Clipping:Mullane sues a newspaper for libel
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| Date | Wednesday, May 4, 1887 |
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| Text | … After the celebrated Brooklyn-Cincinnati game on June 4 last, when Byrne's men made twelve runs off Tony in the eighth and ninth innings, earning ten of them and scoring a victory—12 to 7—there were broad hints of loose work and Tony was lambasted by every paper in Cincinnati. The Times-Star headed its account “Tony, the Traitor,” and declared that the club's suspicions of Tony's queer work were strengthened by the result of that game. The Commercial-Gazette's account was quite as severe and O. P. Caylor telegraphed:--”A strange game of base ball was played in Brooklyn to-day between the Cincinnatis and Brooklyns. Tony Mullane appeared in the box for the Red Stockings, and for seven innings the Brooklyns were unable to score a run, while the Cicninnatis tallied seven. Suddenly in the eighth inning Mullane seemed to go all to pieces. The strangest part of the whole affair was Byrne's extreme anxiety about Mullane. It was principally through his endeavors that the great Tony was induced to pitch. Another suspension might do Mr. Mullane some good.” Shortly afterwards came the Enquirer's startling story of Mullane's alleged “sell-out.” After the storm had blown over, Tony gathered himself together and hied him to a lawyer's. The result was that instead of filing suits against all the papers, he singled out the Times-Starr and asked for $20,000 damages for libel. Before the season was over it was understood that the suit would be withdrawn—at least Mullane gave Manager Caylor that idea. To get it off the calendar the Times-Star folk had it taken out of its regular order the other day to be dismissed, and what does Tony do, but crawfish on his work to O. P., and meekly declare that he is in the hands of his lawyers, and that they are going to fight the case. Foolish fellow! It is a shame that he should be the one to prove a disturbing element now—for no such harmony has existed between club, players and newspapers for years as that which marks the early season. A man who has been blacklisted for breaking his word—who has been prevented by legal injunctions from pitching in a city because of fractures contracts—would not fare well with a jury, and if Tony imagines he has a ghost of a show to gain a verdict, the delusion will be dispelled if he goes into court. Tony will find himself in a hornet's nest, and there is a disposition on the part of the newspapers to make it warm for him. Pity that a row should be precipitated by him when the club's prospects are so bright. There is more money in playing honest ball than in butting out what little brains a man has against a ne2spaper office. If Tony means fight he will get all the battle he wants, but in so doing he will imperil the chances of the club he claims to be a loyal member of. Talk as you may a man can't play battle under the rattling fire of newspaper critics. |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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