Evening star., 1943-01-05
kogu|s Hopeful
Lands Will End
Woes Quickly
Later Season Sturt
Deemed Solution of
7 raining Problem
BY CHARLES CHAMBERLAIN,
Associated Press Sports Writer


CHICAGO. Jan. 5.-Straggling
INTO the Palmer House today for
Commissioner K. NJ Lands emer-
gency parley, travel weary baseball
/ officials we're more determined than
ever to draw up rigid mileage
conservation plan after getting a
personal taste of transportation
difficulties their teams will face this
| season.
Most lobby talk" consisted of
mutterings of train delays rather
than speculation of what the COM
missioner has up his sleeve for
l943 wartime program after confer
ring recently with ODT Director
Joseph B. Eastman.
Representatives of the Is major
league clubs agreed the baseball sit
uation would be disclosed as it really
exists, and they expected a short,
cut -and-dried conference, with Lam
dis putting the cards on the table.
Problems Coming to Head.
1t was a relief for the magnates
to know their problems finally were
coming to a head. Only a month
| ago they closed their annual meet
ing here with the little matter of
! l943 baseball drifting in the air
with their cigar smoke.
During the past month there have
been mostly rumors as to where and
when clubs will hold spring train
lng-lengthy trips to California,
Florida, Texas and elsewhere can
celed in accordance with Eastman's
suggestions for clipping rail miles.
Only the Boston Red Sox, who will
condition at their back door in
Tufts College gymnasium, appeared
to have definitely solved their
spring conditioning before coming
to the meeting. They were in" no
matter if Lands requests training
at home or near home.
Other clubs have held off from
making definite plans until after
the meeting. Even the Chicago
White SoX and Cubs were so uncer-
tain about the situation they post
poned completing arrangements for
spring training at French Lick. Ind,
only 278 miles south of Chicago.
If the season is trimmed by
week or two by delaying the April
l3 opening, some teams will train at
home regardless.
Majors Merger Opposed.
General Manager Jack Zeller OF
the Detroit Tigers, one of the early
arrivals, voiced the consensus of
most Of his colleagues: We've got
two or three alternate sites. but If
the opener is postponed we likely
will stay right at home"
AS for all this talk about merg-
ing the two major leagues for the
duratfon," ne added, and then di-
vide them into East-West sections
that won't do at all. The American
League and National League must
keep their Identities"
There also were attempts to put
lining attitude around the
spring training question by those
who hoped for the best and expected
the worst.
Some one recalled how easygoing
Miller Higgins worked the Yankees
an hour day and played only few
games, then won the flag with a 16-
game margin, how Charley Ruffing
once held out until May, warming
his arm in bowling alleys in the
meantime and then joined up to
win 20 and lose 7; how Dizzy Dean
in his last season with the Cards
reported four weeks late-and al
lowed Just three runs in his first
five starts.
Twin Bills Would Be Helpful.
Other problems expected to be
discussed today hinge around
spring training-such as delaying
the seasons Inauguration to provide
better weather for training in camps
nearer home. Once the opening date
is settled, the next issue is whether
to continue the standard 154-game
schedule or trim it to the 1919 pro-
portions of 40. The 154-game pro-
gram could be dovetailed into the
shorter season by cramming in dou-
le-headerS.
The flexible scheduling of addi-
tional twin bills also could take
care Of extra games arising from
longer series to eliminate one-day
stands and from open dates pro-
posed between long swings to allow
more travel by day coaches.