Evening star., 1932-12-12
NEED STRYCHN|NE
TO ENLNEN FANS
Now to Cut Expenses Also
Taxes MoguIs' Ingenuity
at Annual Clinic.
BY HERBERT w. BARKER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

N IEW YORK, december IL
M Base ball goes into the
4 Y clinic for its annual over
hauling this week and the
treatment, it would appear, will
have to be trif1e more severe
than usual.
Never in recent years, at least,
have big league magnates been
confronted with so many serious
problems, all directly associated
with an economic situation that
struck sharply at attendance and
receipts last season and forced
not a few to look for the red ink
when they balanced with their
books for the year.
At their worst, conditions surrounding
che game hardly can be called desper-
ate, but they do call for a few drastic
remedies if another disastrous season
is to be avoided.
All of the club owners ingenuity will
be directed to cutting expenses all along
the line and, at the same time, to STIR
iring up new interest in the game so
THAT the customers who strayed from
the fold last season will return in great
er and even greater numbers.
YITHILE the owners discuss player and
w salary limits, radio broadcasting,
world series tickets, admission
prices and the condition of the minors,
rival managers will take their stand in
hotel lobbies, ready to trade at the
drop of cold cash or much-sought-
after player or two.
With the single exception of the world
champion New York Yankees, every
club in the majors is prepared to shift
players If suitable terms can be ar
ranged. Some owners have taken the
position, in fact, that public interest
can best be stimulated by judicious
player trades, bringing old faces into
new surroundings.
The Yankees, too, might like to do
business, but there's small chance that
rival managers will find it expedient to
approach Joe Mccarthy, not after the
way the Yankees steam-rollered the op-
position in 1882. OF course, II Joe
should happen to decide to toss Babe
Ruth, Lefty Gomez or Red Ruttlng on
Tie DlOSAs VI "a WV w.
ceivably might turn up.
nLAYER salaries seem due for neat
slashing, although any suggestions
that q club salary limit be estab-
1ished probably will be voted down. The
player limit Of % probably will be re-
duced still further, either by the inclu-
sion of coaches in the list of active
players or by cutting the maximum to
% or 81. Another suggestion would
make the player limit effective May Is
instead of June Is, thus saving a
months salary to various players who
might otherwise be retained until the
later date.
Strong sentiment also has developed
toward the shortening OF the costly
Spring training season, possibly by as
much as two weeks. The old argument
over radio broadcasting probably will be
renewed, but this matter probably will
be left to the discretion of the indi-
vidual clubs, as at present.
THERE may be some talk of reduc-
l. ing admission prices, although it
is understood that the majority
still took the position that since prices
were not boosted in boom times there
was no reason for lowering them now.
The Yankees were expected to ask
that the world series ticket selling sys-
tenn be revised so that fans may buy
single tickets. The present system pro-
vides for the purchase of series tickets
in sets of three only.
The National League will hold its an
nual meeting tomorrow, the American
on Wednesday and both convene in
Joint session Thursday The Interna-
jional League will beat its major league
brethren to the gun by holding special
session today, when the tangled affairs
of the Jersey City Club will be aired.