Evening star., 1947-02-02
.S100 Monthly
Maximum Put
On Payments
Meeting at N. Y. Also
Guarantees $3.50, 600
Series Player Pool
BY the Assoeioted Press

BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Feb. Baseball
adopted far-reaching pension plan
today in unprecedented joint major
league action by which players,
coaches and trainers will receive
from $50 to 500 monthly for life
after the age of so If they have spent
at least five years in the big leagues.
Fulfillment of this retirement
scheme, an outgrowth of last years
player committee meetings, depends
on participation by at least rs per
cent OF all major league athletes.
At least 60 per cent of any clubs
eligible players must belong If any
are to participate in the plan.
All players on the roster of major
league clubs on opening day 1947
will be eligible for membership by
series of annual payments ranging
from $45.45 in the first year to
$454.75 in the tenth year. After the
player has paid in $4,000 his yearly
premium would be $3.50.
Clubs To Help Bear Cost.
Each major league club would pay
$3.50 for each participating player
and the remaining costs would be
provided by the net receipts Of the
annual All-Star game and the sale
Of radio rights to the World Series.
If there should be a deficit, the 16
clubs would make up the difference.
At present the commissioner Office
is holding in escrow $685., 900 for the
start of the fund.
Under a graduated scale, retired
player who had five years service
would receive $50 monthly for life
at the age of so. For each additional
year, the pension would be increased
$40 monthly until it reached 500
maximum.
Details Of the plan, called the
most complicated pension system
ever adopted" call for similar pay
ments to beneficiaries over 100
month period if the player should
die before collecting.
Time spent by the athletes in the
armed services also shall be counted
in figuring their years of big league
play, providing three of his five
years qualifying service covered
actual play of a major league team.
$250,000 Series Pool.
Although the pension plan was the
outstanding development of the
joint session, the big leaguers did
guarantee $250,000 player pool for
all subsequent World Series.
If the receipts do not reach the re-
quired sum, the two leagues will
make up the difference, thus assur-
ing each winning team of a $50, 900
kitty" and each losing team of at
least 100000. These club shares
may be divided among eligibles in
compliance with existing rules. How
ever, under ordinary procedure, it
practically sets up a $1,000 winners
minimum.
The ban against team bonus pay
ments to big league players was re-
affirmed, calling for a fine by the
commissioner OF an amount equal
to but not exceeding the total bonus
paid. If more than so per cent of
the players of a series team are paid
a bonus. it shall be called a team
bonus" and subject to fine.
There will be no more barnstorm-
ing tours while the World Series is
being played, an obvious result of the
1916 situation which found some
athletes promised more money for
playing exhibitions than they could
make in the series. From now on,
the 30-day transforming rule re-
mains in effect, but it dates from
the close of the series, not the end
of the regular season.
Waiver Price Increased.
Increase of the inter-league waiver
price from $500 to $4,000 and
adoption of the bonus player rule by
which a player who receives more
than $4,000 for signing a major
league contract shall hereafter be
h1lOWAl 90 q bOAAOo PA1yCl SOlipACOCo
the business of two major leagues
under the supervision of Commis-
sioner A. B. Chandler.
The minor league executive COM
mittee, composed of Clarence Row.
land, Pacific Coast League presi-
dent; Earl Mann, president of the
Atlanta club of the Southern Asso-
citation, and Herman D. White,
president of the Northern League,
met with President George Traut-
man of the National Association.
Although Trautman previously had
informed the joint big league session
that the minors were making plans
to combat any situations such as
had arisen in the Evangeline League
last year, there was no announce
ment of further details. Five
Evangeline League players had been
placed on the ineligible list after an
investigation of gambling in the
Glass D League.