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Show Reform for World's 'Series & viS viS Public Has Some Rights BY DAMON RUNYON New York, December 19. i T N the talk that has been going on about revising and revamping the world's i series, there has been too little mention of the rights of the baseball public, which should be considered first of all. It is all very well to thin out that fat jackpot that has been going to the ball players every fall, and it would be better still to shorten the take-down of the club owners and the national commission; but in the meantime do not forget to hack a hole iu the assessment levied upon the fans. President John K. Toner of the National league has proposed a plan to set aside a part of the players' 60 per cent of the first four games for distribution distri-bution among the players of the other major league teams that do not participate partici-pate in the October games. Some one probably thought that up for Mr. Tener. It is scarcely worthy serious consideration 'The plan to give each member of the world's champions $1500, and each member of the beaten club in the series $1000, is good; but why should the other players of the league be rewarded for inefficiency? If a plaver knows he is going to share in the proceeds of the seriesj whether his club participates therein or not, his interest in the pennant race is mighty apt to lag. Their attitude will be much the attitude of the Brooklyn players in the last world 's series. They gave the impression of just going through the motions for the iosers' end., The present scale of prices for seats at a world's series should be cut at least in half. That will automatically cut down the profits of every one concerned. con-cerned. Additional steps should be taken to protect the public from all forms of petty graft which have existed since the championship games began. The public should be considered in every move that is taken to revise the scries first, last and all the time, and after the public is protected it will be time enough to talk about the interest of the players. As for placing a premium on incompetency by splitting the proceeds among all the clubs, that is ridiculous. Turning Backward. WHENEVER the magnates of the National league get together in their annual an-nual pottering around, they pour just so much more water on the wheel of the American league. The aced organization had an onportunity to take a long stride forward the other day. Instead it took another step backward. Against the arguments of the representatives of New York and Chicago, the bi'c monev getters of the league, it refused to repair one of its weakest points the plaver limit. It raised the limit from twenty-one to twenty-two, and then did awav 'with the disabilitv list, so it is even worse off than ever. Harrv N! Hempstead and Charles Weeghman, representing the Giants and the Cubs" wanted the limit placed at twenty-five, which is the limit permitted in the American league. Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and St. Louis were against them. The National league, by a vote of six to two, decided to retreat further. It was worse than standing" still. The fact that it would mean an additional expense of about $0000 per year to each club whose manager took full advantage advan-tage of the limit, w-eighed heavily with those economical souls of the six cities. The various team leaders of 'the league, including John J. McGraw, George Stallin(rs and Wilbert Robinson, were all anxious to have the limit lifted to twentyhve, but their views meant nothing to the magnates. , Because a manager is permitted to carry twenty-five men, it does not follow fol-low that he will have that number on his bench. Y'et every manager would like to have plenty of leeway in that respect when the pennant drive is at its height, and there is no leeway to the twenty-two limit under the new conditions. It Retards Development. NATIONAL LEAGUE managers declare that they have not the same opportunity op-portunity for developing youngsters as is afforded the managers of the American league, because of the limit. They say that if the league seems to be cluttered up with veterans it is for that reason. They cannot afford to tako chances with green hands. . . If these same green 'tins could be carried on the bench for a period the managers sav they would be developing stars at first hand. Arthur Fletcher, Arthur Shater anil numerous others were developed in that manner by McGraw a few years back, Ferdinand Schupp is another example of bench development. The National league clubs balk at an added expense of $9000 a year each, and then often go out into the sticks and pay as much for one recruit of whom the manager practically knows nothing. It is quite interesting to note that even while Bhying at added expense the National league' is boasting that it has enjoyed a season of vast prosperity. If this is true, ""the magnates ought to be willing to spend some of their profits to give their patrons a higher grade of baseball. Garry Herrmann. THEY used to say of Garry Herrmann that he held the office of chairman of the National commission merely because he was a sort of philanthropist toward baseball.; that he held it at great personal sacrifice, and that the salary which it carries meant nothing to him. This last is undoubtedly true. However, if Garry holds the job at a sacrifice sacri-fice it is strange that hi is now resisting an attempt to oust him from the same. One would think that Garry would gladly welcome the opportunity to step down and out, but it seems that tie has been most industrious m his effort to retain it. Barney Lreyfuss is nowhere in particular in his fight on Herrmann, and the fat man from Cincinnati is very likely to hold on; yet one cannot help marveling that he desires to hold on. If he is a baseball philanthropist, he ought to be dead willing to step out. Barney's battle probably dates back to the Sisler rase, and morally Sisler belonged to Barnev, and belongs to him right now. Morally, wo say. Herrmann decided that legally Sisler is the property of the St. Louis club, but just the same the. player is morally Barney's property. Tho trouble is morals' do not govern baseball. |
