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Show WOULD BENEFIT WEAK TEAMS IN BASEBALL Promising Players Must Not Be Kept Sitting on Bench. Philadelphia Writer Suggests Wealthy Clubs Be Not Allowed to Retain Rookie for Period of More Than Two Years. Baseball clubs In the lower strata, which Is slang for tho second division, nro always kicking that there Is no new material which they can purchase, writes Gordon Mnckny in tho Philadelphia Philadel-phia Ingulrer. In fact, thts bunk has been peddled with religious Insistence during tho period since the war. It still goes big In Philadelphia. Ono of tho main yells Is that tho wealthier dubs grab all the talent, tho Cobbs, Speakers, Hornsbys nnd Ruths I In tho maklag, leaving nothing for the other clubs who uro willing to spend a dollar or two and no more for playing material. Now let us offer a suggestion. Let a rule bo passed by both major leagues to tho effect that no baseball club can retain a player longer than two years who Is not a regular. In other words, Instead of keeping a valuable rookie on the bench Indefinitely In order that weaker clubs may not strengthen, let the rule be made that unless a man Is played In tho regular lineup after two years' probation he must be traded or sold to another club. Let the same regulation prevail In this Instance, as obtains In the matter mat-ter of waivers that tho club lowest In the race shall havo the first option of purchaso or refusal to buy. In this manner the big clubs would only bo aiding In making their rivals decent opposition, and baseball Interest wonld be stirred and the box office stimulated stimulat-ed by the hectic raco that would ensue. en-sue. And make tho price of these stars, If they have not fulfilled their mission after two years' probabtlon, the same ns It costs now to buy a player via tho waiver route. This would make the various clubs look at matters a trifle differently. It is barely possible, too, that the local clubs would spend a little lit-tle more money and get a few ball plnyers. |