Evening star., 1940-01-16
P|ayer-Shunting
Long Regarded
Evil Of Game
Lands Warns Owners
To Be Fair; Detroit
Reguins Trout
BY TOM SILER.
Associated Press Sports Writer.


CHICAGO, Jan. 16.-A lot of
baseballs have been knocked out of
the park since 1906, but even back
in those days the powers-that-were
campaigned against the violators of
the professional games rules gov
erning player transactions.
The games long struggle to keep
player manipulations within legal
bounds was emphasized boldly once
again this week by Commissioner
K. M. Lands edict freeing 81 base
ball players owned by the Detroit
club and valued at $500,00O.
In freeing 4 Detroit players and
81 minor leaguers and ordering pay
ment of almost $4,000 to IA other
players, Lands warned the club
owners and executives that contin-
ued covering up" of players would
result in banishment from baseball
of the guilty parties.
Old Commission Rule Drastic.
Just "a years ago this coming
spring the National Baseball Com
mission, composed of Ban johnson,
Harry c. Pulliam and August Her.
mann, drew up what Is thought to
be the first rule striking at such
practices. For violation of rules on
player transactions, the commission
set fines of $1,000 on major league
clubs, $3.50 for Glass A League and
so on down the line.
The. commission warned that a
second offense would lead to the
withdrawal of the protection of
the games govvernors-which would
amount to wrecking a club, since its
hold on its players would have no
legal status.
Since that time there have been
repeated warnings and repeated vio-
lations. Less than two years ago
the baseball world was jolted when
Lands lashed out at the St. Louis
Cardinals. He charged the club
with mishandling players, gave free
agency to more than 100 of them
and levied fines against the Cards
and some of their affiliates.
Three-Year Ban Imposed.
1Nu CllS ASCAOAU SooC ShNSCuS Wy
far all past ones in magnitude.
The commissioner not only freed
the 81 players, but also prohibited
Detroit and affiliated clubs from
dealing for them within three years.
In addition, the Chicago Cubs were
fined 81 900 and the st. Louis Browns
$1,000 for meddling and Cleveland
was assessed $4,000 for covering
up player.
A decision reversal by Lands in
one instance yesterday helped De-
troit. He removed the name of the
highly priced Pitcher Paul Trout
from the free agent" list, an
announcing he had discovered later
that Trout had been turned over
to the Toledo club in proper op-
tional assignment and therefore
belongs to the Tigers. Trout had
hoped to sell his services to some
other club for $4,000.
The action struck a damaging
blow at Detroit's plans for re-
building the Tigers in the near fu-
ture. They now have only 78 play
ers, 35 of whom are with the par
ent club, 80 with the Beaumont
Texas League club and 13 with
Henderson of the East Texas
League. Beaumont and Hender-
son are the only minor league
clubs owned outright by Detroit.
Ruling Helps Mccoy.
Lands ruling allows the 81 play
ers to sign now with any club whose
terms are agreeable to them. Some
of them doubtless will realize a
handsome profit on the sale of
their services.
Foremost among this group are
Benny Mccoy, Detroit's rookie Sec
ond baseman, valued by that club
at $4,000, and Roy Cullenbine, out
fielder, worth about $4,000. Un-
der similar circumstances a few
years ago Outfielder Tom Heinrich
accepted contract with the New
| York Yankees on being paid $40, ,0OO