The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-21
NO LE;leUE Can
AFFORD fOcUT
DRAFT SEXTON

By BRUCE COPELAND.

80A II. 00AtO0s 00 AUVWUs r0lAOs -
Rock Islanders know him, believes
that the draft 10 one Of the greatest
assets Of the National Association
pf Professional Baseball Clubs, Of
which Mr.. Sexton il president. in
addition to being . member OF the
special advisory board to Judge
Kenesaw Mountain lands. SUI
preme mogul Of ye grande old
gyme. y
Mr.. Sexton IL opposed unalter-
ably to the plans Of President Al
Tearney Of the Three-Eye and
Western leagues, which would
the draft in both leagues.
Mike believes that to rescind the
draft in any minor league would
lead to the following:
l. Prevent major league clubs
from acquiring good. young ball
players to supply the ever-increas-
ing demand for new talent.
2. Deny club stockholders prof.
table returns on their investments
incurred by the draft at the class
B rate of $500 for each player.
3. Deny capable ball players
chance, to better themselves in their
profession.
I. Serve to make promising play
ers disgruntled, resulting in their
loss of interest and subsequent ire
Of the fans. -
s. The resembling of drafting
privilege Of every minor league
from a league Of lower rating.
s. Inability to negotiate any
deals in which drafted players ng-
ure.
Draft Ace IN Hole.
"The drafting Of one or two
players from the same minor league
club is what has saved many such
clubs from heavy financial losses"
Mike explained today. The sale Of
Ben Smith and Leo Dixon last year
pulled Rock Island out of q bad
hole. Rock Island got 81 900. the
draft price, for Smith; a little less
than the draft figure for Dixon.
Where would Rock Island have
been were it not for those sales?
Major league clubs do not al
ways wait until the drafting season
to acquire good. young players.
Not mentioning the fancy prices
paid for some star minor leaguers,
$500 Is about the minimum paid
prior to the drafting period. There
are few minor leagues who are AZ
fluent enough to spurn even that
figure"
Mike believes that the $500
paid for drafting q player from the
minor leagues is just and fair.
1T is only about . 10-1 chance
that the drafted player will make
good" he explained. TWENTY-FIVE
hundred dollars is all the majors
believe they can afford by taking
such a risk-the, possibility Of in
curing a dead loss. With expenses
running high toward the close Of
the season, and afterward, almost
any minor league CLUB il fortunate
to receive $500 for any drafted
player.
- Unfair to Club and Fans.
"The league that abolishes the
draft will not be doing jnstice to
itself and its patrons. Any club
owes a promising, young player the
chance to realize his ambition by
sending him higher Is quickly as
possible. Holding q player for
more money is like refusing to al,
low him to be drafted. Usually II
results the same way.
When the player learns that his
club refused to let him 70 higher.
whether for their diversity to the
draft or because Of selfish motives.
he is apt to become diagruntled and
lose his interest in the affairs of
the club. Sooner or later his pl&y-
Ing Is affected. Unless sold or
traded or allowed to be drafted.
the players worth might become
seriously impaired" ~
Mike explained further that MANY
class B clubs augment their ranks
frequently by the acquisition Of
talent from class C and d. leagues.
Elimination q the draft would re-
move such Z privilege, which. in
itself, serves the best interests Of
the game in the development of
young players.
Then. too. the league which
abolishes the draft can not expect
to negotiate deals in which any
drafted player might figure" Mike
said. by all means. stick to the
greatest asset Of the minor
leagues.
The Gambler Nemesis.
Mike has just received . very
draft-irrevocably. It is really the
praisewofthy testimonial to His
prosecution Of Fred McMullin. one
OF the former White Sox indicted
for their alleged participation in
what led to last years gambling
scandal, and several other players
who have been performing with
him In Arizona
!, The communication came from
the Los Angeles Express, which
credits Mike with having caused
the expulsion of sMcMullin from
that part Of the country. and the
probability Of having heavy penal
ties imposed upon McMullfn's asso-
ciates.
Mike was the prime mover in
determining the status Of convicted
baseball gambling eonspirators in
he Pacific Coast league. After the
California courts refused to PROS
scute the offenders ON the ground
hat the laws Of the state were In.
adequate in such = case, it was Mr..
Sexton who succeeded In having
hem expelled for Ill time by or
yanized baseball It the recent
meeting in Chicago.
1T ID going to 90 very hard with
my player or individual Who II
;aught involved In further baseball
gambling" Nike warned.
Pledges Al T. Laadia
Judge Lands has been cloaked
w1fh thA p.tNnA~kT A~AA>~AA-