Evening star., 1942-07-03
Lands PLANNING
To Modify Game
During Recess
Gardner Says Judge
Aims to End Chains,
Subsidize Minors
By HAROLD V. RATLIFF,
Wide World Sports Writer.

DALLAS, Tex, july 3,-It the war
continues into 1943 there will be no
professional baseball in the Nation,
says J. Alvin Gardner, president OF
the Texas League-and thus the
opportunity will be offered to put
the game on a solid basis before its
resumption.
Gardner, back from an extensive
trip through the Midwest and East,
brought his Endorsement of a plan
advanced by Judge Kenesaw Noun
tain Lands, high commissioner Of
baseball, but not yet formally sub
mitted to the men who guide the
leagues.
UNLESS there is a marked change
in the war situation, the major
leagues will not operate next year"
Gardner observed. They wouldn't
be able to get players, because of
the war drain, and they wouldn't
get the attendance, one of the prin-
cipal reasons being the rubber and
automobile tire shortage"
The Texas League head took oc-
casion to admit that the optimism
of baseball men that wartime would
bring increased interest in the game
had been misplaced. The view had
been that the people would want
recreatlon-would want to get away
from their worries.
Strikes at Baseball Chains.
"T'he people are not going to see
baseball when the Nation is in such
turmoil over war" Gardner said.
He praised the Lands plan. which,
in effect, would do away with chain
store baseball as practiced by in
dividual big legaue clubs and would
substitute one big chain-a sub
sidized program aimed largely at
aiding the Glass B, c and D leagues.
Under this program the major and
minor leagues would cooperate in
the acquisition, development and ad-
Vancement of players, employing
experienced officials and players to
conduct baseball schools, try-out
camps, lecture and movie exhibition
programs, to Cooperate with others
interested in amateur and semipro
ball and in general to have charge
OF all matters connected with the
instruction, development and placing
of recruit players.
Such players would be placed ini-
TALLY in accordance with their ap-
parent abilities, giving preference
within classifcations to clubs in
territory most adjacent to their
homes.
Subsidies for Clubs.
The plan includes subsidies to
clubs below A classification such
as $1,000 to Glass D; 81 500 to Glass
c, and $4,000 to Class B. After re-
endorsement of the subsidy each
club would receive all payments for
sale or draft of player contracts.
This, Gardner said, would give
clubs added incentive to develop
players for higher company.
The subsidy fund would be re-
volying fund. Any deficit would
be made up by the major leagues.
Lands plan would outlaw work.
ing agreements between clubs and
Gardner says this would prevent
the growing" of players advance
ment through a single club or sys-
tenn.
Clubs acquiring players could as
sign their contracts to other clubs,
outright only, by fixed date after
which they would be subject to
selection by clubs of higher classifi-
cation at such prices as would insure
prompt advancement of players as
their ability might merit.
There would be no optional as
Slgnment Of contracts, meaning the
filling only of present but not anti
clpated future needs. #sf
Such players after advancement.
If not capable of the higher service,
would be subject to reclaim bv the
clubs from which acquired but at
lower prices.
Would Halt Competition.
Players, before transfer to clubs
of lower classification, would have
to be waived by all clubs of higher
classification at waiver prices not
exceeding those if the players had
been selected by the claiming clubs
from the classification next below
the claiming clubs.
The plan, Gardner says. would do
away with competition between ma
Jor and minor league clubs in sign
ing players because the majors could
sign only those players of immediate
service to them.
AS pointed out by George Schepps.
owner of the Dallas club, which is
one of four independently operated
clubs in the Texas League, the
chains now are able to pay enough
money to gobble up the good play
ers and keep them at their farm
clubs until needed Meanwhile,
added Schepps, the independents
nave to take the leavings.
He says such a state of affairs has
lowered the brand of baseball per-
ceptlbly in the Texas League.
Lands takes the view his plan
would mean lower profit per sale
but high turnover" as against high
er profit per sale, but low turnover.
lie thinks it would encourage To-
cal ownership of clubs which he
terms preferable to ownership or
control by outsiders.
Then, too, he believes the plan
would enable higher clubs to give
players opportunity for service with
out too great financial risk. which
would result in constant addition of
new blood to teams.