Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-08
DISCIPLINE OF BOSS
RUFFLES MAGNATES
Parent Circuit Not to Dis
card Award for "Most
Valuable Player"

Associated treSS SpOTLS "ElCeF.
N YEw YORK, May 8 [P-The
IN Smooth surface of oragn1zed
VI base ball has been somewhat
l. ruffied by reaction to the dis
culinary moves of Commits
sioner Lands on the "covering-up" of
strings attached to minor league talent.
Base ball men familiar with events
of the last few months, subsequent to
the drastic steps taken by Lands to
free the players involved and flne the
big league clubs accused of violating
the optional player limit, understand
that a block Of American League mag
mates again is ready to shoulder arms.
Ii fact, the wise ones" assert that
the main purpose Of the American
League meeting in Cleveland was to
air the objection to Lands action, al
though the headlined item of news con-
cerned the abandonment Of the most
valuable player" award.
For years the major league magnateS,
by a gentlemanly understanding, have
covered up" players put out for more
seasoning in excess Of the official limit
of eight.
Apparently a number of them. under
stood to be led by Clark Griffith of
Washington, resent the summary action
of the high commissioner in not only
calling an abrupt halt, but in admins
tering sharp discipline.
Whatever their personal feelings,
there is not likely to be serious
tempest, especially since Lands retains
the full backing of the National League
and sufficient American League support
to give him any vote of confidence re-
CURED Furthermore, the commissioners
sweeping powers of Office give him I'M
disputed control of the situation. There
is no appeal from decision by Lands,
whose SOS, 00o-a-year job as sole arbiter
of organized base ball has until 1888
to run.
Although there has been some objec-
ton to continuing it, the National
League will not join the American IN
discarding the most valuable player"
contest this year.
The issue was debated at both the
December and February meetings of the
National League magnates. but ma
jority voted to maintain the award for
this year. at least.
Despite some criticism, the general
feeling among base ball men favors re-
tention of what has come to represent
hall of fame" for big league stars.
They believe the incentive and recog-
milton it furnishes to the players out
weighs any objections.
Since 1922 the official American
League award has gone, in succession,
to George Sisler, Babe Ruth, Walter
johnson, Roger Peckinpaugh, George
Burns, Lou Gehrig and Gordon
c'Mickey') Cochrane. Since 1924 the
National League prize has been be-
slowed upon DaZzy Vance, Rogers
Hornsby. Bob OFarrell, Paul Waner
and Jim Bottomley.
There was the celebrated case of
Peckingpaugh, Washington shortstop.
who played so poorly in the 1925 world
series after, being selected as the years
most valuable American League player.
Subsequently it was decided to withhold
the award until after the champion
ship seriess although the votes we're
cast beforehand and based only on the
regular seasons competition.
Again this Spring the hold-out tao
tics of Cochrane, star catcher Of the
Athletics and 1928 award winner.
prompted .misgivings in the minds of
the magnates. Probably it speeded, If
1t did not altogether prompt, the action
taken at Cleveland.