Evening star., 1940-02-20
Lands Is Given
Credit by N.L.
President
Ayers Judge Merely
Eager for Players
Get Fair Deal
BY the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, Feb. 20.-The re.
cent baseball meetings at Belleair,
Fla, aside from putting pitchers on
a wheeling basis, did much to
clear the air of the haze of appre-
hension which followed Commis-
sioner Landis' seven-point bulletin.
In fact, Ford Frick sees the path
finally opening toward clearer
understanding of major and minor
league problems and he gives the
commissioner credit for the i'm.
proved condition.
"The meeting was highly satisfac.
tory" the National League president
says, "and I really believe we are at
last on the road to a solution Of our
problems.
Much credit must go to Mr.. Lap
dis. He co-operated 100 per cent at
the Belleair meeting. In fact, he
even seemed to lean over backward
in his efforts to be fair.
"I think, Also that he gained q
better understanding of the prob
lens of the club owners, and his
willingness to compromise on two
major points indicates as much.
Interested in Player.
"Mr. Lands primarily is inter-
ested in the protection of the indi-
vidual ball player. Everything he
does pertaining to farm clubs and
working agreements hinges on that.
"As a matter of fact, according
to the present rules player could
be held down in the minors because
the major league club which con-
trolled him had no place for him on
its own roster. say it could be
done, but it isn't.
There are any number of men in
the majors who came up through
farm systems of other clubs. Paul
Derringer. for instance, came up
through the Cardinal system, as did
Bill Lee. Eddie Miller is a product
Of the Yankee system, as is Joe Gal.
lagher.
mo, they aren't held down, but
the fact remains that they could be
under our present rules. 1t wouldn't
be easy to keep a star covered up in
the minors even now, though. The
fans and the newspapers would
make too much of it.
Some Overestimate Selves.
Anyway, the players who might
raise fuss to the effect that they
were being kept in the minors are
the ones who never would make
major leaguers anyway. OF course,
! It's all right for them to think they
are good enough. That's what we
want in a ball player. But we don't
want them to think they aren't get
ting square chance"
Frick was sidetracked to the prob
lens of minor leagues.
Il don't want to say much about
that" he protested. I'm inter-
ested primarily in the majors and
the minor leaguers might say: Look
who's trying to explain our prob
lems.'
But there are obvious problems,
which I believe Mr.. Lands UNDER
stands better since our meeting.
For instance, there's the problem Of
signing players. Mr.. Lands wanted
it done directly by an official of the
minor league club.
Just Don't Understand.
well, lots of these clubs in lower
claSSlf1cationS aren't conducted on
year-around basis. If the signing
is left to some young fellow sent out
there. he's likely to make a mess of
it. You can't expect these young
fellows to know all the ramifications
of the game. Why, I believe you
could count on your fingers the men
who really understand all the rules
of baseball procedure.
II don't. know the major league
rules, and have other information.
but so far as knowing them inside
out Is concerned, well, there aren't
very many who qualify, and that's
one Of the reasons the rules must be
rewritten before long.
Rules Are Complicated.
"They may sound simple, but
they're about as complicated as any,
thing you could find Why, Judge
Branham told me he had to send a
contract back to club official seven
times before it was right. And a
contract is comparatively simple
document.
But we're on the right track now,
and I think everybody came away
from the Florida meeting with q