The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-14
WOULD BOYCOTT
MINOR LEAGUES
Majors May Refuse to Buy Players
from Class A and AA Clubs.

NEW YORK, Dec. 13-Appeal to
BOYCOTT class IA and class A minor
baseball leagues, insofar as the pur-
chase of their players was concerned
was made at the annual National
league meeting today by Charles H.
Ebbets, owner of the Brooklyn club
Other league officials were said to have
favored the idea after discussing pro
hibitive" prices asked by the minors for
star performers, and suggested that
the matter be placed before the joint
major league meeting Thursday.
I'VE thought at first" said one club
owner, that we could fix a limit price
to be paid by majors for minor league
players but decided that this would not
help matters. The only way to get
around high prices is to adopt Mr..
Ebbet's suggestion and refuse to buy
players at any price. from leagues re-
fusihg to draft"
The suggestion Of the Brooklyn
owner, if adopted by the majors. would
place a stone WALL about the minor
stars even higher than that built by
the dropping Of the draft, according to
some Of the international league own
ers, who finished up their annual meet
ing today. They asserted that a boy
lcott would serve TO antagonize the
minors and cause a breaking up of the
friendly relations now existent. Com
missioner Lands, they said, would
hardly stand for such condition.
In his report to the National league,
President Heydler said, he believed
the time had come when the major
leagues should consider means of in
creasing the supply of skilled players,
and to give proper training opportuni-
ties to young men desiring to enter the
professional game from the college field
or the sand lots, but who decline to
join minor league clubs for fear that
thir advancement to higher classes and
higher pay would be restricted
The ruling permitting clubs TO ar
range their own spring training dates
was retained.
A discussion of all matters regarding
the leagues relations with the minors
was postponed until tomorrow. The
154 game schedule was favored for
1872. The opening date was suggested
as April II, subject to the approval of
the American league.
For consideration of the league,
which will meet again tomorrow, Mr..
Heydler made the following sugges-
tions:
Legislation or action looking to the
arrest and conviction of pop-bottle
throwers in baseball parks.
Protection of umpires in exhibition
games between American and National
league clubs by giving umpires power
to report to Commissioner Lands in
fractions of rules or of department on
the field.
Arrangement Of exits from the play
ing fields at several national league
parks, so that umpires would not be
compelled to come in contact with
players of either club when leaving the
field.
Joining with all leagues in an effort
to secure a. return to normal railroad
rates. and especially to secure eirnin-
alton of the fifty per cent shrcharge on
Pullman tickets.
Barney Dreyfuss, of Pittsburgh, was
elected chairman of the new board of
directors of the National league. Other
members are William Veeck, Chicago;
Charles A. Stoneham, New York, and
George Washington Grant, Boston
Mr.. Heydler's report showed that the
salaries paid last season to managers
and players in the National league
alone were over $1,000, 900, compared
with five years ago. This is an in
crease of Approximately 10 per cent.