Great Falls tribune., 1922-03-11
Major Leagues Plan
TO Discipline Minors
for Declining Draft
Class AA Teams Will Be Refused Protection of
Reserve Rule, Is Rumor in
Baseball Circles.

New York, March 10.-Well defined
rumors are in circulation that the class
AA minors-the American association
Pacific Coast and International leagues
may be severely punished by the ma
jor leagues for refusing to accept the
81 800 draft rule proposed by Commls
sioner X. NJ. Lands. According to in
siders, the advisory council soon viii
issue an ultimatum to the effect that
If the class AA circuits do not fall into
line on the draft question they will lose
the protection of the reserve rule.
A move of this kind. if actually
made, would result in one sided base
ball war. The majors would refuse to
respect the right of the class AA cir
cults to hold their players in accord
ance with the provisions Of the ma
tional agreement. In that way the big
fellows would step in and obtain deslr-
able minor league stars for nothing.
It is certainty that the majors
have "rod in pickle" for the three
organizations now in revolt and will
resort to drastic methods as soon as
patience ceases to be virtue.
Eliminate SpitbaII
Spitball pitching soon will be totally
eliminated from organized baseball.
Two years ago the major league mag
mates passed a rule prohibiting the en-
gagement of minor league, semi-pro
or college pitchers using the moist
delivery. This rule also prevented
each major league club from carrying
more than two spitball sharpshoot ~s
on the payroll during the championship
season. Rather than suddenly deprive
the damp Fingers of means of
livelihood, after they had deleyoped
winning form through the exclusive
use Of unsanitary methods, the rule
makers permitted the various clubs to
retain them until the end of their use
fulness.
Not more than dozen boxmen who
use the saliva delivery now are left
in fast company. The American league
still has Coveleskie and Sothoron, of
the Clevelands; Faber, of the White
Sox; Shocker, of the Browns; Leonard.
Of the Tigers, and both Quinn and
Russell, of the Red Sox.
Five in National
In the National league there are only
five out -and-out spitball pitchers
Grimes and Mitchell, of the Brooklyns; !;
Doak, of the Cardinals; Fillingim, of
the Braves, and Douglas, of the Giants
1t is generally believed that Cove
leskie, Sothoron, Faber. Shocker,
Grimes and Doak will last longer than
the others. Quinn is practically
through, and McGraw is trying to get
rid of Douglas. Leonard and Mitchell
are veteran southpaws, while Russell
soon may be released, according to
Boston rumors.
Russell Ford pitched wonderful ball
for the Yankees when they finished
second in the American league race of
1910. The secret of Ford's unusual
effectiveness was disclosed when the
magnates adopted rule prohibiting
the use Of emery on the surface. OF
the ball. Ford, it was learned, had
roughened the pellet with a small piece
of emery paper concealed in the palm
Of his glove In that way he had been
able to deliver uncanny shoots and
twisters that completely baffled the
leading hitters. But when the emery
BALI was barred Ford soon gave up
the baseball profession and went into
another line of employment.
"Shine" Ball Gone
Abolition Of other freak deliveries,
particularly the "shine ball" in 1920,
several prominent pitch
ers immeasurably. Hod Eller, whose
strategy in 1910 helped to win the
National league pennant for the Gin
cinnati Reds. lost his skill and now
is in the minors. He admitted that,
without the ''shiner," he could do aloth-
ing.
If Cicotte had remained with the
White Sox last year he probably would