T" MWICHIGAN DAILY Tnuz~rnx UwMv
Herrnstein Signs Bonus Pact with Ph illies
,. '.
'M' Football Captain, Baseball Standout,
Accepts Reputed $55,000 from NL Club
ACCEPT COMPROMISE:
Minor Leagues Revise
Player Draft Procedure
don't think I can be without play-
ing all the time." continued
Herrnstein.
An outfielder-pitcher with the
Wolverines his sophomore and'
junior years, Herrnstein hopes to
concentrate on his centerfield po-
sition. However, the big lefthand-
er said he would be more than
happy to try first base since the
Phils have expressed the' desire
to use him there.
Throws No-Hitter
Herrnstein was used by retired
Wolverine coach Ray Fisher as a
pitcher because of lack of depth
at that position. But he showed
genuine talent onoccasion while
on the mound, even hurling a no-
hit no-run game last year.
The powerful portside swinger
experienced some difficulty hit-
ting Western Conference pitch-
ing last season but apparently
overcame his troubles in the semi-
pro Basin League last summer.
Herrnstein, playing centerfield
exclusively, hit .367 in 50 games in
the league composed of college
players and ex-professionals.
The signing of Herrnstein to
the spectacular contract is remi-
niscent of other former Michigan
baseball greats who also received
large bonuses.
Last year the Detroit Tigers
signed captain-elect Steve Boros
at the end of his junior year. And
of course there was Michigan's
most celebrated "bonus baby,"
Dick Wakefield, who joined the
Tigers in 1943 for $75,000.
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Baseball's!:
minor leagues yesterday adopted a
watered-down version of the un-
restricted player draft, offered by ,
the farm system of the Los An-;
geles Dodgers.
The compromise was adopted
after the minors had rebuffed the
New York Yankees by rejecting1
a proposal made through their'
Binghamton, N.Y., farm of the
Eastern League, to restore the
bonus rule. But the minors also.
voted down a proposal by a power-
ful major-minor; committee that I
might have jeopardized the whole
farm system..
Majors Must OK It
The new plan will not go into
operation unless it is okayed by
the majors at their joint meetingj
later in the week. This may turn1
on a tie-breaking vote by Com-
missioner Ford Frick if the majors
are divided. Frick has favored the
unrestricted draft all the way.
The new legislation, known as,
the St. Paul proposition, was
adopted by a 20-4 vote at the
closed session of the National As-
sociation (minors). Its sponsor was
Fresco Thompson, Dodger vice-
president and farm director..
St. Paul Plan
In simple terms, the St. Paul
plan permits the draft of any
first-year player at the end of his
first season unless he has been
advanced to a major league roster.
If the player is not drafted in the
DON LUND
... needs centerfielder
time or another in the past few
years. No contracts were ever of-
fered; they just let me know they
might be interested in me," said
Herrnstein.
Turns Down Offer,
Herrnstein turned down only
one offer prior to signing. That
one was by the Cincinnati Red-
legs, located not very far from
the athlete's Chilicothe, 0., home.
Herrnstein, catching his breath
for the first time after the whirl-
wind courting, said his decision
was made in a hurry in order to
get in under present major league
rules governing bonus players.
Baseball higher-ups are cur-_
rently assembled in Washington,
D.C. .and are expected to enact
one or more new laws that would
discourage such large bonuses.
Under a law that was adopted
just one year ago, bonus players
aren't bound to the parent club
but can be sent direcly to the
minors. Formerly, the players
were required to spend their first
two years in the majors.
Against It
Herrnstein is definitely against
such a rule.
"I'd much rather start in the
minors and be playing continu-
ously than sit on a bench," he
said.
"Baseball's a game of little
things and you pick them up
through experience - nothing
else. I really don't believe I'm
major league material yet and I
first year, he then is ineligible for
selection until he has completed
the normal draft period. This
period varies from two to four
years depending on the classifica-
tion of the league in which he is
playing.
Under the current system, no-
body can touch a promising play-
er for four years if he has been
moved up the minor league system
ladder to Triple A. By that time,
the man usually is on a major
league roster and no longer con-
sidered a prime prospect.
Other Too Severe
Thompson argued the more
radical unrestricted draft was too
severe. Under that plan the first-
year man would be eligible for the
draft after his first year and from
then on indefinitely. This would
have made it most difficult to run
a farm system.
"That rule would have a severe
effect on free agent scouting at the
grass roots," Thompson said. "It
would penalize industry, adventure
and an organization's player de-
velopment program. The rule I
advocate would curtail the pay-
ment of unreasonable bonuses to
free agents without curtailing to a
great extent free agent scouting."
Frank Lane, Cleveland general
manager who helped draw up the
more drastic amendment, had dif-
ferent ideas.
"Our unrestricted draft plan
would have been a boon to base-
ball," the said. "If St. Paul hadn't
put up a substitute, ours would
have won. The St. Paul plan is a
step-but not far enough-in the
right direction. It will curb the
bonus to some degree but it won't
hurt the farm systems."
Lane's Falls SLort
The Lane proposal drew a fa-
vorable 1,3-11( vote but fell short
of the required 18-three-fourths
of the 24 leagues. The Yankees'
plan for another try at a bonus
rule drew only 10 votes,
In adopting the St. Paul amend-
ment, the minors voted to have
the new rule expire automatically
on March 1, 1960 unless extended
by a mail vote between Jan. 1 and
March 1, 1960.
4
-Daily-Robert Kanner
BASEBALL IS HIS SPORT NOW-John Herrnstein, seen here at
Michiganrs football finale ,against Ohio State, yesterday passed
up his last semester of collegiate athletic competition by signing
a professional baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
l
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t
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CRONIN IS LIKELY SUCCESSOR:
Ha rridge Resigns as AL Prexy
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Stately, 72-
year-old Will Harridge resigned
yesterday as president of the
American League.
He said baseball in its troubled
times needs younger men.
Speculation arose immediately
as to who would take over th
post the white-haired Harridge
vacated without advance public
notice.
It was reliably learned the
American League owners already
were favoring Joe Cronin, general
rove Winter
'een Loops
Majors App
Trae t
WASHINGTON-The American
and National Leagues approved required. The vote was 7-1 with
yesterday a winter inter-league the New York Yankees the only
trading period during which waiv- club to cast a negative ballot.
ers will not be required. One of the most enthusiastic
The rule become effective in supporters of the free-trading rule
1959 o is Frank Lane, the general man-
Submitted b Bob Carpenterager of the Cleveland Indians. lie
Submitted by Bob Cadenter, said it would not only add interest,
president of the Philadelphia to the annual major league winter
Phillies, the new rule sets aside a meetings but might "move toward
three-week period for this freeine-agepy.Lnelghs
trading betweenthe two leagues. inter-league play."guen long has
The period is from Nov. 21 through advocated inter-league games dur-
Dec.ing the regular season
Dec. 13.
manager of the Boston Red Sox,
but a screening committee of six
was appointed.
Other candidates mentioned in-
clud, Bill DeWitt, administrator
of the major leagues' $500,000
fund; Frank Lane, general man-
ager of the Cleveland Indians, and
Earl Hilligan, Assistant to Har-
ridge.
Harridge Still Presides
The next AL president, who will
be the fourth in the 55-year-old
history of the circuit, is not ex-
pected to be named for at least
three to four weeks, In the mean-
time, Harridge continues to pre-
side over the league meetings here.
The National League, at its
meeting, reelected Warren Giles
president. They gave the 62-year-
old Cincinnatian a five-year con-
tract.
Too Old
Harridge said advanced age was
the only reason he is retiring after
47 years with the American,
League, the last 28 as president.
He emphasized that nobody used
any pressure whatsoever to force
him out of office. Although he got
a new 10-year contract two years
ago ,he said he has been consider-
ing retirement about two years.
"I felt the American League
should have the opportunity of
bringing in a younger and more
energetic man to handle the prob-
lems confronting it," Harridge
said. "
Asked what he regarded as base-
ball's most serious problems, Har-
ridge deliberated a while before
replying.
"The player situation is a very
NHL STANDINGS
W L T Pts. GF GA
Montreal 13 7 3 29 86 57
Boston 11 10 426 70 66
New York 9 9 7 25 72 70
Detroit 12 11 1 25 60 60
Chicago 9 10 4 22 62 77
Toronto 6 13 3 1S 48 8
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
New York 4, Chicago 2
* * *
NBA RESULTS
Cincinnati 110, New York 108
St. Louis 119, Boston 110
Montreal Eyes One More Hockey Crown;
Hits Stride in Double Rout of Red Wings
serious one and needs careful at-
tention," he said, referring to the
recent player demands to be cut in.
on the owners' revenue.
"Then there's the problem of
expansion, of organizing a third
league," he went on. "I've always
felt the American League should
not expand to ten teams. There's
nothing to be gained by it. The
American Teague is much better
During that time a player may
be swapped from one league to the
other without first having to be
waived out of his league, as is now
Howard Johnson
Restaurant
Open Daily Sunday thru
Thursday: 8A.M.-12 P.M.
Friday and Saturday:
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Giants, Phils Complete Trade
WASHINGTON () - The San
Francisco Giants today traded
Ruben Gomez and catcher Valmy
''Thomas to the Philadelpjhia Phil-
lies for pitcher Jack Sanford.
It was a- straight player deal
with no money involved.
Gomez, Puerto Rican right-
hander, had a 10-12 record with
the Giants last season as com-
pared with righthander Sanford's
10-13. Thomas, a batterymate of
Gomez' with the Santurce Club of
the Puerto Rico Winter League,
batted .259 in 63 games.
Sanford broke in brilliantly with
the Phillies in 1957, winning 19
while losing only eight to gain
Rookie of the Year honors.
off with eight teams. I've always
said it was bad enough to finish
seventh and eighth. Finishing
ninth and tenth would be disas-
trous.5
"As for a third league, I was
through that back in 1914-15,
when the Federal League was
formed, and I know how awful
that was. It almost wrecked base-
ball."
By TOM WITECKI
Montreal's powerful Canadiens
seem to be moving into high gear
in an effort to break up the tight
race in the National Hockey
League and to move on to their
second consecutive title.
The Habitants, who hockey ex-
perts say have one of the greatest
teams ever assembled in history,
were favored to make a shambles
of this year's race, but so far have
not been able to open up a real
lead in the red hot NHL competi-
tion which has only seven points
separating the league's five leading
teams.
Montreal Belts Detroit
An indication that the Canadiens
are ready to break things wide
open was given last weekend when
they twice blasted a Detroit team
which had been sharing first place
with them.
Playing at home Saturday night
before the customary capacityc
crowd of rabid fans, the Capadiens
were held to a 2-2 tie after the.
first period of play against thec
Detroiters. But led by Jean Beli-
veau, who achieved hockey's hat3
trick by scoring three goals, the
colorful Canadiens exploded with
four goals to roll up a 6-2 win.
It was the same story in Detroit#
the following night as Montreal
exploited its famed power play]
a 3-1 win over New York in a
Saturday afternoon nationally
televised game.
Bathgate Scores Twice
New York came back Sunday
to maintain its slim one-point lead
over Chicago in their battle for
fourth place by tying the Black-
hawks, 2-2. Scoring both goals for
the Broadway icers was Andy
Bathgate who brought his league
leading total to 17 goals and 32
points.
Trailing Bathgate in the scoring
race are five Canadiens: Bernie
Boom-Boom Goeffrion, Dickie
Moore, the Richard brothers,
Henri, and Maurice, and Believau,
all of whom give evidence as to
why the Canadiens have one of the
highest scoring teams in NHL his-
tory.
Cellar-dwelling Toronto, the only
team completely out of the title
picture, lost to Chicago, 2-1, Sat-
urday, but bounced back the next
da yto edge Boston, giving newly-
named coach Bert Olmstead his
first win,
CHRISTMAS CARDS
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"TH E MATCHMAKER"
IS COMING!
JEAN BELIVEAU
... scores hat trick
combination to score its first three
goals and went on to a 7-0 romp
over the hapless Detroiters who
couldn't seem to get moving
against the high flying French-
men.
Chief victim of the Canadien
attack was Red Wing goalie Terry
Sawchuck who up until the week-
end had allowed less goals per
game than any other goalie in the-
league,
After the Canadiens' onslaught
Sawchuck, who had a comfortable
seven-goal lead over Montreal
goalie Jacque Plante, found him-
self trailing by four goals in the
race for the Vezina Trophy.
Boston moved into second place
ahead of the Wings by virtue of
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