United League Baseball

Brooklyn Wins Reentry Draft Lottery
Simmons, Loes Top List of Returnees
Louisville, Boston Draft 2nd, 3rd
NEW YORK (Feb. 2) -- The United League's first reentry draft will take place this week, featuring 19 free agents and 10 veterans returning to the big leagues from military service. The Brooklyn Superbas won the 3-2-1 draft lottery, and will have first choice. Ironically, one of the hottest properties in the 29-player pool is Clyde McCullough, who had a red-hot finish after joining the Superbas from St. Louis in the Campanella-Hutchinson trade. Other likely first-round picks are Hank Sauer and Jimm Piersall. But the hottest prospects are pitchers, with a trio of 22-year olds likely to go in the first round: Curt Simmons, Billy Loes, and Steve Ridzik.
   The League introduced the Reentry Draft concept as a way to allow for more player movement than under the reserve clause, while promoting parity by strengthening the weaker teams. This year's Reentry Draft will last four rounds, except that St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago will get only three players each.
   Salary levels for players selected in the Reentry Draft will be determined by 1951 salary modified by draft round. Every player's base salary is listed to the left. The salary change for each round will be on a sliding scale: 30-20-10-0%. Base salaries for Korean War veterans are determined by age ($300k for 18-24, $500k for 25-29, and $750, for 30+). [Example: if Marty Marion, age 34, is drafted in the second round, his salary will be $900k, his base salary ($750 for 30+ returnee) plus 20%.].
   Players may be signed from 2-5 year contracts, but players with 7+ years experience are entitled to a minimum 3-year contract. Contract lengths are to be determined at the conclusion of the Reentry Draft.

Louisville Gets First Rookie Pick
Brooklyn, Boston Draft 2nd, 3rd
NEW YORK (Feb. 2) -- The 1952 Rookie Draft lottery went according to form, with Louisville, Brooklyn, and Boston getting the first three picks. Lefthanded power hitter Eddie Mathews, a 20-yeard old third baseman from Texarkana, Texas, is hailed by most scouts as the cream of the '52 rookie crop. Other top prospects are first baseman Dick Gernert, Cuban starting pitcher Mike Fornieles, starter Stu Miller, and closer Hoyt Wilhelm.
There are 40 players in the rookie draft pool, enough to complete five rounds. The draft order is straight, so Louisville will have the first pick every round (1st, 9th, 17th... overall).
As with the Initial and Reentry Drafts, salary levels are determined by draft order. Rookies selected in the first round get $500k salaries, second rounders get $300k, and all others get minor league contracts. First and second round picks must be assigned contracts between 3-5 years in length.

AROUND THE HORN

86-68 -- 3-3	ST. LOUIS · xx
83-71 3 4-2	DETROIT · xx
81-73 5 3-3	CHICAGO · xx
79-75 7 2-4	WASHINGTON · xx
76-78 10 4-2	NEW YORK · xx
73-81 13 4-2	BOSTON · xx
71-83 15 3-3	BROOKLYN · xxx
67-87 19 1-5	LOUISVILLE · xx
DAY-BY-DAY
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