Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-29
Majors Plan Revision
|0f Contract, Vote 10
Extend Schedule


time in the history Of the major
leagues, the baseball magnates have
taken as partners the ball players
themselves. Under this revolution
airy move the athletes may look
forward to sharing soon with Of
f1cials and club owners formulation
Of rules and policies.
American and National League
club bosses announced after q two
day meeting yesterday creation of
q seven-member executive council,
which will include a player repre-
sentative from each league. In adj
dition to the formation Of the gov
erning body. top news to come out
Of the magnates' meeting with Com
missioner A. B. Chandler was the
adoption Of a 168-game playing
schedule for 1947 and approval Of
all contractual demands asked by
players.
The 1947 season will be the long
est In major league history, starting
April Is and ending September %.
The new season will be IA games
longer than the present 154-game
slate, which has been standard
since 1904.
Union Move Aided Players.
Admission Of the players to the
new executive council was the out
growth Of two recent offensives-
the attempt of Attorney Bob MUIR
ply OF Boston to unionize the ath-
letes and the talent raids carried
on by the Mexican League.
In addition to the player repre-
sentative from each league, the
new council will include Chandler
Ford Prick and Will Harridge, presi-
dents OF the National and American
Leagues. respectively, and owner
representatives, Larry Mac Phail of
the New York Yankees and Warren
Giles of the Cincinnati Reds.
The method of selecting a player
from each circuit to sit with the
council still is to be determined.
The new council, which will be
formally seated shortly after writ
ten signatures Of the 16 club own
ers are obtained. will supplant the
old advisory council whose men,
oershlp included Commissioner
Chandler, Harridge and Prick.
This new council" Chandler said.
will be empowered to make legis-
lation giving baseball a governing
body the year round to amend rules
and solve problems until the ap-
prevail or disapproval. at the joint
meetings Of the two leagues"
Contractual Demands Get O. K.
The magnates yesterday also
unanimously approved all contract
ural demands asked by players in
their collective bargaining" move,
including yearly minimum salary
believed to be 5000. Other pro-
posals approved included pension
plan, modification Of the Today
release plan, extension of postsea-
son exhibition play from 10 to 30
days and incidental spring training
expenses, believed to be $25 per
player a week.
Chandler said that until the new
council is formed, negotiations be-
tween owners and players will con-
tinue to be conducted by the present
Policy Committee. He said the COM
mittee will meet with the players
own six-member Steering Commit
tee "as soon as possible" to consider
the contract revised yesterday. He
added that full details Of the re-
vision would be released when the
new contract is acted upon by the
players.
Members of the players six.man
committee are Johnny Murphy of
New York, Mel Harder Of Cleveland
and Joe Kuhel Of Chicago for the
American League and Marty Marion
Of st. Louis, Dixie Walker of Brook
lyn and Billy Herman of Boston for
the National League.
Pension Plan to Be Drawn.
In approving extension Of post
season exhibition play, the magnates
specified that no more than three
members OF the same major league
club may be members of the same
transforming team. Details Of the
players pension plan will be worked
out at a later date. Players and
clubs will both contribute to the
fund.
Presidents Of five minor leagues
attended the joint sessions here, but
formal acceptance Of the invitation
to work with the permanent govern
ing body is expected to be delayed
until the minors annual meeting in
Los Angeles in December