The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-15
CLUB DEALT BIG BLOW
@ PLAYERS FREED
BY JUDGE Lands
Ruling Destroying Detroit
Farm System Called Biggest
In Major Loop History

AAAoJO4 ASoS~SH
ball players were declared free
agents today by Baseball Commits
sioner K. M. Lands as the result OF
an investigation of the farm opera
lions of the Detroit club.
All the major leaguers given their
freedom were Detroit players-ln'
fielder Benny Mccoy, Outfielder Roy
Cullenbine, Pitchers Paul Trout and
Lloyd Dietz and Steve Rachunok.
The minor leaguers were affiliated
with IA minor league clubs, ranging
from class IA leagues down.
The announcement from Lands
office said simply that the players
were released because they had been
"mishandled' in the operations be-
tween Detroit and its minor league
affiliates.
The investigation of Detroit's farm
operations began nine months ago.
The commissioner warned the Tigers
and baseball clubs in general that a
similar violation of the code cover
ing player transactions in the future
would result in a heavy fine as well,
as suspension of the guilty executive
from baseball.
The release Of Mccoy annuls a
deal between Detroit and Philadel.
phia which would have sent Mccoy
and Pitcher Slick Coffman to the
Athletics for Outfielder Wally
Moses.
Leslie O'Connor, secretary to the
commissioner, explained that De.
troit used its farm clubs to "cover
up" dozens of players in what he
termed "a wholesale violation" of
the rules.
Mccoy played S. games at second
base last tease for the Tigers, bat
ting 1902. Cullenbine batted ,240 in
Is games and Trout won nine games
and lost 10 for the Tigers.
The Chicago Cubs were fined ST..
900 and the st. Louis Browns $500
for meddling with Detroit's player
property after reports were ~circulat.
ed months ago that Mccoy and Cul.
lenbine might be affected by the in
vestigation.
Lands said Cub Scout Clarence
Rowland contacted Cullenbine and
Messy "and informed them it would
be advantageous to get in touch
with" him when and If they were
released.
The commissioner likewise charged
Manager Fred .Haney Of the Browns
talked to Mccoy along similar lines.
The commissioner also ruled the
Cubs could have no dealings with
either Of these players and that the
Browns could not acquire Mccoy
within the next three years.
The free agencies given the play
ers are effective IS days hence, but
Detroit and all other clubs found
guilty Of violations in this inquiry
were prohibited from dealing with
the players affected for the next
three years.
Lands warned chain team opera
tors that the "evils of common con.
troll Of player dealings of two clubs
in the same league and perversion
OF the working agreement into ar.
rangements for wholesale covering
up Of players must cease"
1t was only two years ago that
Lands cracked down on the st.
Louis Cardinals for similar farm
operations. He released more than
100 players owned by the Cards and
affiliated clubs and levied $2,176 in
fines.
At that time, Lands accused the
Cards Of operating undercover
working agreements and of con.
trolling two minor league teams in
the same league, almost exactly the
same charge against the Detroit club
In the present case. The investiga-
ton findings said that the Tigers
manipulated players Of two teams
in the Evangeline league and the
Texas league.
" AA4S4O " LI0 Lice
granted, the commissioner ordered
Detroit Dr. the responsible club to
pay various sums ranging from ST.
900 to $1,000 to players who now are
with clubs outside Detroit's organ.
ization, but which would have been
declared free agents had they re.
NAMED in the organization until the
investigation was completed. Thus
the sums ordered paid to the various
players represents what their free
agency would have been worth to
them.
The players, present employer
and sums to be paid them follow:
John Lindsay Brown, Portland,
$1,500; Irving Jack Burns, Toronto,
$500; Frank Reiber, Toronto, S..
900; George Archie. Seattle. 50, 900;
Chester Morgan, Louisville, S. 900;
Parke Ed Coleman, Portland, So, 900;
Irving Bartling, Wilkes-Barre g..
500; John Zapor, Durham, N. c.,
$1,000; Emile Dejonghe, Toronto,
A,75o; William Ehrensberger, Meri-
dian, Miss. $4,000; Clyde smoll,
Knoxville. Tenn, $4,000; Ray Fritz,
$500; Don French, $500, and
Joseph T. Hare, ST. 500.
Lands office did not have the
latest records OF the whereabouts of
the last three players.
O'Connor explained that a further
study Of the Investigations findings
would be necessary to determine
whether Detroit or farm clubs would
be forced to pay the sums to the