Detroit evening times., 1945-02-04
Majors Curb Commissioners Power
Authority Cut
ByNew Setup
Leagues Announce
They Will Operate

They VIII operate
NEW YORK, Feb. 3 (UP)-The
steering committees OF the Ma
tiona and American Leagues an
nounced today that major league
baseball will operate in l945 and
named their respective presidents,
Ford Frick and William Harridge,
10 represent the game in WASH
ington.
The announcement was made
as the two leagues at joint meet
ing formally adopted the new
major league agreement under
which a successor TO the late
Kenesaw Mountain Lands, COM
missioner of baseball, will serve.
The new agreement curbed the
powers of the commissioner by
eliminating the provision under
hich the office could operate on
its own authority many matter
considered detrimental TO baseball.
UP TO LEAGUES
The big change in the new
agreement came in Section 3 OF
Article /. II stated that IF in
the judgment of the commissioner,
any major league rule or any Joint
action of the two major leagues
becomes in its operation impracti-
cable or disadvantageous TO base
ball the commissioner shall
send a notice 10 the president of
each major league stating his
Judgment and reasons therefor
and noticing such rule or joint
action for the next regular joint
meeting or at a special Joint
meeting At -. such joint
meetings, such rule or joint action
shall be voted upon as would be
done if it were being initially
proposed"
If the new commissioner. in
other words, wished TO free play
ers from farm systems, as Lands
did, he would have to obtain he
consent of the club owners.
In effect, the change reduces
the office of commissioner to that
Of policing the game, seeing that
rules which the club owners them
selves adopt are enforced. But he
must rule by the code and cannot
legislate any action upon his
authority.
No action was taken toward the
election of a new commissioner
but the American and National
Leagues agreed 10 call a special
meeting for that purpose before
the season opens in April,
Under the new agreement, the
commissioner must receive a
three-fourths vote of the 16 clubs.
Under the old agreement. only n
majority vote was necessary.
COMMITTEES RESOLUTION
The National and American
Leagues, at separate meetings, in
Structed their presidents to rep
resent baseball in discussions at
Washington during the war
emergency"
A resolution adopted by the
steering committees said:
I'VE have appointed the two
] presidents, Ford Frick and VIII
Harridge, to represent baseball
In discussions with government
officials and officials of the
armed service In all matters
pertaining to baseball opera
tiOns during the war emergency.
major league baseball will
continue Its policy OF co-opera-
ton with the country's all-out
war effort. Like every ono elso
our manpower is available when-
ever and wherever needed most
I'VE welcome the recent d.
receives from the war depart
ment relative To the re-exami-
nation of F-4 players and any
legislation that will assure the
public and the players that the
teams on the field are not needed
elsewhere.
PLAN FOR OPENING
"Whatever the government
does is right. IL Is our job TO
continue so long as the govern
ment wants us to do so.
I'VE are, therefore, going
ahead with our plan for the
opening of the regular champion
ship season."
Leslie OConnor, presiding at
the joint meeting, announced the
new agreement. drawn up by a
l0-man committee, had been
adopted unanimously by the two
leagues.
The leagues worked out the
details of the l945 All-Star game
to be played at Fenway Park.
Boston.
Decision TO operate despite the
manpower crisis facing the game
, was expected and the National
, League. following separate
r meeting. announced it approved
, the action OF Frick and Clark
Griffith. owner of the Washington
Senators. in going 10 manpower
officials in Washington TO obtain
factual information.