The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-06
MINOR LEAGUES
 TO HALT MAJORS EXP ANSIO NJ?
BY LEO H. PETERSEN

United Press Staff COrrespondentl
 Buffalo, N. Y. Dec. 6-(UP)- Baseball's postwar problems came out in the open today with indica- tions that the three Double "A" leagues will join in a concerted effort to prevent the majors from expanding their operations to in clude the Pacific Coast.
 Both the International League and the American Association ap- peared to be backing the Pacific Coast league in its battle against possible postwar expansion of the majors.
 Although neither Prank J. Shaughnessy of the International nor George Trautman of the As- sociation would reveal their cir cults stand, Clarence (Pants) Row. land, head of the Pacific Coast League, claimed that his organiza- tion's battle to boost the cost of any major league drive to expand present territory was gaining mo- mentum.
 The Pacific Coast circuit, through Rowland, has been leading the drive to the only two controversial amendments on the docket for the 43rd annual meeting of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues opening here today.
 The first has to do with a rule change which would make the cost of the majors to extend the opera tions of one of it's. on-profitable clubs to territory now within the radius of the drawing area of a minor league team prohibitive. There seemed to be little opposi- tion to this proposed change in the baseball rules.
 Double Draft Price
 The International and American Association circuits hinted that they may go along with Rowland in his fight to double the draft price of Double "A" players to the majors from $7,500 to $15,O0O.
 There was even third point on which the Pacific Coast League appeared to be gaining support and that was Rowland's stand that the minor leagues have voice in the selection of successor to the late Kenesaw Mountain Landis, com- missioner of baseball However, that subject was not ticketed for definite consideration in the formal sessions of the minors.
 As usual, there were various re- ports of deals but all the minor league teams seemed to be in the same category-all were looking for player strength. They were hopeful that with the easing draft regulations their player personnel would increase before the 1945 season opens. But even with that prospect, there appeared little hope that there would be enough bona f1de minor league talent to go around in order to permit the re- opening of any of the leagues which were forced to suspend after Pearl Harbor.
 A number of the minors helc meetings yesterday at which they | transacted routine business.
 The International League re. elected for three year terms Frank J. Shaughnessy as president anc William A. Manley as secretary treasurer and adopted a 154-game schedule for 1945. The schedule will open April 19 with Buffalo playing at Syracuse, Rochester at Jersey City, Toronto at Newark and Mon- treal at Baltimore.
 The Southern Association form ally adopted a proposal to abandon its split season and substitute the Shaughnessy playof system. The club directors also approved a 14O- game schedule for next season.
 Managers Wanted
 In addition to player strength some of the minor league clubs were in the market for managers and there was no dearth of pros- poets. Present at the proceedings, in addition to major league repre- sentatives from every club, were such former baseball greats as Rogers Hornsby and Ray Schalk. Also open to offers from a Double "A" club was Al Vincent, who was released as a Detroit Tiger coach.
 There were deals a plenty in the fire and the chances were that many of them would crystalize be- fore the convention ends on Friday.