Evening star., 1946-02-03
Salary Limits Are SET
For Prepaid Talent;
Farming Checked
BY the Associated Press.


NEW YORK, Feb. 2-Major lea
que baseball took steps today at
joint meeting of the American and
National Leagues to check the grow
ing practice of paying huge bonuses
to free agents when they voted to
prohibit the players assignment or
sale to lower league without asking
waivers which cannot be withdrawn.
Although club still can pay $50,-
900 to future Dick Wakefield or
even $4,000 to a Dick Callahan, it
now must be reasonably sure he
will make the grade. The athlete
henceforth will be labeled a bonus
player" and as such any manipula-
ton Of his contract will be subject
to drastic restrictions.
Even if big league team contacts
a promising youngster slips him a
good-sized cash payment and hands
him farm contract, he will be open
to unrestricted draft by any club in
any league throughout his career.
First-Year Salary Limited.
The moguls also took pains to
provide for any subterfoge by ruling
that the first-year salary, including
bonus, shall not be over a certain
limit ($6,000 for the majors, $4,000
. for the triple A and $50 per cent of
the salary level in the other minors)
They insisted that sum also must
include any promises of future cash
or any payments to any persons as
sociated with the players such as a
coach
Putting teeth into their legisla-
ton, the leagues set a $4,000 fine
fora major league club violating the
rule; 1000 for minor league team
and $500 for any employe. In addi-
tlon, the player shall be declared a |
Tree agent and the offending club
snail not be permitted to do business
with him for three years.
There is only one catch to the
entire picture. The minors must
approve before any of the bonus
laws become effective. As the mi
nors do not meet formally until
December, their action probably
VIII be taken in a mail vote from
the Office of President William G
Bramham of the National Associa-
ron.
The bonus player" was defined
as free agent who had been paid
or promised bonus for signing
And the word bonus" itself ap-
Piled to any money or anything
else of value over the regular SAL
airy.
Loops Vote Promotion setup
commissioner A. B. Happy
chandler won out in his battle over
the promotion setup when the
leagues voted to establish a depart
ment to stimulate and encourage
baseball" as part of the commits
sioner's office. Chandler was en-
powered to submit a plan for its
organization and operation to be
approved by the major league ad-
Vlsory council. Funds were voted
subject to favorable action bv the
council.
only point of major disagreement
between the two circuits appeared |
70 pc on the football question. The |
American League insisted on the
rule that would keep the pro clubs
OUT or the ball parks until the end
OF the season. The National wanted
to drop the rule and Chandler said
ne agreed with them. No final deci-
sion was made.
1aVor encouraging the use of
our ball parks for football and COM
plete cooperation with them" said
Chandler: When it comes I'D for a
vote will vote that way"
The leagues also split on the cues
ton of extending the time when the
clubs must be cut down to the limit
OF Is players and five returning
serVlcemen. Chandler cast the de-
clsiVe vote to extend the date to
June Is, siding with the National.
High Schoolers Protected.
In further move of cooperation
with other baseball groups, Chan
dler was empowered to make agree
ments with the A States belonging
to the National High School Fedora
ton and the other four States indie
pendently. These agreements would
solldlfy the majors announced in
tentlons OF signing no high school
player until his class had graduated
Similar restrictions on signing Amer
lean Legion players before the date
Of their final championship game
were voted.
The national defense list was con-
tlnued until May Is, 1916, after
which all players going into service
would be placed on Government
service list with similar benefits.