New-York tribune., 1922-02-12

Many Players
N Local Clubs
Still Unsigned
s1o,d.Out" Situation Seems
Most Serious Since Days
If Federal League
Bv W. J. Macbeth

rhjs week VIII marx V"e oeS'"n'"s
~. end of winter baseball and the
.on's debut Of the merry summer
..,.;ue. Soon after the National
f.,u. club owners assemble in this
i ~ tor their annual conference on the
~ schedule number Of veterans Of
40 worlds champion Giants and the
,-.r;esr League Champion Yankees
Ill sally forth to hot Springs. Ark.
~ preliminary course Of baths and
~.un.sin climbing From then, at al
-.<. daily intervals, big league play
-, of the other fourteen clubs will be
s.,.rt;nr for whatever destinations
Air EMPLOYERS have selected as spring
.rsiang bases.
AZ least the magnates are hopeful
4 their stars will depart on scheduie
,;me. They have ordered them to do
49, The rest rests with fate Condi-
tions are not so congenial as usual Tor
this yesr, far greater percentage OF
the players Of real worth with all clubs
remain unsigned The worlds cham
pion Giants are perhaps better fortified
in the matter Of ratified eligiblcs than
any other major league team. BROOK
lyn is supposed to be in fairly good
shape. But the Yankees are not so
well of Most Of their eilgloles are
rockies There were a few holdover
contracts. Babe" Ruth practically all
Of a wonderful right-handed pitching
corps, and the infeld veterans intact,
remain outside the fold. Like cordi-
tions prevail with almost every other
major league club.
II would appear that tie "hoid- out"
situation is much more serious than
ct any time since the days OF the Fed
era League organized baseball war.
The situation has been further compli-
ested BY the attitude Of Commissioner
lands 1t had been generally sup
posed that the celebrated Chicago
Iurist would act as arbiter and referee
IN all salary disputes between club
oTners and players, his judgment to
rule as final.
Too Busy With Other Work
Judge lands let It be known official
y IN Chicago Friday Cor 50. at least, it
va. reported that he was far too busy
vith other baseball routine to assume
iny such responsibility. Unless he re-
nnts from this attitude lot of long
drawn out haggling over terms js
hound TO result. for many players al
ready have subnl tied their complaints
and dssatisfactious to the Commits
sioner.
Prom what can be learned, there is
idsposition on the part Of the playing
fraternity to put the screws on the big
bosses this year. Indeed, for some
time talk has been rife of combines in
cubs and combines among mem bers of
different clubs to hold out for large in
treases. 1t also was hinted soon after
the last worlds series that certain ring
leaders Of the profession we're flirting
with labor union powers. There seems
some ground for such gossip, as GER
lain Inlcseo unions have been talking
boycott o. crganizcd baseball if the
Disysfs are not permitted to organize.
Ihe coming week should show lust
aoouf aoT Tar the refractory PLAYERS
as'e gone II they propose any concert
"a movement such as WAS evidenced on
more tean one occasion by the Base
oal Players Fraternity, or union. of
ZONE years ago. AS rule. the senti-
nent Of players is swayed by the ma
ery opinion or by the actions of the
highest paid stars of the game.
tme big fellows whip into line those
lesser worth are almost bound to
follow. In which connection, the de-
vspments Of The next couple Of weeks
VII be watched closely. The "hold-
sss situation cannot be termed acute
u any sense of the word until after
ne regular training season has begun
~ al! major league clubs some time
ne beginning Of next month. 1t has
wen customary for many players each
!'nng to sign contracts after reporting
70 their managers FOR spring training.