The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-30

" CSl 0iNc a. S. u glIc QU4iS al hS Loop was paid s25 guarantee for playing the Sunrise A. C. of Tor rington last Saturday afternoon. This outfit is run by Connie Don ahue, director of athletics at Tor rington High School. By the way, the local aggregation was beaten 2l to 0.
 The Litchfield Cowboys will play host to the Waterbury Esquires at Community Field on Thursday night of this week The Esquires will practice for this game when they meet the St. Francis c. Y. O.. baseball aggregation, On the base ball diamond at the new Hunting don Avenue playground, at 6 to- night. -.
 Outcome Must Be Affirmative
 Perhaps one of the most progres sive steps to be taken in Major League baseball in the past 25 years is the decision on the part of the Club owners to sit down with rep resentatives of the players and give them an even break. This may be a sincere effort on the part of the baseball magnates to settle their long standing gripes with the play CTS or it may just be some clever strategy timed to stem the efforts of the American Baseball Guild to organize the players. In all fair ness to both parties we hope 1t is sincere effort by the magnates to better the working conditions and mutual understanding with their players. And in that respect there is much to be done.
 If this conference on August 5th comes to successful conclusion there should be a minimum wage in both the major leagues and per- haps eventually in the minors. Their will be clauses in the players con- tract protecting the individual from the so-called Sweat Shop" minor league clubs. And last but not least there will be clause in all player contracts which will put the rights of the player on level with the rights of the club owner.
 For a long time there have been far too few ball clubs in the major leagues who have been paying their players for the ability displayed on the field rather than on the gate receipts of the individual club. But now both sides realize that they must both respect the rights of the other in order that baseball will continue on harmonious basis. Harmony must reign on & ball club if the brand of ball that club plays is to remain big time. Yes, the re- suits of this first Labor Manage ment conference in baseball on Au gust 5th will determine, to great extent, the future of Big League baseball in the United States.
 Survival Of The Fittest
 The difference between big league baseball and the pre-war brand ot ball that the major league clubs were offering during the war, seems clearly defined At least it will ii you look into the case of Steve Souchock and the New York Yank- eeS. During the war years anything was acceptable but now 1t is back to the survival of the fittest" stage In other words you have to be or your toes constantly or the up ar coming rookie will take your place
 This seems to be the case Witf Nick Etten, first baseman for the Tanks. He took his job for granted and went into batting slump that is, until Souchock was triec out and found to be one of the most promising rockies of the year. Hi field days against the Chicago White Sox hurlers has raised hi! batting average to a whopping 1885 good enough to lead the McPhai men. The experts feel that thi young fellow is good but not a. hot" as his opening splurge would seem to indicate. They say tha when some of the better leagu' twirlers figure him out he will be- gin to falter at the plate. He eats up these low curves which just GU
 the corner" says one expert, Bu