Evening star., 1953-08-25
Frick Says Players
Have Gained Nothing
By Hiring Counsel
By the Assoeioted Press

NEW YORK, Aug 25.-MaJor
league baseball has entered a
new era, with an official hired
spokesman assigned to deal with
club owners on behalf of the
players. But the probable ef-
fectiveness of the players rep
resentative was logged in maze
of statements today.
Commissioner Ford Frick
seemed uninpressed with the
action of the players, who hired
j. Norman Lewis, a New York
lawyer, to handle their dealings
with their bosses.
Asked what the players had
gained by hiring counsel, F'rlck
shrugged: GAS far as can see,
nothing"
Ralph Kiner, the Cubs slugger,
and Allie Reynolds, Yankees
pitcher. the player representa-
tiveS of their leagues, probably
were the most instrumental big
leaguers in bringing about the |
move.
I'VE hired him mainly as a
counsel, not as a representa-
tive" Kiner said.
Reynolds Is Blunt.
Reynolds was more explicit. |
I'VE were not getting the job |
done ourselves" he said, so we
decided on a lawyer to help us.
We want him to sit in on meet
ings with the club owners and
present our side of the case"
The players side consists
mainly of forcing an increase in |
the minimum wage, now $4,000
per year: eliminating night
games on getaway days and
dropping night games from the
spring training schedules.
Just how far the baseball |
brass will be willing to go with
Lewis remained a moot queS-
ton. This is the first time the
owners have been faced with the
problem of having to talk to
their hirelings through a legal |
mind.
Baseball's Executive Council |
held meeting yesterday at |
Frlck'S Office. If battle lines
were drawn, it would have to go |
down as victory for the big
wigs because Lewis was barred. |
Frick Closes Door.
Lewis did have a two-hour
conference with Frick, Will
Harridge. president of the Amer
lean League, and Warren Giles,
president of the National
League, after the meeting broke
up. There wasn't much ques-
ton but that Lewis had hoped
to attend the meeting, but Frick
was quick to close the gates.
Under no circumstances can
any attorney attend a council
meeting except by special invi-
tation," " Frick said. And have
no intention of inviting any one
who is not a member of base
ball |"
Lewis was not unduly per-
turbed over being barred.
Whether 1 attend the meet |
ings is not important" he OBJ
served. THE fact is that 1 rep
resent the players and am in
position to present their pro-
posals. Our only objective is to
get the proposals adopted and
put into effect. It makes no
difference whether I am per-
mitted into their meetings so
long as we get results. I'm salts
fed we were able to get the re-
sponsible persons to submit our
proposals to the correct and
proper channels"
Both Frick and Lewis agreed
that the meeting, though strictly
informal, was most amicable."
But neither would say what the
players proposals were.
Quota Set on Winter Ball.
If the players weren't able to
do much for themselves. a group
of officials from the Caribbean
Baseball Federation obtained
concession. From now on three
players from each club will be
permitted to play winter ball in
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
and Panama.
Previously only native-born
players from that area were per-
mitted to take part in their CO.
game season.
The transforming season also
was heightened from 80 to As
days after the World Series.