Clipping:Protection for the minor leagues; a rumor of a protective association; player movement
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| Date | Wednesday, December 14, 1887 |
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| Text | [reporting on the Arbitration Committee meeting of 12/7] A request from the minor league delegates for a hearing was then considered. The latter delegates...had held a meeting in the morning to consider the nature of the petition to be made to the Board. At this meeting Mr. Menges presided and Mr. C. D. White acted as secretary. Several members were in favor of demanding outright protection from the Board; others advised the agreeing to pay a certain amount for the privilege. Nearly all opposed any system of draft. No special line of action was decided upon, but it was agreed to send a petition to the Board, announcing that they were in session, would like to be heard, and would appoint a committee to dos o if agreeable. This was forwarded to the president of the Board, and soon after Secretary Byrne of the latter, put in an appearance and stated that the Board would be ready to hear them after dinner at 3 o'clock, and added that they preferred to have them come in a body. … ...The subject of allowing the right of reservation of players was discussed, the minor delegates participating in the discussion, and various plans were suggested as to the number of players theymight thus save from the inroads of the big leagues, starting at two and ending at nine. But the minor delegates went further, and demanded the right to fourteen men per club, the same as in the two big leagues. In return for reservation privilege the minors at first were disposed to give nothing at all in cash, and expressed determined opposition to the draft... and finally compromised on a tax of $250 per club. The minor leagues then withdrew, and the question was discussed for hours in all its bearings by the Board. The committee was solid for reservation, and the only snag was as to the form of compensation for that privilege. The draft system... was favored almost unanimously by the committee. But the minor leagues refused to accede to this portion of the arrangement. They preferred the $250 tax, as that was virtually no bonus at all, considering the opportunity it offered for getting that, and more, back in selling players to the big leagues; such a tax enabled them also, for this small sum, to hold their men if they should see fit not to sell, and thus to build themselves into a power which could in time dictate where it now sues; and, finally, the small tax placed the minors—in their own estimation—more upon a level with the major leagues. From their standpoint the minors' position was well taken. And they played their cards shrewdly. The bait held out was tempting—a tax which might be made to run up to a total of $16,000 to 20,000, to be divided between the two big leagues. On top of this came a very cold bluff that sooner than consent to draft the minors would dispense with reservation altogether. This bluff and a vague rumor skilfully circulated to the effect that a combination of minor leagues would be formed against the major leagues, carried the day. The League members of the Board, hardly recovered from their recent Brotherhood scare, were the first to weaken. On the Association side Phelps alone made a strong fight against unconditional reservation, and for reservation with draft. He demonstrated the impossibility of forming anything but a temporary minor league combination; he pointed out the folly of accepting a tax or bonus with one hand and returning it with compound interest added with the other hand; he protested against permitting the minor leagues to garner greater strength with each succeeding season without some system of keeping that growing power in check, and finally he proved the impossibility of satisfactorily filling possible future major league vacancies with the supply of players by draft shut off. But it was in vain. Phelps did his utmost to keep at least his side of the house in line. Byrne wavered for a long time and then went over to the League camp, and, as usual, Von der Ahe went over with him, and the minor clubs triumphed, getting what they wanted, and in the way they wanted, giving in return therefor nothing but the per captia tax, it was a great day for the minor leagues and an exceedingly frigid one for the hitherto haughtily superior major leagues. The Sporting Life December 14, 1887 [from Frank Brunell's column] The Arbitration Committee's handling of the minor league reservation plan isn't satisfactory. Under it the minor league clubs are calmly “held up” for $250 a club and in future sales will be through clubs all the year round. Instead of the player being forced to mount a self-made auction block and say:--”Who wants me? How much am I offered? Come on! Come on! Come on!”--the minor league clubs will do the wolfing and the richer clubs will profit because better able to be wolfed. The $250 tax puts me in mind of a retail license to sell whisky or the rake-off of a poker game. It is a license to sell players. Mind you I do not argue that the minor league should sell what it discovers, rears and possesses. Neither do I argue that such transfers for profit are illegal. But I do think the major leagues, in alleged wisdom assembled, could well have done justice without a price. What right have they to grant protection and equal rights. The latter are, or should be, as free as the air and the former isn't necessary if a fair deal is out. The Arbitration Committee's argument was that the minor leagues are glad to accept the tax. Yes! Why? Because they knew their men and chose the least of two evils. … The argument about stopping the fabulous prices paid through the wild, but necessary chase for young blood is no go. The chase will go on and the prices will be about as usual, except that they will be divided between the club and player. And the majors...will pay the piper as in the past. The Sporting Life December 14, 1887 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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