Clipping:How Kansas City signed Herman Long

From Protoball
Jump to navigation Jump to search
19C Clippings
Scroll.png


Add a Clipping
Date Friday, April 26, 1889
Text

The report that the Chicago club has offered big money for the release of Long of the Kansas City club is probably based on events of last season. Long is a Chicago boy, who was developed as a professional last summer in Sam Morton's Maroons. His playing in that team was of the most brilliant character. Morton sold him to the Kansas City Western Association Club, managed by Menges, Spalding's agent at Kansas City. That Spalding expected to get him and thought he practically had him, is well known. It is claimed that in part payment of indebtedness of Menges to Spalding Long was to be turned over to Spalding. Manager Watkins of the Kansas City American Association team outwitted both Menges and Spalding.

He waited until the night before Long became eligible to sign, watched him get on a train for Chicago, and boarded the train himself, engaging Long in conversation until after midnight. He then asked him how much he wanted for next season. Long stated his terms, as he says, thinking Watkins would not have any idea of accepting them. The next question was “How much advance money do you want?” Long mentioned the amount, and Watkins, who was prepared for the occasion, went into his pocket, and drew out a roll from which he counted out the money and secured his man. Watkins was accused of all kinds of trickery, even to getting Long drunk in order to obtain his signature, but persons on the inside vouch for the story as it is now related.

Source Chicago Tribune
Comment Edit with form to add a comment
Query Edit with form to add a query
Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

Comments

<comments voting="Plus" />