Constitution
OF
The American League of
Professional
Baseball Clubs
NAME
Article
I. This
league shall be and is hereby designated as "The American League of
Professional Baseball Clubs."
OBJECTS
Article
II. The
objects of this League are:
(1)
To perpetuate baseball as the national game of the United States and to
surround it with such safeguards as to warrant absolute public confidence in
its integrity and methods.
(2)
To protect and promote the mutual interests of the members of the League and
the baseball players having contractural relations with such members.
(3)
To establish and regulate the baseball championship of the American League and
the series of games which the baseball clubs of the League members, or any of
them, may play with other baseball clubs.
MEMBERSHIP
Article
III. Section 1. Throughout the period of the existence of
this League all of the obligations and responsibilities set forth in the
constititution, including any amendments thereof, shall be in full force and effect
and binding upon the present members of this League and such other corporations as may hereafter become
members of this League.
Eight Clubs to
Compose League
Sec.
2.
This League shall consist of eight members each of which shall be a corporation
conducting a professional baseball club located in the following cities,
to-wit; Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Boston
and Washington, or in such other city or cities as this League, under this
constitution or any amendment thereof, may from time to time determine; but in
no event shall there be more than one club in any city, or more or less than
eight clubs in the League.
No
member of the League, either by itself or through its officers, stockholders,
or otherwise, shall be or become interested by means of stock-ownership or
otherwise in any other member of the League, or in the conduct or operation of
more than one baseball club in the League. No member of the League, either by
itself or through its officers, stockholders, or otherwise, shall loan any
money to any other member of the League, without first making to the League a
full disclosure of the facts pertaining to such loan, and obtaining the consent
by a majority vote of the League to the making of such loan.
Admission
to Membership
Sec.
3. Admission to membership in this League shall
conform to the provisions of the agreement for reorganization of this leaguie
of date February 16, 1910, as subsequently amended or modified.
Withdrawal
from Membership
Sec.
4. Any member of this League shall have the
right to ask the League for permission to dispose of its rights and franchises
as a member of this League to an organization in its own or some other
city. In the event of this Leauge
giving its consent, such new organization shall be admitted to membership
provided it shall assume, together with the rights and franchises of the
retiring member, all the liabilities, responsibilities and obligations entered
into by said retiring member as a member of this League, except so much thereof
as the League may permit to be excluded from such assumption and shall file
with the president of this League a writing so providing: provided, however, that it must be
understood by the retiring and the new member and by them agreed with the
League, that the retiring member shall not be relieved or released from any
liability, responsibility or obligation entered into by it with or to this
League until such liability, responsibility or obligation has been fully paid
and performed by such new member or by such retiring member.
As
to Vacancies
Sec
5. In case a vacancy occurs in the membership
of this League before or during the championship season, the President shall
transmit to all the members copies of all applications for membership to fill
such vacancy and the vote thereon may be taken by telegraph or mail, as
determined by the President, and a majority vote of all the members then
holding membership in the League will be required to admit any applicant for
membership. Such membership, however,
shall continue only until the next annual meeting, or a special meeting called
for that purpose, but such member shall be subject to all the rules and
requirements of this League, and shall take the standing of the club of the
retiring member in the then championship contest.
Termination
of Membership
Sec.
6. This League may at a meeting duly called
by the President for that purpose terminate the membership of any constituent
member of this League based on any one of the following grounds or reasons:
(1) By resignation duly accepted by
three-fourths vote of all members in meeting assembled.
(2) Failure to present its team at the time
and place agreed upon to play any championship game unless caused by
unavoidable accident in traveling, or by some other cause for which such member
is in no wise responsible.
(3) The transfer or assignment of such
number of its players as will prevent it from functioning as a member of this
League.
(4) Disbandment of its organization or ball
team during the championship season.
(5) Failure or refusal to fulfill its
contractual obligations or to obey any lawful requirements made by the
President or Board of Directors of the League.
(6) Wilfully violating any provision of this
constitution or legislation or playing rules
made in pursuance thereof. This
shall not include the violation of a playing rule by a player of a member,
unless such member caused or induced the player to violate such rule.
(7) Disposing of a player to a club or
organization not a member of this League, unless by the unanimous consent of
all members of this League.
(8) Allowing betting or pool selling upon
its grounds or in any building thereon or in any building owned and/or used by
it in connection with the playing of baseball games.
(9) Offering, agreeing, conspiring or
attempting to fix the result of any game of ball or failure to immediately
expel any manager or player who shall be proven guilty of offering, agreeing,
conspiring or attempting to fix the result of any game of ball, or of being
interested in any pool or wager thereon.
Expulsion
of Members
Sec.
7. Before the membership of any member may be
terminated for grounds or reasons set forth in Section 6 of this article, the
President of this League shall notify such member and each of the constituent
members in writing advising them of the grounds or reasons for such termination
and fixing the time and place for the hearing thereon. Said hearing may be continued from time to
time at such place or places as the League may determine. Full opportunity shall be given to both the
member complained against and the League for the presentation of all evidence
bearing thereon. The League shall make
its findings and decision which shall be binding upon all members of the
League; provided, however, that before any membership can be so terminated, six
members of the League must concur in such findings and decision.
Fining
in Lieu of Expulsion
Sec.
8. Upon conviction for any of the offenses
prescribed in Section 6 of this Article, as causes for expulsion, this League
may in lieu of expulsion impose such a fine as shall be considered commensurate
with the offense and injury, which fine may be made payable, in whole or in
part, to any other member or members as compensation to such member or members
for damages sustained by it or them by reason of such act or acts of omission
or commission by such offending member.