Clipping:Spalding sets detectives on his players
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| Date | Wednesday, July 28, 1886 |
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| Text | For two months past, according to President Spalding, communications have been reaching him and the stock-holders of the club to the effect that the boys had forgotten their pledge to abstain from alcohol made at the beginning of the season, so far as to take a social drink with friends when occasion offered. Several of the directors insisted that the matter be sifted to the bottom. President Spalding forthwith called upon a detective agency here and put the case in their hands. The result was that for six weeks past the club has been shadowed at home and abroad, without the knowledge even of Captain Anson, and yesterday morning the detectives made a complete written report to the chief, and you may rest assured it was interesting reading. Armed with this documentary evidence, Mr. Spalding called the boys around him in the club house at three o'clock Thursday afternoon and read them the report from beginning to end. To say that they were thunderstruck but faintly describes the feelings of the men, and when the chief concluded the report with a fine of $25 each against Flint, Gore, McCormick, Williamson, Ryan, Flynn and Kelly there was not a word said. Each man took his little dose graciously, as indeed he had to. President Spalding said to your correspondent this morning: “I do not wish it understood that the boys have been getting drunk or have been dissipating to an extent that has interfered with their playing, but have been taking a glass of beer or a toddy now and then and when seen by others the act was exaggerated and repeated to the discredit of the club.” The boys themselves are very much troubled over the occurrence, and it is safe to say that any of them would have preferred to have lost a clean $100 apiece than to have suffered the unpleasant notoriety the affair has brought about through the severe criticisms and the exaggerated reports of the Chicago press of to-day. |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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