New-York tribune., 1921-12-11

guffalo last week IN the way OF pu
alsyers will probably come in for no
minor and major leagues hold their
at looks to me as though some of
these minor league club owners were
having q rush of dollars TO the head"
said certain major league magnate
"a the writer yesterday. 'The pay
n,ent Of $4,000 by the Giants for Jim
o'Ccnneil, first baseman OF the San
francisco team OF the Pacific Coast
League. seems TO have had democrat
,zing influence upon all the club own
ers OF the smaller circuits and they
sre now asking ridiculous and unheard-
AZ prices for their players. There is
a certain player / could have purchased
Toy $1,000 in cash three weeks before
the Buffalo meeting. Now they are
asking SIS 600 for him, and are indie
oendent enough TO add that can take
it or leave It. just as see fit.
sIt is not at all remarkable that the
minors are not interested in uniform
daft rule when major league club
usyssone of them $4,000 Cor q player
70 be delivered more than year
ing out for top-notch prices and refus-
ing TO become involved in any draf.
regulations.
aIf this condition continues It can
only work 3 great harm to The sport.
~ It will result in the financially we'll
liked major league clubs concerning all
the best playing material. It is not
q sporting proposition on the face of
Il and places the game on cold
monetary basis that will inevitably re-
suit N the cooling of the public in
tsrest. The orgy Of spending at
Buffalo is bound 20 initiate minor
league player prices TO an .xtent that
will not only be prohibitjve hut ab-
soIutely absurd"
Blocked Several Deals
Ths purchase Of O'Connell by Nc
Craw for $4,000 and the wild rumors
that preceded the deal unquestionably
hsd the effect of blocking q number Of
other deals at Buffalo that were in the
making, with view to bringing certain
minor league stars into the majors.
When owners heard that the San Fran
cisco club was holding out Tor $4,000
they Immediately began boosting the
prices they had been asking and the
result was that several transactions
we're finally called off.
President John Heydier, OF the Ma
tional League, is one of those who re-
CARDS the soaring prices as a menace
to the game. He declares that the
amazing happenings in BuRslo are
ample proof how badly the present
minor major agreement is working out.
The present working arrangement be-
tween the big and little circuits. ne
believes, is undoubtedly all in favor
Of the latter, as it gives them s. pro-
lection for which they grant nothing
in return.
The present agreement with the
minors which permits the little fellows
to submit TO the draft or not. just as
they prefer. is supposed TO cover
period Of seven years, but it would
aot be surprising TO see a serious at
tempt made at the meetings this week
to alter 1t very radically.
New York, throughout this week, will
be the baseball center of the country
and while no such sensational transac-
tons as occurred last week at Buffalo
are looked for, il is entirely possible
that some new diamond history will be
written. The draft situation will come
IN for q general airing, the minors, at
their Buffalo convention, having named
4 committee to take up the matter
With the majors. The minors will be
represented by President Mccarthy, OF
she Pacific Coast League; John G.
Taole, president of the international,
and President Hickey, of the American
Association, and John II. Farrell, secre-
tary Of the National Association of
Professional Baseball Leagues.
National League Meets Tuesday
The big doings Of the week viii get
under way at the Waldorf Hotel on
Tuesday, when the National League
holds It's annual meeting. On the fol-
lowing day the American League mag
Mates, led by Ban Johnson. meet at the
Hotel Commodore On Thursday the
most important meeting Of the year
vill take place at the Commodore, when
the joint session of the National,
American and minor leagues opens with
Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Ian
dis In the chair.
Most Of the big hgures Of the game
are already here and the buzz Of dia-
moad trlk will be ringing in the cor
ndora OF the Waldorf all day to-mor-
i row.
Willis the prospect Of q compromise
On the draft question cannot be said TO
Do particularly bright on the eve OF
.nese three meetings, there is Ger
am amount Of optimism among vari-
gus major and minor leaguers alike,
Esacugh the officials Of the smaller
1 circuits sent here TO take up the mat
NF are known to represent leagues that
s1e believed to be opposed to the draft
any shape or form
Judge Landis made It plain at Buff
,aio that ne wishes to see q uniform
anTs rule established and he told both
aoes there that they must be prepared
. make mutual sacrifices if the well
M ,s,e OF the sport is TO be safeguarded
maesner the nigh commissioner Of the
zane can bring about satisfactory
compromise in the face Of the spree Of
asgh finance and sky-scraping prices
saa. took place in Buffalo remains TO
e seen. There are wiae baseball heads
ssfe who think the problem will prove
w Knotry even for Judge Lands.
n