BASE BALL, TRAP SHOOTING AND GENERAL SPORTS Title Registered in U. S. Patent Office. Copyright, 1909, by The Sporting Life Publishing Company. Vol. 53 No. 8 Philadelphia, May 1, 1909 Price 5 Cents Further Measures War on the Pacific Adopted by the Slope Right Into National Commis the Camp of the sion to Carry the Bellicose Califor Raging Base Ball nia State League. In such Instances, the club having title to the BY T. H. MURNANE. player shall be permitted to dispose of his services OSTON, Mass., April 26. The only to either one of the clubs claiming his services cloud on the base ball horizon at in the opposite league." present is the little outlaw State The Commission has also decided to adopt League of California, now making a new rule pertaining to optional agree a losing fight against "organized ments, which rule will be printed in the base ball." The National Com future on the blank agreements for the pur mission has selected Mr. William chase and sale of major league players: Lange as its representative on the coast with "Rule 50. Whenever a major league dub aells power to settle disputes and keep the major a player to a minor league club with the option to league officials posted on the conditions of recall such player, and it is claimed by the minor league club who has secured title to the player base ball on the Pacific Slope. The outlaws under optional agrement that the player is not have no chance on earth to break even and competent in the league of which such minor must soon throw up the sponge, no matter league club may be a member, then and in that how game the fighters they may have lined event the major league club shall be notified and up, and Bill Lange will be in a fine position given permission to immediately recall the player, arid upon their failure to do so the minor league to show all the good fellows the proper way club shall be permitted to dispose of the services to encourage the national game on the Pa of such player to a club of a lower classification cific Coast. Players jumping to the outlaws in any manner they see fit, with the proviso, how cannot have their cases even heard by the ever, that the major league club having the origi nal option to the player shall retain same if the National Commission, so that the time has player is sent to a club of lower classification." practically passed for jumpers to return to organized base ball. Bill Lange was a fam ous player with Chicago under Captain An- COMMISSION DECREES. son, and should make the ideal man for the work in that section of the country. Each Decisions in Several Cases of Player Ap major league club will be assessed by the National Commission to pay the bills that peals for Releases. Mr. Lange will contract. There seems to Special to "Sporting Life." be a bitter feeling between the independents Cincinnati, O., April 26. The National and the Pacific Coast League, with Col. Commission has handed down formal de Ewing, the president of the regulars, the cisions in several cases where players ap aggressor. The National Commission has pealed to be declared free agents. The ap assessed each major league club to raise the plications of George Harm, of the Rockford fund to be expended in the extermination of Club, of the Wisconsin-Illinois League; of the outlaw California State League. The H. C. Daringer, -of the Dubuque Club, of National Board of Arbitration has also the I. I. I. League, and of O. Kilroy, of the authorized Pacific Coast clubs to engage for Toronto Club, of the Eastern League, were the current season players of other National refused for good and sufficient reasons. The Agreement clubs now on the payroll of any application of Harry J. Mason, of the Troy outlaw California League team. Club, of the New York League, was granted, FREDERICK LAKE, and he was declared a free agent, it having PLAY-OFF CONTESTS. been proved that the Troy Club played him Manager of the Boston American League Club. all season without having entered into a Frederick Lake, manager of the Boston American League Club, is a veteran catcher of much contract with him. He is now free to sign Official Dates Set by "Secretary Heydler experience and considerable fame. He was born in East Boston about 42 years ago, playing wherever he is wanted. The Commission his first professional ball with the Salem Club in 1887. In 1890 he joined the Monrton Club, also gave Owner George Dovey, of the Bos- for Postponed Games. of the New Brunswick Provincial League, as a catcher. He soon attracted the attention of the Special to "Sporting Life." old Boston National Club, and the following season was signed, remaining a year, being released tons, a favorable decision in the case of his New York, April 26. John Heydler, act- to Milwaukee. After playing a full season there he went to Wilkes-Barre, of the Eastern claim against the Trenton Club, of the Tri- League, for two seasons. In 1896 he was with Kansas City. The following year he joined the State League, for $300. Ing president of the National League, has champion Boston National team, one of the greatest clubs in the history of the. game. After announced the dates when four games pre several seasons with the Boston team Lake became a magnate by identifying himself with the vented by rain would be played off. The New England League. For five years he owned and operated the Lowell Club, of that organiza "BUGGY" BASE BALL. New York and Brooklyn teams will play off tion. In 1908 he disposed of his holdings in Lowell and became a base ball scout. In the their postponed game of April 14 on the spring of 1908 he organized the short-lived Atlantic League, composed of New England cities, Indiana Bobs Up With a Team Made Up Polo Grounds on June 28. The New York but soon became the scout of the Boston American League Club. In August of that year he was appointed manager of the Boston team, succeeding Jim McGuire. and made such an ex and Philadelphia Clubs will meet on May cellent impression upon President John I. Taylor that he was re-engaged as team manager for of Insane Players. 28. in this city and thus erase from the 1909. Special to "Sporting Life." records the postponement of April 29. Chi Logansport, Ind., April 26. A base ball cago and Pittsburg will play in Chicago on team composed of patients and attendants at May 2, and St. Louis in Cincinnati on May the Northern Indiana Hospital for the in 29. these games taking the place of the con sane has issued a challenge to any similar tests scheduled for April 19 and 20. In April 19, the question came up as to the cannot revert back to any minor league dub dur team in the United States. The team has every case double-headers will be necessary construction that would be placed on Rule ing the year following such purchase unless all as its star pitcher a patient committed from in order to get rid of the postponements. 34 of the National Commission, where a major league clubs in both the National and Amer South Bend who was once one of the most ican League shall have waived claim to his serv purchased player that a major league club ices, and if such waiver cannot be secured then noted players in the Central League. Pro COMMISSION RULES does not intend to retain is claimed by more the player shall either remain with the club hav ceeds from the games to go to the "enter than one major league club of the opposite ing purchased him or be transferred to the club tainment fund" of the hospital patients. As to Claimed Major League Players and league. In order that this rule may be fully refusing to waive claim to him by sale to such club, and in such instances the purchase price shall Optional Agreements. understood in the future a proviso was be the same as is now fixed by the National and Western League News. added thereto so that hereafter it will read American Leagues in like cases, to wit, $1500. Pro In th« Western League the Sioux City Club has Spccia.1 to "Sporting Life." as follows: vided, however, that when a purchased player is released catchers Vance and Cooper; Omaha has Cincinnati, O., April 16. At a meeting "Rule 34. Whenever a minor league player haa claimed by more than one club of the league op released first baseman Bath; and Topeka has re of the National .Commission, held here on been purchased by a. major league club such player posite to tie one baring title to UM player, then. leased the veteran outflelder, Diony Green. SRORTIING L,IFB MAY i, 1909 his first game here and ought to make a years the Pirates have been either starting very creditable record during the season. in Cincinnati, St. Louis or Chicago. Umpire Egan worked behind the bat in the BOSTON BRIEFS first game here and did very well, indeed. A Once-Potent Card. Oo.nnolly and he make a very clever pair. The death of George "Doggie" Miller They handled the games very nicely dur certainly awakened memories of days gone SUCCESSFUL HOME OPENING ing their stay here. CATCHER GIBSON AT LAST by.