Evening star., 1933-02-08
$4,000 FOR 1882
DOUBLED THIS YEAR
Salaries Still Too High, Say
Magnates, Who Plan Fur
ther RetrenChment.
by HERBERT&W. BARKER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

n JEW YORK, February g.
In Salary cuts for 1882 and
4 \ the coming 1888 season
represent an aggregate
saving of a million and quarter
to harassed major league club
owners and the end is not yet in
sight.
Even though they Topped about
100000 off player salaries last
year and virtually double that
amount for 1888, the magnateS de-
clare that base ball wages, gen.
orally speaking, still are higher
than in other lines of business.
One club owner, attending the Mid
winter meetings here, said he had slash
ed his salaries 25 per cent in the last
two years as compared with the 1881
levei. but that the total still was twice
what it was when his team won pen
nant right after the war.
Barring decisive upturn in receipts
and attendance this year, club owners
are virtually committed to further re-
trenchment next season.
NATIONAL LEAGUE owners, gather
In ing here in Midwinter session yes
terday, discussed their most press
ing problems for nearly five hours, but
actually decided definitely upon only
two questions:
First, they frightened the regulation
against the granting of players bonuses
BY adopting rule forbidding any club
to deal with its players contingent on
where the club finishes in the pennant
race
Second, they laid plans to start East
West competition earlier in the season.
The anti-bonus rule, heretofore, SIM
ply forbade clubs to grant extra money
for playing achievement, such as
healthy batting averages, number OF
home runs, or number of pitching VIC
tories.
Revised schedule plans provide that
National League clubs in the West shall
invade the East on May 2, eight days
earlier than usual, and that Eastern
clubs shall make their first Western
trip May 16, two weeks earlier than
custom.
This change is directed toward stimu-
lating interest in the race and helping
to prevent any dominant club in one
section from getting big early lead.
A LTHOUGH adoption of the schedule
IA awaits action of the Pennsylvania
Legislature on bill to permit Sun
DAY base ball in that State, alternative
schedules already have been drawn, each
calling for the season to open April IL
and close October l. The opening day
patr1ngs will find New York at Boston,
Brooklyn at Philadelphia, st. Louis at
Chicago, and Pittsburgh at Cincinnati.
There was considerable discussion of
a proposal that an 18-months mora
torium" be granted in the debts of
minor league clubs whose franchises
now have lapsed, but no action was
taken.
President John A. Heydler explained
that although the majors were in SYM
pathy with this proposal or any other
that would help the minors, pres
ent complications prevent us from
gong on record in this matter"
Under present base ball law" he ex-
pSined, mo club franchise can be oper-
efd under new ownership until past
nebts and obligations are cleared up"
TyHE Brooklyn Dodgers today an
y nounced the signing of their fourth
first baseman, Recruit Dick Siebert,
who, was purchased from Dayton of the
Central League last Fall He lives in st.
Paul. The other three first basemen on
the roster are Del Bissonette, Joe Judge
and Bud Clancy, all veterans.
Among major leaguers who came to
terms yesterday were Leslie Mallon,
Phillies' second baseman, and Pitchers
Milton CASTOR and Ted Kowalik of the
Chicago White Sox
sCharley Jameson, veteran outfielder
Who was given his unconditional release
by the Cleveland Indians, will get a
chance to go South with the club after
an. President Alva Bradley has ordered
that JamieSon's training expenses be
paid and that he be given every chance
TO stick with the team.