Evening star., 1924-11-16

In the past, where there has been no
agreement between players and minor
league owners, there was no imperative
need for the owners to give the ball
players a penny, although some have
handed over a few simoeons when the
player refused to be transplanted with
out coin for his nourishment.
Suppose Player Wilbroolx, in a small
league. is wanted by the New York
Yankees. They negotiate and get his
services for $4,000. This amount Is
pocketed In full by the owner of the
minor league club. and probably will
pay much of his expenees for the sea son
and continue him in base ball another
year, especially as he may have other
ing but q chance to go up, and perhaps
small raise in salary. He must re-
ceive some raise under a rule which
was passed to prevent some major
league owners from giving him less
than he received in the bushes. That
actually happened prior to the order
making 1t compulsory to advance wages
with a raise In classification.
How 1t Figures Out.
Presume the ball player received
$1,000 in the minor league. When he
gets into the major league he receives
say $1,000. His employer has $4,000
in cash. To set as much out Of the deal
AS the employer got the ball player
would have to work 20 years. since his
yearly advance was only $500 from
what he received when he was a busher
1t is true that he undoubtedly will get
more than that in the long run. If he
does not he won't be much of a ball
player, but that Is the relation between
him and his former employers and the
lnajor league club to which he Is lifted.
49, But he never Is to receive any part
of the $4,000. That Is the sore spot
with the ball player. He cannot see
why, II he was worth SO much money
to his original owner. he should not
have received some part OF the sum
when he was spassed along like q
crate of raspberFies.
There have been instances where
ball players who were thus trans
ferfed bAlked fiat on the arrangement
and refused to 60. The owners. as a
rule, have given In, but they have
given in reluctantly, and more times
than one the purchaser has had to
pay the player cash TO get him to
sign a contract, even after paying the
minor league owner a large sum for
the players release. 1t is this condi-
tion which has made misery in the
ranks OF tho major league owners
and which undoubtedly has had much
to do with the suggestion by Mack
that the players receive. in all cases,
a certain percentage OF the sale
price.
IneeAtive to Play Well.
1t is held that IL a player knows
he will obtain some part of his pur-
chase money he will play that much
better base ball. He will be eager
to show what he can do. Pessimistfc
folks. however. say the players will
make dickers, unknown to their
minor league bosses, and play to get
their releases. figuring where they
are going. and that they will receive
a share of a purchase price which
will be larger than ordinary.
Connie Mack feels confident that
his plan, II adopted. would please the
ball player at large the United States
over. and he is basing his confidence
on the fact that he Is an old player
himself, and believes that he knows
the sentiment of the players.
The major leause owners are likely
to be for the plan, il 1t does not
cost them anything. but the minor
leagues are not so likely to favor
1t because they think now that they
do not receive as much from the
major leagues as they should for
players, in spite OF the fact that
they have sold many for moro than
$4,000 each.
Copyright. 1924,