Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-08
LANDS WANTS
BETTER CHANCE
GIVEN PLAYERS
Baseball High Commissioner
Urges Owners to Help Ath-
letes Advance in Game.
LEANS TOWARD DRAFT

BUFFALO, n. z, Dec. S.-Judge Kene'
saw Mountain lands. basebalrs high
commissioner, is 'on record today is a
friend Of the ball player who is coming
I'D.
In his address to the annual convention
of the National Association of Profession
al Baseball Leagues, the eminent Jurist
took a firm stand on the side of the
player and warned The men who are in
charge Of the game against keeping any
player from advancing in his chosen pro-
fession.
The address of the commissioner was
heard by the biggest gathering Of base
ball magnates that has assembled IN
number Of years.
The stand of Judge Lands on the
draft when it was believed to have been
q closed issue win Likely mako it one of
the most important topic of the re-
mainder Of the convention here. Lands
declared he was in favor of the "selec-
ton Of players" by the draft plan.
There was talk at one time during
the meeting here of a possible breaking
away on the part Of the three Class IA
leagues-the International, American AS
ISOLATION and Pacific Coast-but as 4 re
suit Of the sessions held this week. re-
lations between the big minors and their
little brothers are solid once more.
The Glass "A leagues, however, are
not any stronger for the draft than they
dent John Conway Toole OF the Inter
national League; Tom Hickey, president
Of the American Association, and Pacific
Coast League magnates here for the meet
ing made this plain today.
"No club owner is out to keep player
down." said President Hickey. There
ara those who want to keep players on
their clubs for q parod Of several sed-
sons, and 40 one can blame them. How
ever. they do not held their player if
he is ready to go to the major leagues.
'I have known OF cases where players
themselves refused to take 4 chance in
the big 1eagrss before they thought they
were ready.
1--WE have gotten along fine without the
draft" said President Toole, "and We
are certainly not going back to 1t. The
club owners Of our league are SATISFIED
that they can carry on as they have been
doing and there will be no drafting O.
players from us"
The New York Giants are the best
spenders in baseball Right on top Of
TIE big deal which sends Heinie Groh
to the New York club, came an an
nouncement late wednesday OF the pur-
chase Of First Besem3n O'Connen from
the San Francisco Pacific Coast League
club.
Tbs Giant owners agreed to pay the
San Francisco club $4,000 in hard cash
for the first sacker. This is declared to
be the largest price ever paid for minor
league ball player. o'Connel is not TO
report to McGraw until the close OF the
1922 Coast League season.
The Detroit club purchased pitchers
johnson and Pillette from the Portland
(Ore.) club for $4,000, and FIVE players.
Both are right handlers. The Cubs Sc
cured Pitcher Vic Aldridge and 0uthelder
Arnold statz from the Los Angeles club,
which is owned by the Chicago club.
STATE was formerly with the Giants and
is = very fast man. In the recent winter
league season on the coast, he hit at a
terrific clip and he will now get his
second trial on the main line.
The Cleveland club purchased Infelder
Yuma from Des Moines. Yuma can play
any infield position and is reported to be
a hard hitter.
Manager Higgins. of the Yankees,
announced that the American League
champions will train at New Orleans
rext spring. They VIII go South March
1. and will play many exhibition games
with Brooklyn and the Cardinals while
in New Orleans. The Brooklyns will be
their opponents on the trip North early
The Cincinnati Red officials pulled off
their third big deal since arriving In
Buffalo when they closed late Wednes-
day with the oakland Club of he Pacific
Coast League for Third Basemao PineIli,
who i slated to take Heine GIoh's place
at the hot corner next season.
The consideration in the deal con.
$1,000, which must be paid to the
Oakland Club before Feb. 1. The players
are Pitcher Eller and Brenton and one
other not yet decided upon.
The agreement for the trade was
signed by President Hermann. rep
rssenttnR the Cincinnati Club, and Man
ager Del Howard. Of Oakland. and 1t was
satisfactory to Manager Moran and the
Red directors present.
The Cincinnati Club is also going 70
try to sign up Johnny Mohardt, the
sensational haIf-back OF the famous
Notra Dame football team. This lad
finished his college course IN the spring
and has said that he will play big
league baseball if given a chance, but
he is an outfielder. very fast and
wonderful thrower.
pitchers Coumbs, Brenton and Geary
so TO San Francisco from Cincinnati as
mart payment for Jim Caveney. An out
fielder yet TO be named will accompany
them. ~.
The Zig money involved in the more
important deals that have been con-
Guided during the meeting here was one
OF the main topics under discussion To-
dav The outlay made by the New 1orE
Giants for Heinie Groh and lnhelder
O'Conneu astounded many OF the mag
mates and caused some Of them to won
der what limits may eventually De
reached in the way OF sales
Manager Jimmie Walsh of the Newark
Cub, was snapped for Catcher Harry
Manning; Krumenscker, first base; Let-
Ter. catcher. and Gordy. pitcher, OF the
Baltimore team. Bill CIymer, formerly
manager OF the Buffalo ar ~other clubs
viii be manager OF Newark