OCR Text |
Show HE BiERED BY FEDS, SAYS BARROW New League Has Made Players Independent, Says International Chief. Ni-lW YORK, July 4. " Baball ha,, bee,, put ba-k ten years," recently declared Ildward G. Bar row, President of tbo international h-ague. "Jce game todav is ju-t where it was a decade ago. Ori'-e irr-cut conditions have been htraightened out, those who, t'orougn hard and ca-a-do: work, boosted tu ,port to the high plane it wa-; 00 last year, have got to begin their wor. all over again. ' 5 , i When he said baseball ''has been put ba'-k -earV' be meant thn game this, season it ten ears behind what, it was latt year in attendance, qualitv of pi ay, discipline and general prosperitv. For veurs after baseball began to thrive as a fcport tho-o who prouiutcd it realized there was but ooe way to mate a great succor through discipline. Rowdvi.-ni had to be barred or the better bet-ter cla:;s of persons would not attend the games. "It took a long time to establish discipline disci-pline of the right kind. But by dint Oi. hard work the officials finally succeeded, succeed-ed, and riots and the like became something some-thing of the pat. They no longer had a place in baseball. To a wav this discipline has been shattered. "There has been more trouble between umpires and players thus far this year than there was during the entire en-tire season of 1913. This has not been due particularly to bad umpiring. It; has not been any worse than it was last vear. On the contrary, it has been pretty good. But it can be attributed to the bobbing of the Federals to their becoming be-coming factors of more or less moment iu baseball. Through organization the many leagues -enrolled as members of organized organiz-ed baseball were able to punish players who., violated the weil defined rules made for the good of the sport. They were able to put a stop to rowdy tactics on the field, tactics so distasteful and repulsive to the average ' fan ' ' who pays his way to see baseball played and cot a fisticuff encounter or a verbal ver-bal debate. If players persisted iu dis-obeyLos dis-obeyLos these rules and refused to concede con-cede the necessary authority to the umpires they were subject to fines and suspensions. If they didn't like the pjunibhment meted out to them they were at liberty to retire from professional profes-sional baseball. If such players thought thev were being discriminated against or were being be-ing unjustly punished, they had recourse to the national commission. This bodv always thoroughly investigated such complaints. With the Federal league welcoming all those who care to jump their contracts and flock to its standards, the players feel more independent. They feel a' if they do not have to submit" to punishment. punish-ment. They are at liberty to do as they please. |