Evening star., 1948-09-01
Chandler Is Reported
Probing Covering Up
|0f Players in Minors
By the Assoeiofsd Press

BY the Assoeiofsd Press
DETROIT, Sept. 1.-The Detroit
News said today that Baseball Com
missioner Albert B. Chandler will
crack down within a month or so
on q series of minor league deals
involving the Detroit Tigers.
The newspaper said it had learned
Chandler is completing an investiga-
ton Of deals between the Detroit
major league team and the Dallas
team Of the Texas League.
The transactions involve at least
nine players signed by the Tigers
and covered up" in the minor
leagues, the News said.
The Dallas Rebels, not a farm
club, had a working agreement with
the Tigers in 1916 and 1947, but it
was not renewed this year. George
and Julius Schepps sold the club at
the start of the 1948 season to r.
w. Burnett.
Chandler conferred at Dallas re-
Gently with both present and former
operators of the Rebels.
No knowledge of 1t Says Evans.
Tiger General Manager Billy
Evans said, This is the first knowl-
eoge I have had of any of this. None
OF the ball players was acquired
during my time here. and wouldn' t
know anything about such deals
He said Chambers Office has not
contacted him about any rules in
fractions.
Il haven't had a single word from
the commissioner" Evans declared.
IF this story is true, there must
have been leak somewhere in the
commissioners Office"
Chandler, contacted at his home
in Versailles, KY, said, Il have no
comment to make"
The news said Chandler was aim
ing his blast principally at VIOLA
tions of the rule against sc-called
"gentlemen's agreements and eva
sions Of the bonus rule"
Previously Hit in 1910.
The Detroit club previously was
hit in 1910 by the action of the
late Commissioner KeneSaw Noun
tain Lands, who made free agents
Of 81 players owned by the Tigers
and scattered through the minors.
The News said Chandler is ex-
pected to summon several baseball
executives before him in Cincinnati
as soon as the Texas League season
closes. They were listed as q. Alvin
Gardner, president of the Texas
League; Milton E. Price, secretary
of the Texas League and president
of the West Texas-New Mexico
League; Richard W. Burnett, owner,
and Bobby Golf. business manager
of the Dallas Club; George and
Julius Schepps, who sold the Dallas
franchise to Burnett, and Jack
zeller, director of scouts for the
Boston Braves.
zeller was general manager of
the Tigers when the Detroit club
was blasted by the 1940 "emancipa-
ton" He still was in the position
when the Tigers entered into a tie
up with Dallas in 1945. Zeller re-
signed January /. 1916.
Players Are Listed.
Among players listed by the news
as being involved in the deals under
fire are: ,sss a..x -. z.g..-
Paul Hinrichs, 5 right-hander nov
with Dallas but who has been sold
to Buffalo, a Tiger farm club in the
International League; Bill Serena,
third baseman transferred from
Dallas to Buffalo this summer:
Catchers Cler1 Cola. now playing
with Austin, and Mike Dooley, play
ing with Lubbock.
Others we're listed as Pitchers Bill
Macdonald and Jerry Ahrens and
Outfielders Zeke Wilemon and Jack
Germ of Flint in the Central League
Also listed was a player identified
as Pitcher Ossie Kolwe.
The news said George M. Traut-
man, who resigned as general man
ager of the Tigers to become chief
of the minor leagues, and Evans
also would be summoned to Cincin-
natl.
1t added that Chandler still is
gathering evidence repeatedly show
ing that Detroit and Dallas COL
laborated on deals involving the
nine players. permitting Detroit to
exceed the limit of players permit
ted to be under its control. y.
Bonus Rule Inquiry.
The newspaper also said Chandle,
has investigated an alleged evasion
OF the bonus rule by the Pittsburgh
Pirates.
The incident involved Danny
Lynch, second baseman from South
ern Methodist University, who was
signed by the Pirates recently fol
a $4,000 bonus, the News said.
Tt reported Chandler will charge
the Pittsburgh club with giving
Lynch's father a night time scout
ing job to induce the youth to sign
"At least one scout faces prob
able fine and suspension and the
player may be declared a free agent
with the Pittsburgh club forever
forbidden to deal with him. the
News said.
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE.
Baltimore, 0-6: Newark. Sd.
Syracuse, B; Jersey City, 4.
Montreal. 3: Rochester, /.
Only games scheduled