The Original Minor League Draft?

Charlie Hough · 01-24-2010, 05:13 PM

I've been reading that a "minor league draft" existed in MLB as early as the 1890s. This may be some sort of precursor to the Rule 5 draft that now exists, but I'm trying to find out what this draft was and how it worked. And then the question is whether OOTP provides options that can simulate something like this in the game.

Various sources describe this "draft" as MLB teams drafting players from minor league clubs for a set price. I can't seem to find a description of the "draft" and whether this was an organized procedure like we see today, or whether this was just a term for the practice of teams buying players from minor league clubs in exchange for set prices. Given that historical accounts say that an "unlimited" supply of minor league players was being drafted, I'm leaning toward "draft" being a procedural term and not an organized system. However, there was supposedly a date for this draft every year, so perhaps it was an organized event with no limitations on the number of rounds or players selected.

The minor leagues organized in an attempt to keep MLB clubs from raiding their rosters and to impose limits on drafting, options, and minor league affiliations. For example, there was a limit introduced in 1905 to allow only one player from each minor league club to be drafted each year. MLB teams were also banned from owning minor league affiliates starting in 1913.

The draft was supposedly suspended in 1918 but later reinstated in 1921, after which set prices for drafting players were increased, MLB teams were allowed to have minor league affiliates again, and minor leagues could opt out of the draft. However, minor league clubs that opted out of the draft system were not allowed to draft players from leagues below them.

So this supposedly led to a dramatic increase in player sales from minor league clubs as an alternative to drafting, and sale prices skyrocketed. Minor league clubs could get higher prices by selling players than allowing them to be drafted, so they would sell them before

Does anyone have more historical information about this early version of the minor league draft? Is it possible to implement this in OOTP? I'm thinking that it's impossible, because you'd have to have minor leagues that were independent financially but could have major league affiliates. And there would have to be the ability for players to be sold from the minors to the majors without them having free agency. Then there is the question of a set fee structure for the draft.

Charlie Hough · 01-24-2010, 05:40 PM

I found some more details on this early minor league draft in Article VI of the 1903 National Agreement between the major leagues and the National Association that represented the minors. However, the dates for the "draft" seem to apply only to this period of 1903 until a later date. Transaction reports for the 1890s at Baseball Reference show draft picks being made at various times of the year and not during the date range prescribed here. And Baseball Reference refers to these as "Rule 5" draft picks, but they were obviously based on an older National Agreement in which "Rule 5" did not exist.

Quote:

Sec. 6. The right of a minor league club to its players shall be absolute, except that from September 1 to October 15 of each year, major league clubs shall have the privilege of selecting players from the National Association clubs for the following season, upon payment of $750 for each player so selected from clubs in Class "A" leagues; $500 for each player so selected from clubs in Class "B" leagues; $300 for each player so selected from clubs in Class "C" leagues, and $200 for each player so selected from clubs of a lower class, the payments to be made to the Secretary of the National Association, through the Secretary of the Commission, as follows: One-half of the amount when the selection is made, and one-half of the amount on June 1 following, the player to revert to the club from which he was selected if the selecting club defaults on any of the payments, the player also to revert to the club from which he was selected if when released he is not signed within ten days by a club of a minor league; provided, however, that not more than two players shall be selected from any Class "A" club during any one year.

Sec. 7. Any club entitled to make selection of a player, and desiring to do so, shall notify the Secretary of the National Commission, stating the name of the player and of the club to which he is under contract and reservation, and enclosing the amount specified in the preceding section to be paid for such release or draft. The Secretary shall thereupon notify the Secretary of the National Association, who shall thereupon immediately notify the club and league from which such selection shall be made, and shall order the transfer of the player to the selecting club at the close of the current season. Such selection and transfer shall thereupon be promulgated, and if such selection is revoked, or default made in payments, immediate notice thereof shall he given to the clubs of all parties to this Agreement, and any other club in the same league may be subrogated to the rights of the club defaulting in said payments, by paying to the club defaulting the sum so advanced.

Sec. 8. A major league club may at any time purchase the release of a player from a minor league club,. to take effect forthwith or at a specified date, provided such purchase is recorded with the Secretary of the Commission and Secretary of the National Association for promulgation within five days of the transaction.

Sec. 9. If a selected player is released within the year of, or the next year after, his selection, by a major league club, and no other major league club claims him prior to the expiration of his notice of release, the minor league club which lost him by selection shall have the priority of right to him over all clubs.

Sec. 10. The selection of a player made by a major league club under an arrangement with a minor league club for the return of the selected player after the expiration of the period of selection, shall be void, and the National Commission shall impose a fine of $500 on each club which becomes a party to a conspiracy to prevent a player from advancing in his profession, or in any way abusing the privilege of selection.

Le Grande Orange · 01-24-2010, 06:29 PM

I'll just post up what SABR member and researcher Cliff Blau used to have on the section of his web site devoted to such league operating rules. Unfortunately, his site no longer appears to be accessible online.

****

THE MAJOR LEAGUE DRAFT

This is a work in progress. Areas of uncertainty are indicated with parentheses or italics.

During the years of the independent minor leagues, the truce between the majors and minors was always an uneasy one. Beginning in 1883 with the Tri-Partite Agreement, the Major Leagues agreed to respect the contract and reserve rights of all minor leagues that were party to what became the National Agreement. However, the majors found that the minor clubs could prevent them from obtaining players that they wanted unless they were willing to pay the price demanded by the team holding their contracts. This was too much like free enterprise for the magnates, so in 1892 they introduced a system now known as the "Annual Selection of Players," the major league or Rule 5 draft. (There was an in-season draft in 1891 which required the consent of the player, and his club could appeal if it wished to retain his services.) The official stated purpose of the draft was to permit athletes to advance in their chosen profession. Originally, the big league clubs had from October 1 until February 1 to select players at a price of $1000 from Class A leagues and $500 from Class B leagues. The draft period was gradually shortened over the years, and currently is handled in one day at the Winter Meetings. Likewise, the price was increased over time, up to the current level of $50,000 from Class AAA. (See chart below for details.)

There was no preset order of drafting in the early years of the Rule 5 draft. If more than one team claimed a player by the beginning of the draft period, the team awarded the player was chosen by lot. Also, a team could withdraw a pick before the end of the draft period. Starting in 1917, they only had 24 hours to cancel a claim.

Return of Selected Players

Major League owners soon realized that they could take advantage of the low draft prices by drafting more players than they could use, then selling the excess back to minor league clubs at prices above what they had paid. By 1896, in order to prevent abuse of the draft rules, Major League clubs could not send drafted players to a lower level than he was drafted from for one year after the draft unless no other Major League team wanted them. The following year, this was amended to prevent sending drafted players to any level of minor league if another Major League team wanted them. An additional rule was added in 1903. It required the drafting team to offer the player back to the team he was taken from before selling him to another minor league team. In 1912, Class AA teams were given the chance to claim drafted players before they could be sent to a lower league, and Class A teams got this right in 1913. Although, from 1914 to 1918, a Class A team had priority over AA if the returned player was selected from it. After that, it had priority only in its own classification. The price for claiming a drafted player on waivers (for a Major League team) was the regular waiver price prior to 1912. In mid-1912, it was changed to the draft price plus $250; the extra amount was eliminated for teams in the same Major League in 1916. In 1921, the price was lowered to 75% of the draft price if the player was chosen from an AA or A team, but remained at the draft price if he was chosen from a lower league. In 1935, a series of prices was established based on the level of the team claiming the player and the level he was selected from. This was in effect until 1958, when the price was set at 50% of the draft price. Furthermore, a drafted player could not be sent to the minors (as a general rule) until he had played in a regular season game or went to spring training with the team choosing him, starting 1909.

Minor League Participation

Despite these rule changes, which offered them some protection from the draft, in 1919 the minor leagues abrogated the National Agreement and refused to allow their players to be drafted. Two years later, a new National Agreement was signed which allowed individual leagues to opt out of the draft. Several did, including all three of the Class AA leagues. (In 1924, all but one agreed to allow players they had obtained from the Major Leagues to be drafted. The International League held out a year longer.) This lasted until a new agreement was drawn up in 1931.

Selection Process

As part of the 1921 Agreement, some still existing rules were introduced. The draft was conducted in reverse order of the teams' standings in the past season with the leagues alternating picks (if two teams had the same record, then their order was chosen by lot. By 1990, this had been changed so that their records in the previous year would break any such ties.) Also, draft picks would now be noncancelable. The American League won a coin flip that year to determine which league's last place team would get the first choice, and it has had first pick in all odd-numbered years since then, with the NL going first in even-numbered years. Before 1926 and after 1957, teams whose off-season roster was full could not participate in the draft.

Eligibility

In November of 1897, two rules were passed to help minor league clubs get some return on their investment. The first provided that players in Class A (then the top level) leagues could not be drafted until they had played two years at that level. This protection was extended to the other levels in 1900. The second was that only two players could be drafted from any Class A team. In 1906, this was reduced to one player and was extended to the new Class A (the old Class A now being AA) in 1912. This second rule was in effect until 1958.

Beginning in 1931, minor leaguers were not eligible for the draft until they had been a professional for four seasons (consisting of at least 30 days on the Active List) if in Class AA (and later AAA), three seasons if in Class A or A-1, two seasons if in Class B, C, or D, and one season if in Class E, or if they had been sent outright (not on option) to the minors. As of 1942, minor league teams could designate players as eligible for unrestricted draft (meaning they could be chosen without regards to restrictions on the number of players that could be chosen from one team.) Also, players with 10 years experience in the Major Leagues who had been sent outright to the minors were subject to unrestricted draft at a cost of $25,000 starting in 1953. These veterans could be sent to the minors without being offered back to the team they were drafted from. The experience requirement was lowered to 8 years in 1954, to 5 in 1974, and finally to 3 in 1976. In 1952, the Pacific Coast League became an "open classification" league. This was to be the first step towards it becoming a major league. Players in the PCL were allowed to decide if they wanted to be eligible for the draft, and if so, they were not eligible until they had played five years in professional ball. This rule was in effect until 1958.

Part of the bonus rule of 1946 stated that "bonus players" in the minor leagues were subject to the draft. With the end of the second bonus rule, a new policy was instituted in 1958 making all four year minor league veterans subject to unrestricted draft at $25,000. In 1959, all first year players became eligible for unrestricted draft, but draftees couldn't be optioned to the minors. The following year, the rule was amended to allow the drafted players to be optioned without offering him back to the team he was chosen from. In 1960, the draft price for first year players was reduced from $15,000 to $12,000, and in 1962 it was lowered further to $8,000. However, a new limitation on optioning drafted first year players was put in to effect. Only one such player could be sent down, and he would still be counted as part of the 25 man roster. As of 1965, all minor leaguers not on a Major League team's 40 man roster were subject to unrestricted draft, unless they had been chosen in June's amateur draft. In 1967, the first year player draft was eliminated; players generally became eligible to be drafted after their second year of pro ball. Players signing their first professional contract in 1969 or later were not eligible to be drafted for three years.

Drafted players must remain on the 40 man roster until the season ends and must spend at least 90 days on the 25 man roster before he can be optioned to the minors without going through waivers. The team from which he was drafted can reclaim him for half of the draft price if he is placed on waivers, and such waivers cannot be requested until 25 days before the regular season opens.

****

01-24-2010, 05:13 PM	#1
Charlie Hough Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,644	The Original Minor League Draft? I've been reading that a "minor league draft" existed in MLB as early as the 1890s. This may be some sort of precursor to the Rule 5 draft that now exists, but I'm trying to find out what this draft was and how it worked. And then the question is whether OOTP provides options that can simulate something like this in the game. Various sources describe this "draft" as MLB teams drafting players from minor league clubs for a set price. I can't seem to find a description of the "draft" and whether this was an organized procedure like we see today, or whether this was just a term for the practice of teams buying players from minor league clubs in exchange for set prices. Given that historical accounts say that an "unlimited" supply of minor league players was being drafted, I'm leaning toward "draft" being a procedural term and not an organized system. However, there was supposedly a date for this draft every year, so perhaps it was an organized event with no limitations on the number of rounds or players selected. The minor leagues organized in an attempt to keep MLB clubs from raiding their rosters and to impose limits on drafting, options, and minor league affiliations. For example, there was a limit introduced in 1905 to allow only one player from each minor league club to be drafted each year. MLB teams were also banned from owning minor league affiliates starting in 1913. The draft was supposedly suspended in 1918 but later reinstated in 1921, after which set prices for drafting players were increased, MLB teams were allowed to have minor league affiliates again, and minor leagues could opt out of the draft. However, minor league clubs that opted out of the draft system were not allowed to draft players from leagues below them. So this supposedly led to a dramatic increase in player sales from minor league clubs as an alternative to drafting, and sale prices skyrocketed. Minor league clubs could get higher prices by selling players than allowing them to be drafted, so they would sell them before Does anyone have more historical information about this early version of the minor league draft? Is it possible to implement this in OOTP? I'm thinking that it's impossible, because you'd have to have minor leagues that were independent financially but could have major league affiliates. And there would have to be the ability for players to be sold from the minors to the majors without them having free agency. Then there is the question of a set fee structure for the draft.

01-24-2010, 06:29 PM	#3
Le Grande Orange Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Up There Posts: 15,642	I'll just post up what SABR member and researcher Cliff Blau used to have on the section of his web site devoted to such league operating rules. Unfortunately, his site no longer appears to be accessible online. ** THE MAJOR LEAGUE DRAFT This is a work in progress. Areas of uncertainty are indicated with parentheses or italics. During the years of the independent minor leagues, the truce between the majors and minors was always an uneasy one. Beginning in 1883 with the Tri-Partite Agreement, the Major Leagues agreed to respect the contract and reserve rights of all minor leagues that were party to what became the National Agreement. However, the majors found that the minor clubs could prevent them from obtaining players that they wanted unless they were willing to pay the price demanded by the team holding their contracts. This was too much like free enterprise for the magnates, so in 1892 they introduced a system now known as the "Annual Selection of Players," the major league or Rule 5 draft. (There was an in-season draft in 1891 which required the consent of the player, and his club could appeal if it wished to retain his services.) The official stated purpose of the draft was to permit athletes to advance in their chosen profession. Originally, the big league clubs had from October 1 until February 1 to select players at a price of $1000 from Class A leagues and $500 from Class B leagues. The draft period was gradually shortened over the years, and currently is handled in one day at the Winter Meetings. Likewise, the price was increased over time, up to the current level of $50,000 from Class AAA. (See chart below for details.) There was no preset order of drafting in the early years of the Rule 5 draft. If more than one team claimed a player by the beginning of the draft period, the team awarded the player was chosen by lot. Also, a team could withdraw a pick before the end of the draft period. Starting in 1917, they only had 24 hours to cancel a claim. Return of Selected Players Major League owners soon realized that they could take advantage of the low draft prices by drafting more players than they could use, then selling the excess back to minor league clubs at prices above what they had paid. By 1896, in order to prevent abuse of the draft rules, Major League clubs could not send drafted players to a lower level than he was drafted from for one year after the draft unless no other Major League team wanted them. The following year, this was amended to prevent sending drafted players to any level of minor league if another Major League team wanted them. An additional rule was added in 1903. It required the drafting team to offer the player back to the team he was taken from before selling him to another minor league team. In 1912, Class AA teams were given the chance to claim drafted players before they could be sent to a lower league, and Class A teams got this right in 1913. Although, from 1914 to 1918, a Class A team had priority over AA if the returned player was selected from it. After that, it had priority only in its own classification. The price for claiming a drafted player on waivers (for a Major League team) was the regular waiver price prior to 1912. In mid-1912, it was changed to the draft price plus $250; the extra amount was eliminated for teams in the same Major League in 1916. In 1921, the price was lowered to 75% of the draft price if the player was chosen from an AA or A team, but remained at the draft price if he was chosen from a lower league. In 1935, a series of prices was established based on the level of the team claiming the player and the level he was selected from. This was in effect until 1958, when the price was set at 50% of the draft price. Furthermore, a drafted player could not be sent to the minors (as a general rule) until he had played in a regular season game or went to spring training with the team choosing him, starting 1909. Minor League Participation Despite these rule changes, which offered them some protection from the draft, in 1919 the minor leagues abrogated the National Agreement and refused to allow their players to be drafted. Two years later, a new National Agreement was signed which allowed individual leagues to opt out of the draft. Several did, including all three of the Class AA leagues. (In 1924, all but one agreed to allow players they had obtained from the Major Leagues to be drafted. The International League held out a year longer.) This lasted until a new agreement was drawn up in 1931. Selection Process As part of the 1921 Agreement, some still existing rules were introduced. The draft was conducted in reverse order of the teams' standings in the past season with the leagues alternating picks (if two teams had the same record, then their order was chosen by lot. By 1990, this had been changed so that their records in the previous year would break any such ties.) Also, draft picks would now be noncancelable. The American League won a coin flip that year to determine which league's last place team would get the first choice, and it has had first pick in all odd-numbered years since then, with the NL going first in even-numbered years. Before 1926 and after 1957, teams whose off-season roster was full could not participate in the draft. Eligibility In November of 1897, two rules were passed to help minor league clubs get some return on their investment. The first provided that players in Class A (then the top level) leagues could not be drafted until they had played two years at that level. This protection was extended to the other levels in 1900. The second was that only two players could be drafted from any Class A team. In 1906, this was reduced to one player and was extended to the new Class A (the old Class A now being AA) in 1912. This second rule was in effect until 1958. Beginning in 1931, minor leaguers were not eligible for the draft until they had been a professional for four seasons (consisting of at least 30 days on the Active List) if in Class AA (and later AAA), three seasons if in Class A or A-1, two seasons if in Class B, C, or D, and one season if in Class E, or if they had been sent outright (not on option) to the minors. As of 1942, minor league teams could designate players as eligible for unrestricted draft (meaning they could be chosen without regards to restrictions on the number of players that could be chosen from one team.) Also, players with 10 years experience in the Major Leagues who had been sent outright to the minors were subject to unrestricted draft at a cost of $25,000 starting in 1953. These veterans could be sent to the minors without being offered back to the team they were drafted from. The experience requirement was lowered to 8 years in 1954, to 5 in 1974, and finally to 3 in 1976. In 1952, the Pacific Coast League became an "open classification" league. This was to be the first step towards it becoming a major league. Players in the PCL were allowed to decide if they wanted to be eligible for the draft, and if so, they were not eligible until they had played five years in professional ball. This rule was in effect until 1958. Part of the bonus rule of 1946 stated that "bonus players" in the minor leagues were subject to the draft. With the end of the second bonus rule, a new policy was instituted in 1958 making all four year minor league veterans subject to unrestricted draft at $25,000. In 1959, all first year players became eligible for unrestricted draft, but draftees couldn't be optioned to the minors. The following year, the rule was amended to allow the drafted players to be optioned without offering him back to the team he was chosen from. In 1960, the draft price for first year players was reduced from $15,000 to $12,000, and in 1962 it was lowered further to $8,000. However, a new limitation on optioning drafted first year players was put in to effect. Only one such player could be sent down, and he would still be counted as part of the 25 man roster. As of 1965, all minor leaguers not on a Major League team's 40 man roster were subject to unrestricted draft, unless they had been chosen in June's amateur draft. In 1967, the first year player draft was eliminated; players generally became eligible to be drafted after their second year of pro ball. Players signing their first professional contract in 1969 or later were not eligible to be drafted for three years. Drafted players must remain on the 40 man roster until the season ends and must spend at least 90 days on the 25 man roster before he can be optioned to the minors without going through waivers. The team from which he was drafted can reclaim him for half of the draft price if he is placed on waivers, and such waivers cannot be requested until 25 days before the regular season opens. **