Evening star., 1949-03-09
Lanier, Martin
Ask Lift Of Ban
Pending Verdict
Baseball Is Ordered
To Reply Tuesday to
Injunction PIeu
BY the Asseeiofed Press

ANA = OAoAAb 4sAeSAs "a AAANh
showdown in the courts was
sought today by two former st.
Louis Cardinal pitchers who are
suing organized baseball for $2,-
500, 900 damages as an outgrowth
of their suspensions for jumping
to the Mexican League.
Max Lanier and Fred Martin,
two of nearly a score of major
leaguers waiting out five-year
bans, filed papers in Federal Court
yesterday. At the same time. they
sought reinstatement until their
cases could be settled.
They obtained a Federal Court
order directing baseball to show
cause next Tuesday why it should
not be temporarily restrained
from enforcing both the suspen-
sions and the reserve and termi-
nation clauses of it's standard con-
tracts.
It's the reserve clause, the legal
backbone of the sport binding a
player to one club until that club
is ready to dispose of him, that is
under fire in this and an earlier
100000 suit by Danny Gardella,
former New York Giants out
fielder.
The Gardella suit still is pend
ing in the courts. A U. S. Court
of Appeals recently held the case
should be heard.
Expects Early Decision.
John L. Flynn of New York, at
torney for Lanier and Martin, said
he expected the show-cause order
to produce an early and definite"
decision in baseball's running
court battle with banished players.
Il expect to get either an in
junction which would restore the
players to the good graces of
baseball or a court directive for
an early trial." Flynn said.
1--WE don't plan to let this thing
drag out for months and years."
Commissioner A. B. Chandler
and other officials of baseball in
volved in the suits had no COM
ment.
Named as defendants were
Chandler: Ford c. Frick, president
of the National League; Will
Harridge, president of the Amer
lean League; George w. Traut-
man. president of the National
Association (Minors) and the 16
major league clubs. ~
Lanier is seeking $1,50o.0oo and
Martin, 81 ,000. 900. claiming triple
damages under the Sherman and
Clayton Antitrust Laws.
The players stated in afddavits
that they didn't get adequate sal
aries from the Cardinals and
complained that because Of the
reserve clause they couldn't deal
with other clubs.
Lanier, now resident OF st.
Petersburg, Fla, who began his
career in 1888, said he started out
under the st. Louis organization
at $100 a month and was making
$500 year with the Columbus
Red Birds in 1889.
He signed a contract with the
Cardinals for $11,500 in 1916, he
said, just before jumping to the
Mexican League.
Martin, a native Oklahoman
now living in Fort Wayne, Ind,
began his professional baseball
career in 1885. He said he was
making $500 a season when he
left the Cardinals to play in
Mexico in 1916. Both he and
Lanier are 80.
Says Others Will Sue.
Flynn said several other players
under suspension would file suits
later. He declined to name them
but declared lack Of time pre-
vented them from joining the
action with Lanier and Martin
yesterday.
Several players said they had
been approached by the New York
attorney but had refused to go
along.
These included Catcher Mickey
Owen of Brooklyn: Catcher
Myron Hayworth of the st. Louis
Browns; First Baseman Roy Zim-
norman and Pitcher Harry Field
man of the New York Giants.