5. If the Player, in the sole judgment of the Club's physician, is disabled or is not in good physical condition at the commencement If the Player is injured as the result of playing hockey for the Club, the Club will pay the Player's reasonable hospitalization until It is also agreed that if the Player's injuries resulting directly from playing for the Club render him, in the sole judgment of the The Player represents and agrees that he has exceptional and unique knowledge, skill and ability as a hockey player, the loss 7. The Player and the Club recognize and agree that the Player's participation in other sports may impair or destroy his ability 8. (a) The Player hereby irrevocably grants to the Club during the period of this Contract and of the option of renewal thereof the (b) The Player further agrees that during the period of this Contract and of the option of renewal thereof he will not make public 9. It is mutually agreed that the Club will not pay, and the Player will not accept from any person, any bonus or anything of value for winning any particular game or series of games except as authorized by the League By-Laws. 10. The Player agrees that during the currency of this agreement he will not tamper with or enter into negotiations with any player under contract or reservation to any Club of the League for or regarding such player's current or future services, without the written consent of the Club with which such player is connected under penalty of a fine to be imposed by the President of the League. 11. It is mutually agreed that the Club shall have the right to sell, assign, exchange and transfer this contract, and to loan the It is further mutually agreed that this contract is assigned, or the Player's services are loaned, to another Club DEAR ESTES: I have received a large volume of support for S. 4070 in the form of telegrams from officials of minor-league baseball. I do not want to burden the record of the hearings on S. 4070 with all of these telegrams, but I do feel this minor league support for the bill should be made a part of the record. I therefore have compiled a list of minor officials and their league affiliation who have telegraphed me in support of S. 4070. I hope that you will make this a part of the record. With kind personal regards, I am, Sincerely yours, THOMAS C. HENNINGS, Jr., C. C. Hodge, general manager, Fort Walton Baseball Club, Walton Beach, Fla. C. R. Devault, president, Appalachian League, Bristol, Va. Charles A. Urth, president, Southern Association of Baseball Clubs, New Orleans, La. C. Dutch Hoffman, president, Midwest Baseball League, Belleville, Ill. Sam C. Smith, Jr., president, Alabama Florida Baseball League, Panama City, Sam W. Wolfson, president, South Atlantic League, Jacksonville, Fla. J. M. Fleishman, president, Northwest Baseball League, Portland, Oreg. Dick Butler, president, Texas League, Dallas, Tex. W. G. Terry, president, Sophomore League, Midland, Tex. Thomas H. Richardson, president, Eastern League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Williamsport, Pa. W. T. Anderson, Georgia-Florida League, Leslie, Ga. S. E. Martin, president, Panama City Fliers Baseball Club, Panama City, Fla. NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, Montreal, August 1, 1958. Hon. Senator ESTES KEFAUVER, Chairman, Antitrust and Monopoly Subcommittee, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR KEFAUVER: In the course of my testimony before your committee on Wednesday, July 30, I undertook to file the following material with the committee: 1. Copies of the new NHL standard player's contract with the recent amendments underlined. 2. Copy of the pleadings and result of the antitrust action taken by the NHL Player's Association against the NHL et al. I enclose herewith two marked copies of the new amended NHL standard player's contract in conformity with the arrangement. I have arranged for our counsel to have the necessary copies of the legal proceedings prepared and these will be forwarded at the earliest possible moment. I would like at this time to extend to you my very sincere thanks for the cordial treatment which you extended to me in the course of my appearance before your committee and I would like to assure you that if there is any further information you desire or require, I will be happy to supply it. Yours very sincerely, NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, 29351-58- -48 WILKINSON COMMENT ON PRESS STATEMENT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, Mr. RAND DIXON, Care of Senator Estes Kefauver's Office, Washington, D. C. DEAR RAND: As you may have read in the newspapers, the same day that I testified before Senator Kefauver's committee, Mr. Wolfner, owner of the Chicago Cardinal professional football team, released a statement to the press to the effect that we had discussed my coaching his team, but that my terms of 25 percent of the stock and moving the franchise to Houston were too steep for his consideration. The clever timing of this release gave Commissioner Bell of the National Football League an opportunity to release a story to the press the day after my testimony. Mr. Bell was quoted to the effect that "How could I pretend to be such a fine person and condemn professional football when only last January I had tried to buy into the ownership of one of their teams?" There is absolutely no truth in Mr. Wolfner's statement. Mr. Bell's commentswhich were based on Mr. Wolfner's allegations-were not only unjustified, but also in error, since the so-called fact on which they were based was false. I do not know how you handle such matters, but I would appreciate it if this letter could become a part of the record of the committee. The actions of the professional people in this instance further indicate, to me at least, how great a mistake it would be to grant them, as a group, any special privilege before the law. The background of the allegation is interesting. The day before the Orange Bowl game, December 31, 1957, at approximately 3:30 p. m., our team arrived at the Orange Bowl Stadium in Miami for a light workout. Mr. Wolfner was present when our team arrived and engaged me in conversation. Obviously, this conversation was witnessed by a great many people-all of our players and coaches, workmen in the Orange Bowl, a few members of the press, etc. Thus, many witnesses could be found who would testify that I had talked to Mr. Wolfner. Since we had a private conversation, it would be his word against mine as to what we discussed. Our conversation was friendly. We discussed my family, etc., and Mr. Wolfner specifically asked me what I thought about Frank "Pop" Ivy's potential as a coach for his football team. I told him I thought he was an outstanding man who could handle the job in an admirable manner. I did not talk to Mr. Wolfner about my coaching the team. I did not set any terms under which I would be interested in the job. The assistants on our coaching staff could verify the subject of our conversation inasmuch as I told them that afternoon that it looked as though "Pop" Ivy would get the Cardinal job. Later, when it was announced that he had been hired as head coach of the Cardinals, Mr. Wolfner stated that I had said "Frank Ivy was the best assistant coach I had ever had." I did not tell him this and mention it only to indicate that it confirms the real subject of our conversation on that day. It seems to me that if the facts of the proposed legislation in behalf of professional team sports supported the contention of the owners, Mr. Bell would have confined his remarks concerning our testimony to the issues involved. We gave only our opinion. We certainly might be mistaken. However, when the reaction of Commissioner Bell and some of the owners of professional teams was one of personal attack on the integrity of character of Coaches Daugherty, Wyatt, and myself, and when no mention was made of the actual issues involved, it clearly indicates to me that the professional group themselves question the validity of their basic arguments. I am sorry to have written such a lengthy letter, but I felt it necessary to give you all of the facts. I would appreciate it if they could be included in the record of the committee. Sincerely yours, C. B. WILKINSON, Director of Athletics. Hon. ESTES KEFAUVER, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS, Chairman, Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, United State Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In an attempt to comply with your request for the submission of information by today, as to the market for radio and television broadcasts of major league baseball games, and football games, we have relied for the most part on previously published statistics and estimates. It has been reported in Television Age of March 24, 1958, at page 52, that advertisers would spend for radio and television coverage of major league baseball this year "the record sum of $34.6 million." This article states that the sale of television and radio rights adds up to $11.2 million-$5.3 million for the regular play-by-play reports, $2.7 million for the weekly presentations of CBSTV and NBC-TV, and $3.2 million spent by Gillette for its world series and all-star game rights. The article also states that $8.3 million will be spent by advertisers on time, talent, and facilities, with pregame and postgame expenditures accounting for $15.1 million. The 1957 total expenditure of advertisers of major league baseball coverage was $31.8 million, according to the same magazine's issue of March 25, 1957, at page 32. It was estimated therein that the sale of television rights amounted to $9.3 million, including $3.2 million for world series and all-star game rights. The additional amount represents payment for time, talent, and facilities, and pregame and postgame shows. According to the transcript of the hearings before the House Antitrust Subcommittee re H. R. 5307, H. R. 5319, H. R. 5383, et al., at pages 2046 through 2049, and referenced by Representative Emanuel Celler at page 10947 of the June 24, 1958, issue of the Congressional Record, the total radio and television income for the major league clubs of both leagues amounted to more than $7 million in 1956. It is apparent from these figures and estimates that the total expenditures of advertisers for the broadcasting and telecasting of professional major league baseball games has been increasing consistently. As to the ultimate market, I believe an estimate would be nothing more than a guess. However, it would appear that as television expands, so, likewise, will the receipts of baseball from radio and television rights. I am not aware, however, of factors that would cause a great change to occur in these figures during the next few years. We have attempted to obtain similar information in regard to the receipts of minor league baseball clubs for the granting of radio and television rights, but have been unable to locate such information. As to professional football, the record of the House Antitrust Subcommittee hearings, at page 2566, indicates that the revenue of the National Football League clubs during the period 1952-56 amounted to $6,850,000. Of this total, $1,719,694 represents revenue received in 1956. We have been informed by National Football League Commissioner Bert Bell that the actual radio-television income for 1957 was $1,810,260. An article in the March 10, 1958, issue of Sports Illustrated, entitled "Look How the Owners Smile," at page 46, indicates that the National Football League has broken attendance records in 9 of the last 12 seasons, with 1957 attendance up 11 percent over 1956. It would appear that with the increased interest in professional football there is every likelihood of increased revenue accruing to professional football teams from the sale of radio and television rights in the future. We stand ready to cooperate with the subcommittee and its staff in all respects, and please feel free to call upon us should our assistance be desired. Sincerely, HAROLD E. FELLOWS. |