BASE BALL, TRAP SHOOTING AND GENERAL SPORTS Vol. 52 No. 15 Philadelphia, December 19, 1908 Price 5 Cents TRUCE IN BASE BALL! lines Now Laid for Were Created by the Peaceful and the Secession of Proper Solution Two Big Leagues of the Grave From the Nation Problems Which al Association. N THE initial skirmish of the purchased and drafted from leagues below the American Association and Eastern League be first American Association and Eastern offered to the American Association and Eastern League the militant seceders League at the original draft price before being re from the National Association turned to the league from which the player was the big minors gained a substan drafted or purchased. tial victory by being accorded a "4 That the National Agreement or rules of tha Commission be so amended as to limit the-numbet full and fair hearing by the entire of players any club of either major leagues shall National Commission notwithstanding preced have under contract for reservation at, any time to ing arrogant assertion in various quarters twenty-five, arid to limit the number under contract; that the National Commission had no right or reservation to twenty, after May 15 of each©year. to even give the "rebels" a hearing and "5 That the Eastern League and American As sociation be permitted to draft players from other no power or recourse in the premises except minor league for a period of fifteen days, beginning to deny all of the requests for relief of the at the expiration of the time fixed for drafting of big minors, and to either club them back players by major leagues, and fqr the following con into the National Association or let them sideration: Class A, $750; B, £500; C, $300, and go their way into outlawry. The D, $200. "6 That the period during which the major QUESTION OP A HEARING leagues be permitted to draft from the American As sociation and Eastern League .be limited to a, was settled on Monday, December 7, the day period from September 15 to October 1 of each year. after the two seceding leagues had met and "7 That the National Agreement be so amended as formulated their demands with the aid of to permit the. Eastern league and the American As lawyer Killilea, of Milwaukee, details of sociation to draft territory from other minor leagues which appeared in our last issue. The Com under terms and conditions to be prescribed. "8 That the National Commission rule 36 be mission sat in President Pulliam©s office in applied to American Association and Kastern League the St. James Building to formally receive clubs in the same manner as said rule now applies the communication of the seceding leagues. to major league clubs, with the further provision This document was presented by Henry J. that no individual player can be sold more tliau. Killilea, of Milwaukee, and in attendance at once under an optional agreement. "Respectfully submitted, the meeting were also President P. T. Pow "AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, ers, of the Eastern League; President Joseph "KASTERN LEAGUE.", D. O©Brien, of the American Association, and T. H. Murnane, J. H. O©Rourke, M. H. After the reading of the petition and the Sexton, D. M. Shively and Secretary J. H. conclusion of Mr. Killilea©s plea Secretary Farrell, of the National Association. Farrell, of the National Association, asked that he be given until Wednesday morning to THE FORMAL DEMANDS. reply, and this was granted. Secretary Before reading the paper Mr. Killilea said Bruce, for the Commission, announced that that the wishes of the Eastern-American the Commission had concluded to limit the combination were not in any way intended drafting periods for major leagues to Sep to make for disorganization of the present tember 1 to 15 of each year, if it met with system of organized base ball. He analyzed HARRY COVELESKIE the approval of the club owners of those two the demands of the "bolters" and showed leagues. how they could be made to fit into the pres Southpaw Pitcher of the Philadelphia National League Club. ent system .without injury to any party to Harry Coveleskie, the big southpaw pitcher of he Philadelphia National League team, who came so Subsequent Trials and Successes. the National Agreement. He also made an strikingly into public fame In the last mouth of the 1908 race, hails from Shamokin, Pa., where he was Following their initial triumph the seced eloquent appeal for justice to his clients bom March 24. 1S8G, He first attracted attention a a promising pitcher with the Bunker Hill and after painting their trials and tribulations Shamokin A. A. teams both of Shamokiu. In 1907 he tried his hand at professional work with the ing leagues on Wednesday scored another Kane. Pa., Club, of the Inter-State League, and remained with it until it disbanded. He then joined victory over themselves in a difficult situa in convincing terms which left little doubt the Ottens team, of \Vildwood. N. J.. an ludepeudeu club. His work attracted the attention of Manager tion. On Wednesday morning ther National in the minds of his hearers that the two Murray, of the Phillles. who signal him in August of 1907. He was wild that fall, but in the spring Association Board (reinforced by Dr. Car big minor leagues were entitled to relief of of 1908 showed ability, but such lack of experience that it was deemed best to give him another year of son, of the -Central League, who had been some kind. Regarding the right of the Com minor league bait He was accordingly "farmed" to the Lancaster Club, of the Tri-State League. With summoned), appeared before the National mission to act in the premises Mr. Killilea, that club he acquired confidence and experience, changing his delivery to overhand, and won 23 out of 36 games pitched in the Tri-State league season. At the close of the Tri-State race Coveleskie joined Commission to present their reply to the who drew the present National Agreement, the Phillies and at once made good IB brilliant fashion somewhat after the mariner of McQuillan when charges and conditions of the two seceding argued that the Commission he joined the Pbillies, fall of 1907. Coveleslde pitched fire games for the Phillies, winning one from St. leagues. The committees of the latter, Jxauis, losing one to Cincinnati, 1-0 in ten innings on an error by Bransfleld, and winning three games headed by Lawyer Killilea, were also pres HAS FULL POWER in one week from the New York "Giants." thus ruining the latter©s pennant chances in the last week of on the grounds already set forward editori the National League race a performance which gave Coveleskie at, one bound world-wid* fame and stamped ent, as the National Board had been at the ally in "Sporting Life," and the additional him as a coming star pitcher. He is putting in t^ie winter with the Shamokin Powder Company to keep seceders© initial hearing, as it was the ob ground that, inasmuch as the National himself in good c»ndition by hard work. He combines intelligence and ambition with good habits, a vious policy of the National Commission to grand physique and great pitching skill, and should prove a winner for the Phillies next season. let the contending factions settle the disputes Agreement was unlimited and perpetual it which caused the rapture between them would be impossible ever to check any abuse selves. When the meeting was called to or eliminate any evil under the letter of Abritration consist of fire members, three of whom respectfully ask at yonr bauds tire following privi order the National Board asked for farther the law if the spirit of it were ignored and should be members of leagues known . a.s Class leges aad concessions: delay on the ground that the conditions the Commission denied implied as well as A. Shortly afterwards, under protest. the "1 Authority to conduct their affairs as a express power to correct present and future constitution was amended, increasing the Board of separate organization under organized ball, and un presented by the seceders were so different Arbitration to seten, "the two additlona.1 members der such restrictions, rules and regulations as the from what had been anticipated or indi evils and injustices. Mr. Killilea©s master being immediately taken from leagues below the National Commission shall from time to time adopt. cated by press reports of the Buffalo meet ly effort made a profound impression. Fol American Association and Eastern League, wholly "2 That the present National Agreement be so ing that the Board had found it impossible lowing is the text of the petition presented and entirely placing the management «>f the two larg amended and modified as to authorize and permit the to gather data and formulate to the National Commission by Mr. Killilea., est base ball leagues in the United States, excepting American Association and Eastern League to draft cm b«half of the American Association and the two major leagues, into the hands of a body of players from all other leagues except th« National A SUITABLE REPLY. f men from leagues far below the American Association and American League; provided, however, that said Eastern League: and Eastern League in attendance. In investments and leagues can draft but on« man from Class A clubs Lawyer Killilea protested against a delay "When the American Association became a party importance. Bather than have constant friction In of the National Association. of more than 24 hours.