Evening star., 1951-07-31
Ball Players 70 Testify
AGAINST Reserve Rule
CeIIer Tells Frick
CONTINUED From FIRST Page.)

NNO1ltll4uCU V1OHI Il ISt EdSS.J
sponded that he had but he
couldn't remember when because
II fined Durocher so many times" :"
We'll. you have him under con-
troll now don't you?" Representa-
tive Heating. Republican, of New
York asked Mr.. Frick.
Frick Answers With Quip.
A ''If this remark is to stand for
Iposterity," replied Mr.. Frick with
a grin. Il can't answer"
well. he's improved some since
he left the Dodgers, Mr.. Keating
observed.
THE Dodgers have improved" :"
muttered Mr.. Celler.
On a more serious level, sub
committee counsel questioned Mr..
Frick closely about his contentious
that the reserve clause" was nec-
essary to preserve competition,
since without it the wealthy clubs
would corner all the best players.
Player Supply Below Demand.
Mr.. Frick was asked how it
would interfere with competition
III players jumped their contracts
and went to ball clubs in other
countries. Mr.. Frick replied that
player supply was far. below the
demand for players and removing
their skilled and unique service"
would disrupt the club.
Mr.. Frick also was asked how
he could claim that the reserve
rule" was made for competition
when winning clubs had sold all
their good players and dropped to
last place. He replied that the
players were sold and winning
teams were broken up because the
clubs were so good that there was
mo competition.
Does the practice Of the St.
Louis Browns of selling players
promote competition?" Mr.. Frick
was asked. Mr.. Prick admitted
that it did not, but he said that
was the question of a drowning
man clutehing at Straws." He
promptly added that if it were not
for the reserve clause" the
Browns would lose Ned Carver,
their star pitcher.
Neutral on Jumpers"
Mr.. Frick was asked If he be-
Ilieved former Commissioner A. B.
(Happy) Chandler. recently GUST
ed from his job. was justified in
black-listing and suspending for
five years the 18 men who
Jumped" to the Mexican league.
Mr.. Frick described his position
as neutral" but when he was
asked if he favored their imme-
3diate reinstatement when they
tried to get back into baseball, he
replied:
I'm kind of a soft-hearted guy
I might favor giving them a
break"
The subcommittee and its coun.
rsel waded into Mr.. Prick when the
West Coast question arose. Mr.
Killings limited broadly that Mr.
Frick was evading the issue wher
he declared the major leagues hac
no objection to the Pacific Coast
League becoming a third big
league.
You say that's the easiest way
Mr.. Killings said. Are you sure
it's not a way, Of dismissing thu
subject? Some cities like Lo.
Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle
can support major league baseball
but it's doubtful if the smaller
/ Pacific Coast cities could"
Celler Reprimands Frick.
1 When Mr.. Frick told the sub.
committee that in order to becom,
a major league. the Pacific Coas
League must first get permission
Of the minor leagues and that biz
league club owners would be will.
ing to see q third major circui
formed. Mr.. Celler retorted:
That's not true. The minute.
of your own meetings prove thai
you hold the power in your hand.
to keep these people from having
major league baseball"
Before adjourning the hearing
until o'clock. Mr.. Celler repri-
manded Mr.. Frick and Paul Por-
ter, one of his attorneys, for the
failure of baseball to supply his
subcommittee with data on sal
aries, balance sheets and other
statistics.
IF this information is not forth
coming very shortly" Mr.. Celler
threatened, "this committee will
have to take stronger measures to
obtain it."
Mr.. Frick said in his prepared
statement that if there were NJ
reserve clause" to prevent play.