The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-05-08
BLASTS MARTIN
FOR STEALING
TWO EAST men.
VI G m phis Owner Hits
Theft OF Players
BY The Grays
BY e. w. POSEY
Secretary. Negro National League

BY {. w. POSEY
Secretary. Negro National League
Late Saturday. May l. received
a special delivery letter from DR.
J B Martin, president OF the Negro
American League. stating that
player Bell OF Memphis Red Sox
and player Shields, traded to Kan
>as City Monarchs at the last meet
ng- OF the Negro American League
had appeared in the lineup Of
Homestead Grays, and that he
would like TO hear from me, per-
sonally, about this.
replied 10 DR.. Martin that
would follow precedent set by
him and answer his letter via the
sports pages Of newspapers.
Why all this fuss about players
Of the Negro National League in the
Negro American League and play
ers OF the Negro American League
in the Negro National League?
American Heads Accused
The one thing that DR. J. B
Martin neglected 10 do was to take
into consideration the statement
President Tom Wilson made in Chi.
cago on August IL, 1912, on the
occasion OF joint meeting OF the
Negro American League and the
Negro National League.
President Wilson stated: The
Negro American League has broken
the joint agreement between the
two leagues. This decision was
made after the Negro American
League clubs had played the ETH.
oplan Clowns.
The joint agreement clearly stated
that-"no- club Of the Negro Ma
tional League or Negro American
League shall play the Clowns"
President Tom Wilson asked why
President ]. B Martin Of the Negro
American League had permitted the
clubs OF the Negro American
League to play the Clowns.
Dated TO Play Clowns
DR.. J. B. Martin stated that he
had called a meeting of the Negro
American League after he had
agreed not to play the Clowns and
that he and other club owners had
voted TO play the Clowns. This was
done without notifying President
Tom Wilson OF the Negro National
League that this action had been
taken.
President Tom Wilson then, def
nitely. made the statement, break
ing of friendly relations between
the two leagues. He further accused
the Negro American League presi-
dent OF permitting Cleveland Buck
eyes to lure Pitcher Boone from
New York Black Yankees and using
Catcher Roy Campanella and Sec
ond baseman Sammy Hughes in the
Cleveland lineup on August 8. 1912,
during the official season OF the
Negro National League.
President Tom Wilson had con-
sistently bent over backwards TO
keep friendly relations between the
Negro American League and the
Negro National League He did this
despite the fact that DR.. Martin
completely ignored him al the l94l
! East-WeSt game, when in some
manner Dr. Martin had received
both leagues share Of the East
West game from Comiskey Park and
deposited i, in the personal check
Ing account OF Dr. j. B. Martin.
Echoes Of East-West Game
We OF the negro National League
have never beer satisfied, because
no itemzed report was ever re-
ceived from Dr.. j B. Martin or
Comiskey Park concerning the
game We/did receive a statement,
written with lead pencil from DR.
Martin with figures Of the net re-
ceipts
II would suffice IL the president
Of the Negro American League
would read the minutes OF the Ne
gro National League and Negro
American League joint meetings
for the past four years The con-
Sistency OF violations OF this agree
ment was brought 10 head on
August l7,-when- President tom
Wilson Of the Negro National
League made the above charges.
II DR. Martins memory goes back
that far. he will recall that the Sec
Rotary OF the Negro National League
and Ed Bolden. vice president OF
the Negro National League; walked
out Of the Joint meeting when Tom
Wilson'S charges were not denied by
the president of the Negro Ameri-
can League. or any member OF the
Negro American League
Homestead Grays and Phila Stars
VIII likely return any players
claimed by the Negro American
League clubs when Kansas City
Monarchs return Satchel Paige TO
Newark and other stolen players in
the Negro American League to the
Negro National League-and pub
hcly apologize 10 the president Of
IN Negro National League for
breaking the joint agreement be-
tween The Negro National League
and the Negro American League.
We have minutes OF joint meet
irnr sincn iQ9Q IL fhnsn riatnnnnir