Semantic search

Tall frames loomed up about the back of the ground, and nearly one-half of the ball field is covered with a great stage. The right field of the ball ground is about the same as it was when the Metropolitans played there, but the left field has been excavated to a depth of some ten feet,and the earth carried up to the centre of the field. The same thing has been done under the stage, so that even the thirty teams at work putting the ball ground in condition will have to keep going night and day to have it ready to play on. Then then the outfielders will have to play on the stage with rubber-soled shoes.

On the first trip of the New Yorks from home work in removing the stage will be begun, but it will be very nearly the middle of the season before the ball ground will look anything as it did two years ago. The Staten Island Ferry Company will run boats every fifteen minutes on days of ball games. New York Sun April, 27, 1889

[Washington vs. New York 4/29/1889] The field was not as perfect as could have been wished for a ball game. Only about half of it was of earth; the other half consisted of the great stage upon which the “Fall of Rome” was exhibited last year. This stage is about 200 feet deep by 300 or more feet long. The outfielders of both teams wore rubber-soled shoes, and although boards do not make the finest kind of a ball ground, the outfielders were better able to play good ball than the infielders, who were darting about in the soft dirt. There were no base runs, and the foul lines only ran as far as the bases on each side. This made it very bad. … The stage on the outfield improved the long hits, for every time the ball struck fairly on the stage, no matter where, it was sure to be no less than a two-base hit. Whitney made a home run by the ball striking the stage and bounding over into the space back of the outfield.

[Chicago vs. Cleveland 6/17/1889[ Anson made the mistake of ordering Dwyer out of the box in the fourth inning after Bakley's three-bagger, with nobody out. McQuaid refused to allow the change until the half of the inning had been completed and Anson was compelled to mortify both himself and his young pitcher by calling him back from the bench. There seemed to be no good reason anyway for a removal. Cleveland had secured but six hits off Dwyer and he had been receiving wretched support. At any rate Hutchinson did no better.

The burning of the stand at the Brooklyn base ball grounds on Sunday morning last was a sad blow to the club; still it was not nearly so bad as it might have been. The fact that the club was on the road and that no games or loss or attendance was caused by the fire is a source of satisfaction to the managers of the club. The directors have in mind the building of an iron grand stand, but that will not be done for some years yet. In the mean time the new stand now building on the grounds will be finished as soon as possible, probably by Thursday, and this will answer all requirements for the time being.

[from an interview of James Coogan] Three weeks ago, before the new grounds were leased by the players and capitalists, C olonel E. A. McAlpin, the tobacco king, Post-master Cornelius Van Cott and G. R. Talcott, I had Day call upon me. I explained to him that parties were after the grounds, and I thought it my duty to give him first option upon them. He replied that he did not want the grounds. Of course I then leased them advantageously to the other party. I have not a dollar’s worth of stock in the Brotherhood scheme, but I am managing the Lynch estate, and I am looking out for their interests.

In regard to the New York Club and the Coogan property, it has become known that when the old Metropolitan Club was looking for that place, it was offered to them for $6,000, but as the club was shaky the idea was given up. It is now reported that the New York Club has been asked $12,000 for the same property. It looks as though the increase in the value of property in Harlem has increased rapidly in the past two or three years.

It is understood that the owner of the Coogan property at 155 th street would let the club have it at a very reasonable figure if he could secure stock in the club; but the President of the New Yorks has refused to make any such arrangement. However, there is still a slight glimmer of hope that the New Yorks may yet get the Coogan site. This hope comes from the fact that the Coogan property for which $500,000 has been asked, will be sold at auction on Feb. 21, and may be bought up by the elevated railroad in which case it would be to the advantage of the road to have the club play there.

[Chicago vs. Pittsburgh 8/31/1889] William surprised the crowd by running his own bases as far as first, and did well, although he favored his injured leg with every stride.

“To-night Captain Glasscock called at the Bates House and informed Anson that the Indianapolis Club would insist upon Williamson running his own bases or remaining out of the game. “It's a mean trick,” said Williamson to-night. “They are simply forcing me to sit on the bench or risk straining my leg, which is not strong enough to do hard base-running.” It certainly does look to be a small piece of business.” – Chicago Tribune. Glassock's act was undoubtedly not due to any desire to injure genial Ned, but to concede nothing to the man who never concedes anything to anybody else—Captain Anson. The latter has more than once declined to allow badly injured men substitutes, and his treatment of catcher McGuire some years ago is still fresh in mind.

The Grand Jury, which has been investigating Sunday base ball at Ridgewood, closed its session this afternoon [9/17] and handed in a large number if indictments. One of these is reported to be against the Ridgewood Amusement Company and Ridgewood Park, where base ball is played on Sunday. The attempt to have Mr. Charles H. Byrne and the members of the Brooklyn base ball team indicted individually did not find favor with the Grand Jury. Brooklyn Eagle September 17, 1889

A plea of not guilty was entered before Judge Cullen in the Supreme Court, Long Island City, yesterday, by the Ridgewood Exhibition Company, in answer to the indictment found against the company by the Queens County Grand Jury for Sunday base ball playing at Ridgewood Park. The case was set down for trial on Oct. 21. The Philadelphia Item October 10, 1889

[following a detailed description of the court proceedings] The jury retired at 4:30 o’clock under a charge from Judge Cullen, which was virtually a direction to convect. Nevertheless the jury had views of its own which were kept in heated debate for six hours without an agreement being reached and at 10:10 o’clock they were discharged. The vote stood nine for acquittal and three for conviction. Brooklyn Eagle October 23, 1889

[dateline Cincinnati 5/25] The Police Commissioners yesterday issued an order to police lieutenants to arrest all violators of the Sunday law to-morrow. They were also instructed to stop Sunday base ball. There is much excitement among saloon keepers, who are at a loss what to do. The Cincinnati club has two games for Sunday. President Stern of the Cincinnati Base Ball club said to-day, when asked what he proposed to do to-morrow if his players were arrested, as proposed by the orders given to the police by the Police Commissioner:

“We shall be prepared to give bond and go on with the play. We expect to play both games set for to-morrow with the Louisvilles and to have our usual large attendance. If Sunday games are prohibited I will abandon base ball, as it cannot live without them; there are so many people who cannot attend on any other day.” St. Louis Republic May 26, 1889 [N.B. The games were played.]

[dateline Cincinnati] The Superintendent of Police having notified theatrical and base ball managers that Sunday performances and base ball games will not hereafter be permitted, Manager Stern to day [8/14] called on Mayor Mosby to ask permission to play the remaining four games that are scheduled here for Sundays. The Mayor made a positive refusal and told him that real bona fide arrests of managers and players would be made on the sport if games were attempted. The theatrical managers all say they will not oppose the law, and most of them are glad of its enforcement. They say they can make more money by six days performances during the week than by seven. All they want is assurance that all will be served alike. St. Louis Republic August 15, 1889 [The game was attempted, stopped in the fourth inning by the police. SLR 8/26/1889]

The law which prohibits Sunday ball here is a state enactment, and the announcement that Brooklyn and Cincinnati would play at Hamilton next Sunday has stirred up some of the inhabitants of that place. The Tri State League club has played there all the year on Sundays without interruption from the police authorities, but the announcement of the invasion of the association clubs has created, in the language of a special telegram from that place, “general indignation that butler County should be selected as a county where the law can be violated with impunity,” and it may be that the authorities will interfere with the game and prevent it from taking place. The Sheriff is being urged to use his authority and call out a posse, if necessary, to prevent the game. Taken altogether the situation looks rather squally for the crowd of Cincinnatians who are going to Hamilton to violate a law that they are compelled to obey in their own city. The base ball park is out of the city limits and this prevents the city authorities from taking cognizance of the matter. Just how mad the Sheriff is cannot be told at this writing. St. Louis Republic August 22, 1889

Two more Sunday games are scheduled to be played here [Cincinnati]. This week President Stern said that he would transfer the St. Louis contest booked for October 13 here to the Mound City for half the gate receipts. The other game on the 6th belongs to Louisville, and it may be played there also. There is nothing new in the Sunday question. Amateur games are permitted, and a collection is taken up at the Cincinnati Park. The liberality of a Sunday ball crowd is illustrated by the fact that at the last game $311 in coppers was taken in. St. Louis Republic August 22, 1889

The Cincinnati and Louisville base ball game scheduled here [Cincinnati] for Sunday was not played, the municipal authorities forbidding. There was an effort yesterday to secure an order from the courts forbidding the Mayor and the Chief of Police from interfering with the players, but it was refused. St. Louis Republic October 7, 1889

[New Jersey Athletic Club vs. Staten Island Cricket Club 9/19/1889] When the visitors had been at bat for some time they discovered that two of the Staten Island fielders wore base ball gloves against which the captain of the Jersey men protested. The home players refused to remove the obnoxious hand protectors, and the match was continued under protest.

Manager Loftus does not think much of the rule which allows a new pitcher to be brought in at the end of an even inning. His opinion is worth something in these days. He thinks that the way to bring on new men is to put plenty of responsibility on them and not build up quitting notions. In very few games this season will the Cleveland pitchers be changed.

[Indianapolis vs. Philadelphia 9/14/1889] Fogarty’s cut across the diamond was phenomenal in its cheekiness. Not satisfied with that effort, while Glasscock was kicking to Knight he cooly walked home as though to join in the argument, tagged home and claimed a run.

Of the Boston triumvirate, Billings is a shoe manufacturer, and his wealth is estimated at $200,000; Soden is in tin roofing, and is worth as much as Billings; Conant is a gossamer-maker, and is worth as much as the other two combined.

[editorial matter] President Day, of the New York Club, comes out plump against the classification rule. He opposed its adoption in the first place and has been sore against it ever since, because he was badly used up in the debate upon it at the League meeting and utterly routed when it came to a vote; and his present stand will therefore create no surprise among his colleagues. Of course he has a right to his opinion, but he has no right to publicly inveigh against the rule on the ground that in its application it has been a failure, and that it has been evaded. A penalty of two thousand dollars is attached for violation of the rule, and if Mr. Day, or any member of the Brotherhood, know of any violation of the rule it is their duty to bring such violation to the attention of the League, in order that the dignity of the law, so long as it is a law, may be upheld and the offenders duly punished. It is a very easy matter to charge evasion, (which, by the way, involves rank perjury); the thing is to particularize and made the charge good. Let us have hard facts instead of vague innuendo.

The Jersey City Club was sold yesterday by John B. Day to a couple of well-known Jersey City residents. Pat Powers has been elected President as well as manager. The price paid and the names of the buyers are not yet known. Jerseyites need have no fear now that any of the crack players of their team will be transferred to the New York Club. Now that the club is owned by Jersey people the residents should give the club better support.

The number of deadhead politicians who find means to get the entree to the grand stand of the professional ball grounds is very large. For instance, the New York Club last season gave out to the officials 400 season books, which if used every day would amount to $52 each, or a total of $20,800 for the whole number during the season. This amount of books would have to be supplied again this season, in addition to the $10,000 offer made to the city to be permitted to stay there until October, making a total of $30,800. It would not be so bad if the crowd in question was anything like a decent one, but the books are lent to the political heeler class when the owners cannot use them, and that is why there was always such a lot of objectionable people on the grand stand last season. All this crowd will be got rid of if the club leaves the Polo Grounds and goes to Staten Island. The worst class and the noisiest of the grand stands are political deadheads. They think they hide their position by their kicking propensities, but they only show their true standing by it.

Catcher Decker will put in the winter manufacturing the Decker glove at Reach's wholesale store.

The Harvard base-ball men have hatched up a trick which they claim will catch nearly every opponent who is lucky enough to steal second base. The player who has succeeded in reaching second base, on seeing that baseman step back to his usual position, about ten feet back of the base line, steals several feet down the path toward third. When he is about in front of shortstop that player makes a dash toward second base, which causes the runner to dart in that direction also; but the shortstop's run is only a feint, and the runner, on seeing the shortstop stop, also stops before reaching second, and the pitcher throws the ball to the second baseman, who is on base, and whom the runner has entirely forgotten, and the runner is out.

[St. Louis vs. Cincinnati 4/19/1889] “Robbie” worked one of his tricks, but it availed him nothing. When he sent up a high foul fly, he whispered into Baldwin's ear: “I've got it,” and the “Kid” thought it was Viau who spoke, and Robinson's life was saved. He sent the “Kid” another that made connections. St.

[quoting Chadwick from an unidentified source] ...what is a real sacrifice hit? and the answer is that it is a hit which obliges the fielder fielding the hit ball to put the runner out at first base, thereby enabling the runner on first or second to secure a base on the hit or to score a run if on third base. There are hits made to the field which result in putting the striker out on which runners on base are forwarded, which are not sacrifice hits, and should not be recorded as such; and these include hits to the infield, which but for errors of judgment in throwing to first, would have resulted in putting the runner out whom the hit had forced off, as in the case of a ball hit to short field when no man is out, or only one man, and the ball is sent to the first baseman either through lack of judgment or from the fact hat the second base was not properly covered at the time. Also in the case of a lunge hit to short outfield, which, while putting the striker out, allowed the runner to steal a base on the catch. These are not sacrifice hits, but hits no batsman should be given any form of credit for. But when a batsman, when he goes to the bat, finds a runner on a base with no one out, and one run in the game is likely to decide I, and he goes in with the effort to make a safe hit—a tap to short right field for instance—and in trying for the hit gives a chance for a throw-out from right short, he has made a creditable effort in batting—done team work, in fact—and merits a record for the effort. Also in the case of two or three men on bases, with but one man out, he tries to sent them all in by a hard hit ball to the outfield, which gives a fine outfielder a chance for a splendid catch and affords no opportunity for a long throwin [sic] to cut off a runner at the home plate, such a hit is a creditable sacrifice, and deserves records as team work at the bat.

…

Though the official rule governing the record of sacrifice hits is not to my liking, still I am glad to see it there, if only as an entering wedge to a scoring system which will give due credit to team workers at the bat and take off the premium now offered for record batting. What does a batsman see when he looks at a newspaper score this season? 'Two-base hits—Jones, 1; Brown, 2. Three-base hits—Robinson, 1; White, 1,' etc. Is there any record showing how many runners a batsman forwarded by clean hits, or how many runs he similarly batted in? Not a record. All the credit is given to the slugger, who reaches third base by his hits three times in a game, and neither forwards a single runner or bats in a single run.

[from Questions Answered] All runs cored before three chances have been offered to retire the side are earned excepting those made on runners reaching first on errors, bases on balls, illegal deliveries or hit by pitched balls. A man cannot earn a run unless he reaches first base on a hit.

“I wish you would say, through The Item,” said Mr. Denny, “that I have decided to remain in Indianapolis, and no offer the Brotherhood could make me would induce me to alter my purpose, all reports to the contrary notwithstanding. I like Indianapolis and the management of the local club. Mr. Brush is one of the squarest men on earth, and he has been a good friend to me. In this matter, however, I am simply looking out for myself. If I remain with the Indianapolis Club I am sure of a fair salary, and I do not intend to throw it away and follow some visionary scheme with no substantial backing. Not a bit of it. And I will be found in the local team next season just the same.

[from an interview of Fred Stearns] “I have just made my final report to a meeting of the directors of the old Detroit Base Ball Club; it was very favorably received, and the affairs of the old club, with the exception of the Rowe-White matter, are wound up.”

“And what is the amount of the assessment the stockholders are called on to pay?”

“Assessment! Ha! Not much. We declared a dividend of $54,000, and there is still more money in bank to be divided.”

“What! A dividend of $54,000?”

“Exactly. It is payable June 1, and the holders of the shares, the par value of each being $50, will receive $135 each. Of course, four-fifth of the shares are held by the directors,” and Mr. Stearns smiled softly.

The largest portion of the sum to be divided was derived from the sale of star players. There is $7000 still due for Row and White, if these players will consent to go to Pittsburg. They want $4000 of the $7000 which Pittsburg agrees to pay Detroit for their release. The Detroit people are willing to give the players $2000 of the release money, and as Pittsburg agreed to pay each a salary of $35000 for the season it is seen that these players are throwing $9000 in cold cash for their pig-headedness.

Henry H. Diddlebock, a veteran journalist who has for many years ably edited the baseball and sporting columns of The Times,of Philadelphia, has severed his connection with that establishment and is now engaged in a similar capacity on The Philadelphia Inquirer, which has been improved wonderfully under its new management, and promises to resume its former leading position.

Pitcher Billy Blair, of Hamilton, was angry at Rochester Friday week, and claimed that W. O'Brien stood too near the plate, but Umpire Emslie said that he was in a proper position. There was quite a dispute, and finally Emslie threatened to find Blair if he did not pitch. Blair then deliberately threw the ball at O'Briedn but O'Brien dodged it. Blair threw at O'Brien again, but the ball just missing his head. Then O'Brien started out on the diamond with uplifted club, but thought better of it and came back to his position. Blair threw another ball, though that almost hit O'Brien. The big first baseman started out toward Blair again, and the crowd yelled “kill him!” O'Brien did not molest Blair, however, and went to first on balls. Blair then lost control of the ball, and two bases on balls, three singles and a home run brought in five runs.

[Chicago vs. Pittsburgh 8/30/1889] ...there was considerable dirty ball playing. Carroll collided with Pfeffer in stealing second in the third, and Anson called for a fine. In the next inning Pfeffer ran into Dunlap in a similar way, but it looked very much as if it was done on purpose. Lynch refused to fine him, but a moment later Dunlap made a frightful lunge at the Chicago second baseman with his right, which was very cleverly “ducked.” Lynch saw the move and promptly fined Dunlap $25 for the “pass.

President Byrne, of the Brooklyns, will encourage his team in rough playing every time an opposing team begins such tactics. He says he does not intend to have his men injured without doing anything to prevent it, and the only way for the players to defend themselves is to fight fire with fire.

The Boston Globe scores Curry for his umpiring on Wednesday; says the crowd sympathized with the Spiders; declares that Tebeau prevented Richardson from scoring by holding him at third and that Stricker tripped Kelly and made him “sprawl on his hands for twenty feet.” Poor things. Yet the same failed to condemn Kelly’s mas on the line trick last Saturday, and the same writer excused Kelly by saying that “all catchers work that trick.” Boston is evidently not fair.

[from R. M. Larner's column] While at League headquarters last Monday I had a chat with Nick Young about the Sunday meeting of the Brotherhood. Our talk was of an informal nature, and as Mr. Young is the head of the League it would hardly be proper to quote him on this subject. It is sufficient to say that there is but little danger of a strike among the leading ball players of the country for the reason that they have no just grounds for complaint, besides they would find it a very difficult matter to obtain similar employment elsewhere at the same rates they are now receiving. It is all rot to talk about the capitalists who are ready to come forward and supply the funds necessary to maintain an anti-League Association. I have some personal experience with captalistic ball cranks, but they do not materialize when they are called to the scratch. Besides, where would the strikers obtain a play ground in New York, Boston, Washington and in other League cities? It is surprising that intelligent men take stock in such fairy stories.

To-day [5/21] a Washington crowd was permitted to see the double umpire act. Fessenden presided behind the bat and curry judged the base plays. Had the game been close the home club would have had cause to protest several of Fessenden's decisions, for he deliberately showed to the players and the spectators that he lacked confidence in his own judgment. On one occasion Hoy made a clean bunt and took first base by fast running. It suddenly occurred to Capt. Anson that the ball struck the batsman. He appealed to Fessenden, who decided the runner safe. Anson then appealed to Curry, who was standing over near first base, and the latter said he thought the ball had struck the batsman, whereupon, to the disgust of the spectators, including the President of the League, Mr. Young, Fessenden reversed his decision and called Hoy to bat again.

John Morrill reports that he has met with gratifying success in working up the Brotherhood business in the Hub. … It was an easy matter to get the old dissatisfied stockholders interested, for it would give them a chance to get even with the three men who forced them out of the club.

John Morrill signed a Boston classified contract to-day. “He will neither manage nor Captin the team and will most likely play shortstop,” says President Soden. It is well known that Morrill has been put in Class A by Nick Young. Ray has sent word that his classification is satisfactory and he will sign at once.

There was some lively hustling by the League club managers for some of the Kansas City players in the early part of the day. The Boston people discovered Thursday night that the Kansas City Club would withdraw from the Association and would sell some of its players. Mr. Soden immediately field a claim for the services of short stop Long and fielder Hamilton. On Friday morning, as soon as the Kansas City Club had officially withdrawn from the Association, John I. Rogers put in a claim for the same players, and five other clubs followed suit. Under the rules Philadelphia, by reason of Rogers' acuteness, would have got the players, as the Boston Club's claim was illegal, having been filed while Kansas City was yet a member of the Association. As it is, the League's resolution as to the acquirement of players put the entire business into Mr. Young's hands. It is understood that the Kansas City Club has filed with Mr. Young a schedule giving the names and prices of the player they are willing to sell. In this list, it is said, that Long and Hamilton are put in at $6000 each.

The Boston Herald says that Manager Hart has not the authority to select the team to play from day to day. This power has been delegated to the captain of the club. Mr. Hart, therefore, has no authority at all on the field, as is the case with all the other managers. He controls the team off the field, but not on it. Brooklyn Eagle April 17, 1889

Mike Kelly has been given the bounce by the Boston triumvirate; that is, he is still nominally the captain of the team, but virtually Manager Hart is the boss of the team now. Messrs. Soden, Billings and Conant have plainly seen that Kelly is incompetent to control the team. No man respects him and he lacks every qualification which makes Anson, Harry Wright and comiskey so successful. When Jim Hart was first engaged it was with the understanding that he should have control of the team off the field only. When the club left Boston yesterday morning Manager Hart carried in his pocket a new contract with the Boston Club, which gave him full control of the team, both on and off the field. In fact, the same authority as Harry Wright has. Mr. Hart made his appearance on the players’ bench for the first time yesterday since the club has played hereabouts. Brooklyn Eagle April 24, 1889

The field has been raised fourteen inches along the pavilion and back of the bat, casting the surface water toward second base. Then the field has been so graded as to throw the field water off from second base and the line, from which it is carried off in an iron pipe to Lehigh avenue. Several large, roomy, underground drains carry the water from the field about the catcher's stand to a point near the home players' bench, from which point an iron pip carries it out to the street.

Another defect at the New Polo Grounds has revealed itself. When the grounds were constructed the north side of the field was left almost on a level with the meadow beyond. The drainage of the new ground was made as nearly perfect as possible, but President Day has made the discovery that all the sewers or blind ditches that he could put in the new ball grounds would not carry off the great body of water that flows down the high bluff back of the grounds and overflows the low lands. As soon as the water settles somewhat an embankment is to be thrown up along the west fence of the grounds to keep out the overflow, after which the sewers will be able to keep the grounds and the diamond free from water at all times. The Sporting Life August 7, 1889

The diamond at the Polo Grounds has been raised eight inches and resodded, so that it will be impossible for the rain to settle in or around it. The Sporting Life August 28, 1889

[discussing a circular from Wikoff] Mr. Wikoff in this last circular of his defines the words, “completed inning,” contained in the rule itself, to mean an even inning, including the first and second part. In this he differs from President Young, of the league, who defines completed inning to mean the one inning played by the side at the bat, and not the two inning played by each nine comprising the first inning of the game on each side. The question is, which president is right?

A wild and woolly rumor has reached here from Cleveland that Albert Johnson, a street car man of that city, is at the head of a scheme to corner the baseball market this fall and control the whole business next season. It is said that Johnson's scheme is to sign agreements with all of the league players and place clubs in Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and one other city not yet named, ignoring the league altogether. A gentleman who has just returned from Cleveland says that Johnson, who is a man of means and the wildest kind of a crank on baseball, has actually secured the names of several prominent brotherhood layers, and is now in the east working on his ponderous scheme. It is further claimed that John Ward, the New York shortstop, is giving the Cleveland man his assistance. The gentleman from Cleveland asserts that this is the mysterious business on which the brotherhood has been working for several months, which has been referred to in some of the metropolitan papers.

[from a reminiscence of Charles S. Clampitt, formerly of the Olympics of Philadelphia] [speaking apparently of the early 1860s:] We played for honor, the only trophy being a ball. In our club we made our own balls. Every six months a committee was appointed for this purpose, and the balls were made of a piece of India rubber covered with twine, worsted and a calf skin.

Mr. Day says there is no truth in the report that the Indianapolis Club is signing players with the idea of ultimately selling them to New York. “I am sure,” says Mr. Day, “that our players of last year are legally bound by their contracts to play with us next year, and don’t see the necessity of engaging others.

Tim Keefe will have for his partner in the sporting goods business William Becannon, who has been for a long time with A. G. Spalding. Mr. Becannon has been a feature in amateur base ball hereabouts for many years. It will be next to impossible for T. J. Keefe & Co. to get a store before the middle or latter part of March, so that in the mean time they will secure a large down-town office as a starter. New York Sun January 4, 1889

William Becannon is making a strong move to organize a commercial league in this city for next season. Already three clubs have agreed to join the movement. The idea is to secure six clubs to play ten games during June, July, and August. Mr. Becannon will try to secure teams from the largest business houses in town. New York Sun January 11, 1889

President Day intimates that the classification plan will be abolished. He says: “The classification rule if lived up to would be a good thing, but as it is it can be dropped and never missed. In the case of Rowe and White and similar cases I don't think it was right. No man should be compelled to play with a club that he did not want to join, and the rule was never made with the idea of sheltering such an evil. It is one of the things that has crept into the rules that was never intended.” St.

The opinions of the different league club Presidents upon the situation, as published in a New York paper, show the league magnates, with the single exception of John B. Day, to be united in support of the classification rule. Mr. Day, however, seems disposed to mouth matters, a thing he can but ill afford to do at the present time, as he and his lieutenant, James Mutrie, are none too popular with the rest of the league Presidents. Judging from Mr. Day's published views he would be as likely to stick to the players as the league in case of a rupture between the two, and it is almost certain that the first manifestation of any such spirit upon his part would be the signal for the forfeiture of the present New York club's franchise.

In case of a break between clubs and players it might at first seem a good play—and it would certainly betw quite a feather in the cap of the brotherhood—to have the New York club bolt the league and openly cast its fortunes with the players' organization. The end of the fight, however, if a fight there should be, would be apt to find Day, Mutrie & Co. in the soup; as a fight between the league—with its organized circuit, its money, its systematic management, its experience in base-ball legislation, and its long established name—and the brotherhood would presumably bring about the latter's ultimate def3eat or result in a compromise. In either event Mutrie & Co. would be out in the cold.

There will probably be no fight, for the at the November meeting of the league a committee composed of representatives of each brotherhood chapter will be asked to confer with the league and offer some better rule, if they can, than the classification rule for the protection of clubs in the smaller league cities. In other words, the league will endeavor by arbitration, by diplomacy, by amicable discussion, by every peaceable means in its power, to arrange a form of agreement that will be mutually acceptable to clubs and players. Failing in this, however, the league, to use a prominent league magnate's expression, “will throw weak-kneed league members and unreasonable players out of the grounds and continue the game.” Chicago Tribune May 27, 1889

comparing the Polo and the Staten Island grounds

The Polo Grounds made a model base ball field. Located in the heart of the city they were easy of access and were patronized by many thousands of business men who would otherwise have been compelled to remain away from the games. The seating capacity of the place was large, the arrangements for viewing the field were excellent, and all the accommodations necessary to please and attract patrons of the national sport were amply provided.

Now this is greatly changed. A visit to the Staten Island grounds entails a long, though pleasant, journey on water which business men, however much inclined, are not at all at liberty to take. To miss a boat means a monstrous delay of twenty minutes or half an hour, which is quite a consideration when time is precious. Arrived at the grounds, the spectators are well accommodated, but the filed being yet new, the playing must necessarily be inferior to what could be done at the Polo grounds, and they are, therefore, subject to much disappointment.

Staten Island is frequently invaded by hosts of mosquitoes in Summer, which fact is in itself a great drawback to enjoyment, and at this particular season fogs are also apt to hang over the field and obscure players. Storms sometimes interfere with the games, and Staten Island is not a pleasant place when it rains.

These at least are a few objections to the new grounds, gathered by a reporter last week. They originated from the grand stand as well as from the white benches, and were the free expressions of men who would follow a favorite base ball team to Hellsville if fate decreed that they should play nowhere else. They conceded that every thing that could be done to make the place attractive and enjoyable has been done, but nevertheless they condemned it. The Philadelphia Item May 27, 1889

Galvin, Dunlap, Beckley and Sunday showed up with a full supply of “ginger,” but the others are still short of that article. St.

[Philadelphia vs. Chicago 6/19/1889] A “high sky” rendered the judging of fly balls a difficult matter, yet there was some pretty work done by the outfield, Farrell, Wood, and Fogarty each making one or more clever catches of hard hit balls.

The Cleveland Spiders—so called on account of their peculiar appearance in their suits of black and blue...

[editorial matter] One result of minor league reservation is that the young blood craze has been effectually checked in the National League at least, and with the exception of Cleveland and Philadelphia none of the League clubs will present many new faces. To stock clubs with youngsters, who, though men of fame in minor leagues are at best but experiments in the faster major league class, now entails greater expense than even big clubs can afford to indulge in, as all minor league young blood now commands a price. And all things considered this state of affairs is a good thing for the old players and the new, and the clubs as well, as the former are more certain of their positions, the youngsters are less liable to be shuffled around from town to town and clubs are saved the expense of generally wasteful and useless experimenting.

Buck Ewing says that he does not care for fines, and does not have to pay them, but he does care when he is ordered off the field. That is giving umpires a very strong tip. The Sporting Life August 7, 1889

Captain Ewing has now twice been suspended from games, and speculation is rife as to when that will happen to Captains Comiskey and Anson and who will be the umpire that will do it. The Sporting Life August 7, 1889