Pagqe Eight THE MICHIGAN DAILY Sunday; September 15, 1968 FREEHAN QUESTIONS SYSTEM Diamond draft limits prospects choices may'.. ;,y 4i.'". ; .; : ... r , ..: , "::r By ROBIN WRIGHT Daily Sports Analysis Within the small world of ath- letics, college baseball coaches face a moral dilemma when eval- uating the college baseball draft system. Over the last decade the rela- tionship between college baseball and the major leagues has gone through three stages., With each stage, the individual star has been the victim of an increasing loss of rights. In the first stage, enforced dur- ing the career of former Michigan catcher Bill Freehan, individyal major league teams bid competi- tively for the college baseball stars. There were no restrictions on the time in a player's career he could enter the pro ranks. dail sports NIGHT EDITOR: PAT ATKINS In 1961, as a sophomore, Free- han broke the Big Ten batting re- cord by hitting .585 - a record he still holds. That summer, after being offer- ed several bids he joined With the Detroit Tigers for a healthy bonus, and therefore became in- eligible for college ball. As Freehan explained it, "Be- VOIE UM-ANN ARBOR STUDENTS FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY MEETING TUESDAY Sept. 17-8:00 P.M.-Michigan Union 3-Conf. Rm. INFORMATION INFORMAL DISCUSSION GROUPS ON: The University -CURRICULUM, GRADES, & EXAMS, ETC. -REGENTS, BY-LAWS, GOVERNMENT -INVESTMENT; ANN ARBOR ECONOMY -SECRET & COUNTER-INSURGENCY RESEARCH -INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MOVEMENTS3 cause pro teams were forced to bid for players, the boy usually went to the team with the high- est offer." "This worked out to be a very competitive system. As a result, the money offers had to be large, and good money became a main argument for a player to leave college ball. "Of course, this favored the in- dividual college star as he could call the moves., Four years ago the baseball draft was revised and set-up along the lines of the professional bas- ketball and football systems. The teams are ranked accord- ing to the previous year's losses. The team with the worst record gets first choice of a player, and on down the line. The process is repeated until all the teams have drafted all the men on their lists. There are two drafts a year- winter and early summer. If a boy does not wish to accept the offer of the team that drafted him, then his name will be placed back into a central pool. So, by the time former Michi- gan outfielder Elliott Maddox re- peateti the Freehan accomplish- mfents in 1968/by copping the Big Ten batting championship in his sophomore year, the draft rules had changed. Michigan lost him in the spring draft as the number one draft choice of the Detroit Tigers. LOWER OFFERS But despite a record similar to Freehan's, Maddox was not able to control the financial of- fers during the draft as Freehan could, and had only one team to consider. Freehan explained the differ- ence between the two systems, "The revised system eliminated bidding, which naturally cut down the bonus offers. A team, Just like business, wants to pay as little as possible for a product." Outlining the logic behind the change, he commented, "The pros favored it because they now have exclusive rights to the player with no sweat of an expensive system. "Schools favored the change- FAMILY RESTAURANT " HAMBURGERS TUASM CM? " CHICKEN C 1~ . CONEY ISLANDS " JUMBOYS SMILING SPEEDY SERVICE CARRY.OUT SPECIALISTS NO WAITING - PLENTY of PARKING INSIDE SEATING OR EAT IN YOUR CAR OPEN 11 AM DAILY 662.0022 ELLIOTT MADDOX because there was no longer intra- major league competition and subsequently the money offers were lower. Therefore the appeal to leave college is not as great. The college would then be in a position to argue with the star to 'stick it out another year in hopes of a better contract'. The 'third regulation takes ef- fect beginning with this year's sophomores. The new (1967) draft rule pro- hibits a college player from sign- ing apro contract until he has graduated or turned 21. This ob- viously further restricts the in- dividual college star's freedom, though it may be to the advant- age of the college team. As Freehan explained, "A play- er will be forced to sign out of high school or play a minimum of three years on the college lev- el." (Most seniors are 21 before December 1 and therefore are eli- gible for the winter draft before spring baseball begins.) "The real threat of course is that major league recruiters will concentrate their efforts on high school boys, and this might hurt the college teams more than the old draft system did. N "However, in the end, this pro- bably will work in the colleges' favor. Pro teams will naturally of- fer a player out of high school less than if he had played as well after two years in college. "It's not worth going pro unless the bonus is at least $35,000. And that's a lot to get out of high school." Although college baseball as a whole seems to have profited from the changes, Freehan observed that, "neither side (the major leagues and colleges) is completely happy with the present scheme. Pro teams want to be free to pick up guys as the colleges ripen them, and colleges want some in- surance that a boy will stay four years." FALLEN VICTIM But the most dissatisfied party is the player - who has fallen victim to the compromises of col- lege and professional coaches. Now, not only has he lost the benefit of a bidding system, which brought large bonuses, but he is forced to accept either a pro offer out of high school - probably for a minimum bonus - or play at least three years on the college level. Because of the three-sided dis- satisfaction, Freehan predicted, "there must be and will be further changes in the college draft with- in the next few years." -Daily-Andy Sacks CATCHER BILL FREEHAN disputes "fair-" call on an Oakland bunt yesterday, as umpire Bill Haller hears him out. Freehan claimed the bunt was foul because it hit Oakland batter Sal Bando,, but Haller disagreed. Needless to say, Haller won the argument. Freehan, who turned pro in 1961, signed for a healthy bonus. He claims that under the present draft system, the'elimination of com- petitive bidding has sliced the amounts- of bonus offers so that a moves." It is at this point that colleges face a dilemma. The dilemma arises from the fact that college restriction is no longer the only way a star can continue his full-time academic education. Previously, spring training forc- ed players to drop the second- semester of school. College '68 ELkCTIONS * * Black Panther Party WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY BRIDGE? First Lesson FREE!! Tues, Sept. 17 Room 3A Union 7-9 P.M. Gridders take part in scrimmage designed to better their play By FRED LaBOUR Who has not awakened on a crisp autumn morning to find himself on the way to a battle between grid giants? Who has not thrilled to the crunch of body upon body, pad upon pad, helmet upon helmet, and foot upon mouth? Who has not looked at a play developing before his very eyes and exclaimed loudly, "Why don't they give it to somebody else be- sides Johnson?" Who has not purchased a new tweed Jacket to wear to afootball contest? Or perhaps a stunning, cute, groovy little chic skirt and sweater combo with knee socks of an appropriate hue? I'll tell you who. Xuan Thuy, that's who. Football, specifically Michigan football, is getting it's cleated hoof in our doors again this fall, and if yesterday's scrimmage at Michigan Stadium was any indi- cation, Michigan will definitely field a team again this year. Per- haps even two teams on a Satur- day when Michigan is scheduled to take on the representatives of another institution of higher learning. It was a scrimmage marked by little or nothing; as head coach Bump Elliott hardly even let the fellows in blue shirts play at all. Oh, they were in a little at the beginning ,all right, but mostly Elliott and his coaching cohorts were interested in discovering which members of the second; Gold team are ready to iove into starting positions should they be needed. There was a player or two who won notes of comment from El-1 liott "I thought Brown wasamore on his game today," said Elliott, in a remark obviously concerning the progress of his starting quar- terback, number "22" Dennis Brown. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't expecting a whole lot from him this year." Other than some players pant- ing heavily after getting sat upon by big teammates, there were no appreciable injuries. coaches could then argue it wouldi take eight years for a player to j complete a degree and that even then the chances of finishing school were slim. Therefore, it fol- lowed that it was in the best in-i terest of the individual to remain in school until graduation. But professional contracts now include a scholarship for full-time enrollment, at a university, plus a bonus and a superior training program.1 *Realizing they may be confront- ed with a change in the draft, should universities, in the interest of maintaining top level college, teams, purpose a system that would further restrict the in- dividual college star? The draft has gradually whit- tled down the opportunity of the star to cash in on his talent. Further restrictions would seem to only serve to the good of the college, and to further inhibit the rights of the-college star. Should universities promote self- interest and work for a more favorable system, which would further diminish the rights of the star by forcing him to play out his full term of eligibility? Or, should the coaches recog- nize the universities primary goal:1 education-and understand that the present draft, "or one with further regulations, does not in- sure any educational benefits to the player, but only bars the star from the superior quality of3 the major league training program. As one familiar with both train- ing systems, Freehan described pro training as, "a great benefit to the serious, baseball career- oriented player. The competition prospect no longer "calls the in the minor leagues is much stif- fer than anything in college-es- pecially the pitching. . "Since there is such a distinct difference, it is to the advantage of the boy to start a pro career early and get a chance to move up sooner."~ Professional baseball is also in an awkward situation. If the pro teams were con- sidered bisinesses, the 1964 com- pact between major league teams' to eliminate' bidding would be call- ed a ,conspiracy, Under the anti- trust laws, pro baseball is not con-" sidired a business, it is a "sport." REGULATIONS Since the draft system, over the decade, has gone from a rather loose and rule-free system to one with regulations-the only differ- v ent road open would seem to be one of further regulations. This relates back to the rights of the individual star and the role of the college coaches in influen- cing a new, system. Obviously, the professionals would not object to a draft where ' the players were given more free- dom in deciding between a pro career and college ball. Such a set-up would give them access to players at more varied points dur- ing the athlete's career. So it remains in the haends of the baseball coaches. When evalu- ating their role in suggesting a new draft system, should they promote a natural self-interest to maintain high quality college ball, or promote the rights of the in- dividual star and ,his chance at a better training, program while being able to remain full-time in school at the expense of the pro team which drafted him? UNION-LEAGUE 3325 WASHTENAW RD. IxsANN ARBOR 2 BKS. W. of ARBORLAND --- mm, Sheaf fer's big deal gets you through 29 term papers,3 book reports17exams, 52 quizzes and 6 months ofhomework. Sorry about that Sheaffer's big deal means you can write twice as long. Because you get the long-writing Sheaffer dollar ballpoint plus an extra long-writing 49 refill free. All for just a dollar. How much do you think you can write? . LI AFRD The world's longest writing dollar ballpoint pen. rL/ LF 95% OF THE READING POPULATION READS ONLY 250 TO 300 WORDS PER MINUTE OR LESS FAST READING IS NOT DIFFICULT TO LEARN All those who completed courses held this past year at the Bell Tower Inn achieved speeds of 800 to 2000 w.p.m. with the same or increased comprehension they had "at their slower read- ingrates. SEE HOW EASILY YOU CAN: -save hours, use your time more efficiently -learn to read 3 to 10 times faster than you do now -improve your comprehension and increase your enjoyment of reading material at a cost less than HALF that of other commercial reading courses offered in this area! Bring a book to a free, live demonstration of the reading skills which will be taught in a GUAR- ANTEED course offered this semester. } -. ;, b ti . .. i-2 .. "' a _ " ;' _ - -_ ti - _ -- . - !" , , Petitioning now open for Two at-large seats: STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD on UNIVERSITY RELATIONS obtain petition outside of Room 1548 S.A.B. SIGN UP FOR INTERVIEW Demonstrations TUES., WED. & THURS. 7:30 P.M., Sept. 17,'18,19 at the Bell Tower Inn, 300 So. Thayer St., across from Burton Tower I i #, 3 TIHJE PJRNT SHIOP 4 the CLEAVER campaign committee NEEDS PEOPLE who would like to: 1. RESEARCH RACISM in Ann Arbor, U. of M, and Washtenaw County 2. PROSELYTIZE dorms, churches, etc.' 3. HELP US TO WRITE and PRODUCE EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL, work on a table in the Fishbowl, and come up with other ideas. I A Graphics Arts Gallery I FALL EXHIBITION CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL GRAPHICS AMEN LUBAROW ARAKI MAZUR BEERI vMOTI B30 MUNAKATA BOULANGER !RTEGA PORTER CAR CAN SAFF F RIEDLEANDER SOLARI HASEGA WA SUMMERS IKEDA N 4 MEETING-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16