The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-09
YOUNG PLAYERS ;
Get CHANCE BY
!. 7-R00KIE RULE
Adopt Salary Limit of $1,000 and
Limit Teams to Is Mem
~ hers Each.
BY ]. j.. HUGHES.

Baseball fans OF ROCK Island are
enthusiastic. They are confident
the newly organized Mississippi
Valley league will prove one of the
s1appiest and best minor associa-
tons in the country and will serve
to restore the game in this city to
the substantial basis it enjoyed in
year past On every side can be
heard expressions Of satisfaction
and predictions that the infant or
ganization will develop into stall
wart manhood before the coming
season is far advanced. The feel
ing prevails that the cities OF
Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Otumwa,
Marshalltown, Dubuque and Rock
Island comprise six of the best
baseball towns in this section OF
the country.
The league not only became a
reality at Cedar Rapids yesterday,
but got away to a flying start in
every sense of the term. M. H.
Sexton of Rock Island, first presi-
dent of the league, declares more
was accomplished by the delegates
in this one meeting than at any
baseball gathering in his expert
ence. If all clubs had teams ready
the season could begin Immediate
ly, states President Sexton, by way
of pointing out to what extent de-
tails of organization have been
cleared from the path.
Mr.. Sexton was taken by sur
prise when confronted with his cleo
ton to the presidency and it was
not without considerable argument
and persuasion that the league
members prevailed upon him to ac-
cept, in view of the fact that his
duties as president of the National
Association of Minor leagues are
many and varied. Commenting
upon his election today, Mr.. Sex
ton said he was prompted in the
end to accept the office because of
the fact that the policies which he
has been advocating for years were
adopted by the new league and he
felt that he would like to be in
close touch with the working out OF
these.
Accomplish Much.
The meeting was one of the best
gatherings l ever saw" said Mr.
Sexton '"The delegates came with
the intention of organizing and they
applied themselves to it in such a
manner that there was no chance
of plans going astray. They not
only formed the league but elected
officers, adopted constitution and
bylaws, discussed and adopted sal
airy and player limits, adopted a
schedule of $50 games and decided
that no team could play men under
option to any club in another
league.
This was the only real meeting
held to consider the question of or
ganizing but still everything has
been done and the only thing to
await is the opening day, May 1. 1
am hoping the business of each club
will be conducted with such fore
sight and dispatch as indicated yes
terday, and if so the teams will
be operated at a figure that will
surprise the baseball world"
$1,000 Salary Limit.
The league adopted a $4,000 SAL
airy limit that does not include the
salary of the manager 1t was first
proposed to make the limit $4,000,
TIC SdldIy TIE IudIld-
ger.
The player limit is Is, including
manager. The rules provide that
seven of these must be young play
ers; that is, players who have never
had any league experience. This
will permit six veterans. on each
team who should serve to balance
up the play and steady the ship.
Il am confident that by this the
teams will give a more pleasing
brand of baseball than has been
seen in Rock Island for years." Mr..
Sexton says. The fans can rest
assured that every game will be
contest"
A league guarantee of 81 900 was
adopted, this to be posted with the
president on or before April /. This
fund will be divided into equal
parts and deposited in each city,
subject to the check of the presi-
dent This is novel method of
handling guarantee funds, conceiv-
ed by Mr.. Sexton with the idea of
keeping each cfty's share at home
Reduce Admission.
The price of admission to league
games Will be 40 cents, including
war tax. This is 10 cents less than
the cost OF Three-Eye baseball. The
price of grandstand seats will be
arranged by each club.
The straight guarantee of $50 per
day for visiting clubs, rain or shine,
was adopted.
1t was decided to hold the annual
meeting each year on the second
Tuesday in October, in the city of
the pennant winner.
Papers of application for Glass
ID classification are now being pre-
pared for submission to the nation
al association.
A striking feature of the meeting
was the fact that all motions were
adopted by unanimous vote, indicat-
ing the harmony and good will I'M
der which the start is being made.
Two Weeks TO Train.
The schedule as adopted calls for
the start May l and closing of
season Labor day Clubs will not be
allowed 10 call any players for
spring training before April Is, and
by May 10 all must be within the
player limits. The national associ- |
alton penalty of $3.50 for exceeding /;
the player limit at any time, and !
SIS per day additional for every |
day club is beyond the limit will |
be attached to offenders. Besides |
this every game won while a club !
is over the limit will be thrown out /