Evening star., 1950-07-11
Baseball Is Alarmed
By Majors N-Radio
Threat 10 Minors
BY the Asseeioted Press

CHICAGO, July 11.-This could
be the year-with television and
widespread broadcasts of major
league play-that decides the fate
of minor league baseball.
The matter of minor league at
tendance was a much-discussed
topic here as the American and
National Leagues played before a
plump patronage of $4,000 in the
17th All-Star game at Comiskey
Park.
The two major loops yesterday
waded through some new busi-
ness, including a relaxation of the
March deadline for the start of
spring training.
But the alarming note OF the
Joint meeting was this report by
George M. Trautman, president
of the National Association of
Professional Baseball Leagues
(minor leagues:
The first month of play by
some 444 minor league clubs re-
suited in loss of / million fans.
That was caused mainly by broad
cast and television of major league
games in minor league terri
tory. Trautman told the major
bigWigs.
Government Action Feared.
The Justice Department in
Washington already has indicated
that any attempt to curb major
league radio or telecasts might
be interpreted as a monopoly.
So the minor leagues have stood
patiently by while their turnstiles
have rusted. How long they can
take box office beating is ques-
tionable.
Trautman cited this example
OF how major league encroach-
ment-through television or chain
radio broadcasts-is affecting the
minors: In Seattle, a member of
the Pacific Coast League, fans get
outside baseball entertainment
from II am. until midnight.
In the top three minor leagues,
American Association attendance
was reported 27 per cent below
last year; the International
League had dropped 10 per cent.
and the Pacific Coast League 1917.
One major spokesman, sympa-
thetic to the minor league cause,
predicted that "handful'> of
minor loop clubs would fold within
a few weeks and that more would
follow.
The majors, however, did moth
ing at yesterdays joint session on
the television-radio subject, ex-
cept to name study committee.
Little Done at Meeting.
Their main accomplishment was
virtually to eliminate the March 1
deadline for reporting to spring
training camps. Now players can
report any time before then as
an individual club prefers-except
that players cannot be compelled
to come before that date. At the
same time. no exhibition game can
be scheduled before the second
Saturday in March.
The major officials also dele
gated committee to study a re-
newed plea by the Pacific Coast
League for exemption from draft
ing their players by majors; re-
jected their rule barring high
school and college coaches from
serving as major league scouts,
and approved a proposal for man.
ayers to sit in on World Series
split meetings.
They left as solely a league mat
ter a proposal by the American
League that artificial home run
fences may not be erected or torn
down once the season starts.
No action was taken on propo-
sails by Shortstop Marty Marion
OF the Cardinals and Pitcher Fred
Hutchinson of the Tigers, repre-
senting the players, that: There
be no spring training night games;
the bonus rule be discontinued;
SIS per month be allowed players
for expenses during the season,
just as received now for spring
training; pass lists for players be
extended, and clubs pay expenses
for an annual meeting of player
representatives of both leagues.