whether he con-
siders the rule just or unjust, but those
close to him are of the opinion that
he will do this to-day. Those opposed
TO the rule base their case on the fact
that while other stars of the game,
such as Hornsby, Cobb and others, are
permitted to make huge sums by play
ing games outside of the regular sea-
son, the members of the two cham
pionship teams are barred from doing
SO. The opinion was expressed at the
Commodore yesterday that the rule
would be either abrogated or SO
broadened in scope as to take in all
the players on ali the clubs in both
leagues.
At its meeting yesterday, which was
presided over by Commissioner Lands,
the advisory council took steps to
eliminate some of the evils, alleged
and otherwise, which have been re-
sponsible for many complaints and
much criticism during the last year.
The council consists of Commissioner
Lands, John Heydler, president of the
National League; Ban Johnson, high
,nogul of the American League; Michael
Sexton, head of the National Associa-
ton. and John II. Farrell, secretary
OF that body.
The advisory councils meeting was
followed by q short joint session in
the breakfast room, the magnates of
the two big leagues being apparently
more anxious to adjourn than to trans
act business
Player List Limit
One of the few things accomplished
by baseball's dictators yesterday was
that no club may claim a player if
that club already has forty men on it's
roster. In the past it has been the
custom Of the clubs with forty men
on their lists to claim man by
waiver and then make room for him
by dispensing with one of its players.
This system was declared unlawful and
its abollshment recommended Sester
day. An attempt was made to raise
the roster limit to forty-hve players,
but this was defeated.
The advisory council also declared In
favor of rule which provides that a
club asking waivers on a player can
withdraw this request within a period
player is permitted to withdraw its
claim within the same period Of time.
1t was decided that when more than
one club puts in a claim for a player
he shall be awarded to the club with
the lowest standing in the percentage
column.
1t was decided that major league
teams are to be allowed fifteen men on
optional agreement hereafter, instead
of eight, the number that has prevailed
until now. Another new ruling was
that if waivers are asked on player
who was originally received over the
came shall have period prior to the
regular season of thirty days during
which it will enjoy the privilege Of
priority in case it cares to reclaim the
man. The same priority will hold good
during q period of ninety days after
the close Of the season.
The council ruled that player who
has voluntarily retired from the game
may return by making proper applica-
ton to the club from which he with
drew. The application will then be
placed by the club before the commits
sioner Of baseball
The scout question came for some
lively discussion and a rule was finally
adopted prohibiting umpires from en-
gaging in this phase of the game. In |
addition to this it was ruled that scouts |
cannot operate for more than one club. |
Suggest Draft Price
AS prelude to to-day's discussion of |
the draft it was announced at yester-
days meeting that it was the sense Of |
the minor league members of the ad-
vlsory council that draft price Of
$1,000 be fixed for players in the Glass
aA leagues, half Of which sum would !
oe returned in case the player involved |
was sent back.
The Board of Estimate, in session
yesterday at City Hall, ordered that
East 159th Street and also Cromwell |
Avenue be closed pending tho construc-
tion Of the Yankees new baseball
stadium. Colonel Huston, who has this
huge undertaking in charge, said yes
terday that he could not tell how soon
ground would be broken for the begin
ming Of the work, but intimatcd that il
would be soon.
Rumors Of big and little trades con-
tinued to circulate through the corri-
doris of the Commodore yesterday. but
none reached the point Of materializ-
ing. The most important transaction
discussed was one which involves the
Yankees, the Boston Red Sox and the
Detroit Tigers. This deal, If it goes |
through, will probably transcend anv
hat has occurred this year in point Of
Importance and the number of players
. - ka $ro,, cfo