Clipping:Tommy Tucker signs four contracts

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Date Wednesday, January 22, 1890
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In explaining the Tucker deal Manager Barnie said he disposed of him because he positively refused to play again in Brooklyn, contract or no contract, and further gives this version of the entire transaction, endeavoring to make Tucker out as less venal than vacillating:

“The first contract signed by Tuycker was with the Brooklyn Brotherhood Club. It was actually signed on Sunday, Nov. 17, 1889, but was dated Nov. 18 (Monday). Tucker was to receive $300 as advance money. When he received this, however, it was in the form of a note payable in six months. Tucker saw that the $300 was in the nature of a loan, and refused to sign the note. A few days after this transaction he met Mr. Barnie. Being disgusted at the failure of the Brotherhood people to send him $300 advance money, but sending him a six months' note instead, Tucker signed an agreement or contract to play with the Baltimore Club for the season of 1890, at a salary of $3250, and also agreeing to be transferred to any National League city to which the Baltimore Club might sell his release. Subsequently, Tucker went to New York at the time of the Players' League meeting. Immediately he was surrounded by the Brotherhood players, to whom he said he had signed with the Baltimore Club, and an avalanche of entreaty was hurled at him to renew his contract with the Players' League. Finally Tucker yielded to the persuasions of the players and signed a second contract with a representative of the Brooklyn Club, receiving $500 advance money. Mr. Barnie got after him again and persuaded him to sign with the Boston Club at a salary said to be about $4000.”

The correct facts are that Tucker did sign his first contract with the Brooklyn Club on a Sunday, the contract being dated a day ahead, which is held by the Brooklyn Club's counsel to be a legal contract. He receive $300 for which he was asked to give a note, simply because the Brooklyn Club was not then incorporated, and one of the Brooklyn Club directors advanced the money from his own funds, simply taking the note as acknowledgment of the debt. Then Barnie got at Tucker and worked so upon his mercurial nature that he finally signed an agreement to play with the Baltimore Club for $3250, or to be transferred to any League club by the Baltimore Club. This agreement was only signed by Tucker, no consideration of any kind was given or responsibility assumed by Barnie, and was practically simply in the nature of a memorandum. Ward convinced Tucker of this, and the latter then expressed a willingness to return to the Brooklyn Club providing his salary was made equal to that Barnie offered. After some consideration the Brooklyn Club concluded to give Tucker what he wanted in order to satisfy him, and this is why a new contract for the larger salary was made out. He also received $200 more advance money, making $500 in all. When he signed the contract Tucker was brimful of joy, expressed himself well pleased, and publicly stated before he left for Holyoke that he “was perfectly satisfied, and that $5000 could not tempt him to desert the Brooklyn Club.” How sincere he was subsequent events show. [He played 1890 for the Boston League Club]

Source Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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