Clipping:The transfer of the Mets to Staten Island, the purchase by Wiman; the Mets expelled

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Date Wednesday, December 16, 1885
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...It appears that at the joint conference meeting in New York, in October, the American Association, at its separate special meeting, was applied to by the Metropolitan Club for permission to play games at Staten Island during the ensuing season, by arrangement with Mr. Wiman, the owner of the Staten Island Ferry and of a pleasure ground at Staten Island. This request seemed harmless enough, and as it was thought that it would inure to the benefit of the club and as the Brooklyn Club had previously been granted permission to play certain of its scheduled games at Coney Island, it was concluded to extend the Mets the privilege asked. Since then it appears that negotiations have been going on between the owners of the Metropolitan Club, whoever they are or were, and Mr. Erastus Wiman, by which the club was to be transferred bag and baggage to Staten Island, thus vacating a territory open alike to the League and American Association, but which once vacated, under the National Agreement, could have been closed forever to the American Association at the option of the New York League Club. The peculiar method of running the Metropolitan Club by its League backers has always been a source of constant annoyance and irritation to the other members of the American Association, so much so that the club has been more than once on the very verge of expulsion. The latest scheme by which the American Association club was to have been set completely into the shade in order to give the New York League Club fulls wing was a little too much, and the very large stock of patience of the American Association clubs was completely exhausted, and it was resolved to dispose of the matter for good and all. With this end in view a special meeting of the delegates was quietly called preliminary to the regular annual meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the advisability of consolidating the offices of president and secretary, and so to consider what action should be taken toward the Metropolitans.

The special meeting was held at the Girard House Monday evening. All the clubs were represented except Louisville and the Metropolitans. The former failed to reach the city until after the meeting was over, but knew of the matters to be considered, and its sentiments thereon where known to the other members. The Metropolitan was not invited at all, as indeed, it has not been to any of the recent special meetings for the reason that the clubs were afraid to trust a club so completely under the domination of a rival organization. President McKnight presided at the special meeting, which was in session three hours, and gave the two knotty questions careful and thorough consideration. The upshot of the matter was that it was decided, under Article XIII, of the Constitution, to amend the Constitution so as to bring about the consolidation of the offices and to drop the Metropolitan Club from membership, substituting the National Club, of Washington. The amendment in each case was carried unanimously, and the matter was then laid over for ratification at the annual meeting on Wednesday. The meeting also decided to apportion the players of the defunct club among such clubs as needed strengthening, and accordingly Lynch, Cushman, Holbert and Reipschlager were assigned to the Nationals; Brady, Nelson and Foster to Baltimore, and Hankinson to Pittsburg. Both Louisville and Brooklyn wanted Orr and Roseman, and it was decided to let the players choose between them.

Source Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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