- Browns May Ask for Injunction to Halt Rickey Departure
- Pitcher Bill Doak Signs, Becomes “Bonus Bill”
- First Squad Breaks Camp Tonight
- Club Shows Good Faith
March 21, 1917 Age 26
Harry F. Pierce The St Louis Star and Times
San Antonio, Tx. The new Cardinal management has proved that it will spend money.
Hornsby’s terms were met. George Pierce was satisfied. Bill Doak has signed. Branch Rickey was signed at a big man’s salary. This new organization is doing things on a large scale and it has made a big hit with the fans.
Manager Miller Huggins declares the new owners of the Cardinals have made a very commendable choice in selecting Branch Rickey for president of the club. Huggins considers Rickey one of the smartest men in baseball and one whose executive ability insures a progressive administration at Robison Held. The Cardinal leader believes it will be a matter of only a few months until Rickey will build up a minor league reserve for the Cardinals equal to that which he established for the Browns.
Cards’ Progressive Policy.
The progressive policy which culminated in the appointment of Rickey as president of the Cardinals was adopted by the new owners the moment they assumed control of the club. Their first official act was to authorize Huggins to sign all holdout players at whatever terms he considered fair. As a result of this policy the team now has every man on Its reserve list under contract. The last to come into the fold was Bill Doak, who signed last night.
Doak signed a conditional contract, which assures him a bonus of $850, provided he wins a certain percentage of his games. It is understood that Doak must participate in more than twenty-five contests and win approximately two-thirds of them to collect the bonus. The blond spitball expert is thoroughly satisfied with the terms of his new document and believes he will enjoy the most successful season of his career.