The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1961-08-19

The special meeting of the play
er representatives OF the major
leagues al Boston. Mass. Statler
Hotel the day after the second
AlI-Star Game, turned out TO be
disappointing to the club owners
and many baseball writer's. The
delegates took up two major IS
sues:
/ Continuance of two annual
All-Star games.
2. Desegregation at Florida
training camps and on the road.
On neither Of these points did
the delegates take a firm stand.
On both they placated the club
owners 10 point at which they
appeared to be trying to wheedle
concessions out of them. The play
ers used to make demands. Now
they suggest.
Bob Friend said the players
felt the public wants two games.
He also limited strongly the play
ers favored continuing the two
game setup. Friend pointed out
that with 20 teams in 1862. it
would be 20 years between All
Star games for fans in most big
league cities.
The magnate already have an
nounced they will vote on the
dual system in Miami Beach early
in December Chances are strong
that the second. game will be
dropped.
On the Negro player issue. the
Representatives left matters lust
about where they were last spring.
With the Nets training at ST. Pet
ersbvrs, and Houston team also
entering the MI. in 81. the seq
resafion situation may be worse
than il was last April.
The players drafted a letter TO
be sent to each club owner ask.
ing that all possible means be
taken to alleviate racial discrimi-
nation in housing, particularly on
The west coast of Florida, during
spring training.
Judge Robert Cannon of the
central office said that Of the l8
clubs now in the majors, seven
had made no Roadway on desegre-
CATION seven had eliminated the
problem, and four were making
progress
Frank Scott of the same office
said, THE players do not want
to make an issue of desegregation
at this time. If they hollered now,
they would hamper negotiations
I'VE are not kidding on this or
the two All-Star games issue. We
want the club owners to expires:
themselves. Desegregation is no
merely a Negro problem.
This is the first time we are
doing anything on this collective
ly," said Friend
I'm fairness TO the owners, lei
me say that some Negro players
last spring were offered improved
housing. but preferred TO remain
where they were" Scott said.
Bill White, who helped Bill
Bruton state the case for the
Negro contingent, said. Il want
the opportunity to make by own
choice
Senator'S league representative
Gene Woodling admitted that he
was not completely satisfied with
what the clubs had done and said
that eventually there would be
complete solution.
Judge Cannon said, I'VE are
satisfied that baseball has done
everything h I'm an ~ possible.
State laws and local ordinances
are not under control of base
ball.
Baseball has made large con
tributions these last two years TO-
ward desegregation. Talks now
are on between clubs and local
officials. The next few months
will alleviate the situation in the
ST. Petersburg Tampa area"
II leaked out that some of the
players had proposed that part of
the second-game receipts be Civ
en- TO charity. This received not
even lukewarm support.
+ -
Substitute Ted Wright, of De
troit, blasted young Don Fullmer's
dreams of following his brother
Genes middlewcight title train
Saturday night by stopping Don
for the first time in his career
at the end of the seventh round
because of badly cut left brow.
Referee Harold Valan awarded