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Show BRANCH RICKEY IT I LOVEWITH FEI5. Browns' Manager Says Young Players Are Foolish for Jumping. Branch Rickey, manager of the Browns, says that he Is not In tho least worried about any of his ball players having Blgned contracts with the Federal league, and, ho added, neither Is Mr. Hedges worrying over the matter. Fact of the matter is, Branch Rickey docs not think very well of the Federal league and he falls to understand why any younc man of ability would care to take a chance of Jumping to the baby baseball organization. In speaking of the Federal league Rickey ripped off numberless reasons rea-sons why any youth possessing brains and mechanical ability to play the game should allow himself to be Inveigled into signing a contract with the Federals. As every one knosvs, Rickey la receiving receiv-ing pay from a major league club owner. That alone puts, him on the other side of the fence when It comes to arguing the Federal league question. Second, Rickey says the national commission will not tolerate Ihe Federals If the latter lat-ter become friendly with any of the major ma-jor league players arid invito them to play ball. Rickey says that every player with any sense should know .better than to get Into trouble with the national commission. Besides all this, Rickey gives various other reasons why major 'league players should think twice before they leap Into the Federals. Says Rickey: There has been a lot of talk about certain players on the Browns going over to the Federals. With the Players. I want it understood that I am with ' the players In whatever they do that I think will be of benefit to them, provided the demand Is reasonable. If a player Is offered more money by. an opposition league and he feels cers tain that he Is taking -the right Btep by lumping, then. I Eay, let him jump. - I also wish It understood that I will not try to prevent any of my players play-ers from lining up with the Federals. That Is their business, not mine. What's more, If there are any players play-ers on my club who have 6lgned contracts con-tracts with the Federals, or who Intend In-tend doing so without letting either Mr. Hedges or myself know of their intentions, I will say without fear or favor thatlt would not make me feel bad In tho least, as I would not want to have such men on my ball club. In my opinion, It would be a case of separating the sheep from tho goats. Young players take a tremendous chance by signing contracts with teams not operating under the national na-tional agreement. Supposing that the Federals offer some youth Jn either the National or American league a big boost Jn salary and the proposition proposi-tion Is accepted. Then supposing after the first year tho Federal league club owner, having experienced a bad season financially, decides to cut off a large slice of this player's salary. What is the young man going to do lit a case of this kind? Ho can play ball at tho reduced salary, or perhaps ho can apply to some of the other seven managers for a position. Chances Curtailed. Remember, he is In tho Federal league, an organization that has .only eight clubB. Now had this same player play-er remained In the majors he could when his manager decided to turn him back, request that he be sent to any one of a thousand different -ball clubs, where the general conditions would undoubtedly have proved far more pleasing. . I have heard a great deal about Baumgardner Jumping to the Federals. Feder-als. Just put It down as a safe bet that Baumgardnor could not be dragged away from the American league by a team of oxen- It Is really very easy for me to see through all this talk of th players Jumping to tho Federals. Thy aro simply A. using tt as a club over the heads of tho magnates in order to get a boost in salary'. They are wise and I don't blame them. And I wouldn't blame an old player, who could get a fat contract from the Federals, for JumD-lng. JumD-lng. , . - Old-timers Justified. , Take a player like Tommv Leach or even George Stovall. Both these men have been in the majors for a good many years. No doubt they both figure they have seen their best days In .the big leagues, and that under un-der these circumstances It would b an unwise move. In fact, Uttle short pr a crime not io accept a bundle of coin from tho Federals. Anv man would be foolish not to jump aT a proposition of this kind. But for the young man who seeks to build un a future and also earn a fortune providing ho proves capable. I Jay stick to the majors and make thn test of his opportunities. As T said before, neither Mr. Hedges nor myself are worrying about any of the players Jumping, and neither 75f fi,y er Pet lcai'U6 clfc owner! If the Federals Intend to gather in any players who have been slgnrd hSin"- ?a the ovation llsC; . they will only pave 'ho way for a l0xf tr.ble xJ" ordcr to accomplish accom-plish anything thoy will have to carry car-ry tho flgnt to tha big leagues, which nitnB.,aitilhe,now orSan!zftt!on will nfed considerable monew As ever" one knows, both the American and National leagues havo snug sums stored away for purposes. Andf ac- rhSf.il? ? rccm,t. rulQ adopted by the national commission, tho question ques-tion then to be determined 'l hl survival of the flttoat. n - B- 5 |