Player-Owner Meeting is a Success

NEW YORK, NY. November 9, 1917 - In a round-table negotiation yesterday behind closed doors, sixteen team owners and sixteen of the top-paid players from the United Baseball Association discussed and agreed upon a new salary structure that will help the UBA stay afloat through the war.

Surprisingly, the players not only were looking out for themselves, but were looking out for their younger, less-paid teammates. When the owners proposed a 80% salary cut, the players balked at the idea.

The owners had the leverage, knowing that free agency was such an advantage to the players, they essentially could ask for whatever they wanted and threaten to add the reserve clause to player contracts in the future.

While the players could just not agree, it was clear that they wanted to play baseball.

In the end, the players would agree to take a 70% salary cut, but sought a few more changes to compromise. Rather than just becoming a free agent after five years, the players looked out for their younger teammates by proposing that after the fourth year, a neutral arbitrator would decide your salary. They also asked for minor league players to eventually have a chance to get out of their deal. Currently, a reserve clause allows a team to control the player until he is released or retires. The players asked for an eight-year limit.

Finally, they asked for something they termed "Option years." Essentially, it limits the amount of times a player can be sent to the minor leagues.

The owners agreed, and also stated that when the war ended, player salaries would quickly go back to normal.

One other change that came out of the meetings was a new plan for the organization of the minor leagues. Currently, all three minor league teams for each club play in the same city, making it tough for many fans to show up. The new plan will create three new leagues, placing eight minor league teams in each of the six total leagues. The teams will be spread out into new markets, so teams without a UBA club will be able to go to games. This will also add to the revenue stream of the owners.