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Congress to Probe Reserve Clause Series of Law Suits Bring About Action House Subcommittee Wants To Determine Whether or Not Rule Favors Baseball By HERBERT FOSTER United Press Sports Writer WASHINGTON, D. C, May 10.— With organized baseball already facing two lawsuits totaling almost half a million dollars, the House Monopolies Subcommittee voted today to investigate organized baseballs controversial "reserve clause." Emanuel Celler D.-N. Y., chairman of the subcommittee, said the inquiry will begin early in June. He said it also will cover professional football and basketball and possibly other sports. The reserve clause binds a player to one particular team until the owner cancels or transfers the contract to another club. Celler said the subcommittee will investigate agreements between the two major leagues and minor leagues in this country, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico. He said they all respect each others reserve clauses. Celler said the subcommittee does not know whether the reserve clause benefits baseball but added that "the player is in enforced idleness, deprived of his livelihood" by the clause if he does not choose to sign another contract with the same club. Baseball officials have fought to keep the courts from testing the legality of the rule. It settled a suit brought by Danny Chandler Ready to Testify In Reserve Clause Hearing CINCINNATI, Ohio, May 10 UP.— Baseball Commissioner A. B. Chandler indicated today he would be glad to appear before a House monopolies subcommittee to tell what he knows about organized baseballs "reserve clause." Chandler said he had "had correspondence" with chairman Emanuel Celler D.-N. Y., chairman of the subcommittee which voted today to investigate the reserve clause. He indicated that he would be available if the subcommittee wanted him to testify. The commissioner had no other comment except that "baseball people feel it the reserve clause is essential to the game." Gardella, former New York Giant player, out of court. Both the present suits concern the clause. Celler mentioned that the New York Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the case of Gardella that the reserve clause keeps players in "peonage." The case was settled out of court after the circuit court decision and was not carried to the Supreme Court. Gardella had claimed he was damaged by not being allowed to sign with another club. The pending suits were filed by former minor league owner Jack Corbett and ex-pitcher Jim Prendergast. Corbett and the El Paso, Texas, club filed suit in U. S. District Court at Cincinnati seeking 00,-000. Baseball Commissioner A. B. Chandler, George M. Trautman, head of the minors, and the Cincinnati National League club were named in the suit. Prendergast filed suit for 50,000 against organized baseball in Northern District Federal Court in Utica, N. Y., on April 30. Celler said the subcommittee does not want to injure the game. "The subcommittee takes the position that what comes foremost is baseball," Celler said. "We dont want to impair baseball as such — we want to strengthen it. If the reserve clause is good for baseball, so be it. In that case we may need legislation exempting baseball from the antitrust laws. "But the matter cannot be allowed to drift. Already triple damage suits have been filed against several clubs under the anti-trust laws. It is in the interest of the players, management and the public to have the situation cleaned up." Celler said baseball is big business and Is in interstate commerce because of television and radio broadcasts. He said players and club representatives will be heard during the investigation.
