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The Philadelphia Club and Mr. James A. Tyng have settled all differences and canceled the contract which guaranteed Mr. Tyng a yearly salary as “director of amusements and athletic sports.” This amicable result was brought about by an interview between Mr. Tyng and Secretary Rogers, and the two gentlemen parted with mutual good wishes for each other's welfare. The amount paid Mr. Tyng has not bee made public. Mr. Tyng has for the present abandoned law practice and has become a stock broker, having opened an office at 62 Broadway, room 200, and has been admitted to membership in the Consolidated Stock and Petroleum Exchange.

The New York syndicate of the Brotherhood of Base Ball Players to-day [9/28] leased of James. G. Coogan two blocks of ground lying between One Hundred and Fifty-seventh and One Hundred and Fifty-ninth streets and Eighth and Ninth avenues for a term of ten years, at an annual rent of $4000. They also leased the New Polo Grounds at One Hundred and Fifty-fifth street, now held by President Day and the New York team for a term of ten years, subject, however, to the leave now held by Mr. Day for two years. The sureties to the lease have qualified and a check for $2000 for the first six months' rental was handed Mr. Coogan to-day.

While the Spalding Australian party were on their way home Ward, Hanlon and Fogarty put their heads together and hatched up the present scheme, which has been carefully looked over by Layer Russell of Cleveland and put into the present shape.

[reporting on the PL meeting 12/16-12/17/1889] The Players' National League was permanently organized at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York City, in a meeting which required two days for the transaction of all the business incidentals to the formation of so vast an enterprise.

[reporting the NL meeting of 3/5/1889] When the League reconvened the Detroit Club matter was taken up. After careful consideration of the case of Rowe and White it was determined not to accept the Detroit Club's resignation but to place the same in President Young's hands, subject to his acceptance at the proper time—which means when Rowe and White come to terms. The Detroit Club then released Jas. L. White, J. C. Rowe, E. Hanlon and C. H. Getzein. Thereupon the Pittsburg Club accepted the services of J. L. White, J. C. Rowe and Edward Hanlon and Indianapolis accepted the services of Getzein. This relieves the Detroit Club of any further trouble about the recalcitrant players and enables the League to hold them in reserve.

The Sporting Life is very successful. It declared a semi-annual dividend of four per cent. yesterday. Editor Richter is progressive and is deserving of all the credit for the success of the paper. The Philadelphia Item April 2, 1889

scoring in Boston; sacrifice hits; RBI

The Boston Herald says: “The Boston scorers have decided to score as last season, but will eliminate the stolen base column, substituting the sacrifice hit column. The total base column will be retained.” This is simply offering their accustomed premium for record batting, just as the offering of prizes for the best batting averages. Both are opposed to team work in batting. Suppose a batsman makes three hits in a game, yielding third base each time, when no man is on the bases, and he is left on third each time. In the record he gets the credit of three base hits, with a total of nine. Suppose another batsman makes three sacrifice hits, when a runner is on third base each hit; he makes no base hit and of course no total his, and gets no credit for such on the average. Yet the man who made the base hits and gets the credit does not help the score for his side in a single instance, while the batsman who gets no base hit average brought in three runs. This is a sample of the beauties of the average of base hits, and the publishing of the column of total hits. It is simply offering prizes for record play at the bat. Brooklyn Eagle April 2, 1889

It will doubtless be interesting to patrons of the local club to know that the White and Rowe difficulty has finally been settled, and that the two players named will joint the Pittsburg team at New York tomorrow or Tuesday.

Manager Phillips stated last evening that since White was here negotiations have been going on with ex-President Stearns, of Detroit, and that everything has been satisfactorily arranged. At any rate, Messrs. White and Rose wired to President Nimick yesterday to the effect that they will join the club at New York as stated above.

The local officials refuse to state what the terms of settlement are, but it is understood that both this club and Mr. Stearns have made concessions to the players. The principal concession, it is stated, has been made by Mr. Stearns, who has given the players half of their purchase money. The price of each player was reduced, that is the local club has not paid as much for the releases as was originally bargained for. Part of this difference has been given to the players by the Pittsburg club, and Stearns has given the balance. At any rate the players have carried their point by getting half of their purchase money, although the amount is not as big as it was intended to be.

[editorial matter] The project of the amalgamation of the Brotherhood and American Association died abornin'. The Brotherhood could not entertain such an idea, because it would have far less to gain by such a move than the Association, as the Brotherhood League can get as many players as it needs without a coalition; has no use for the remaining Association clubs, and would lose rather than gain in public estimation and in business relations by taking some of the Association magnates into partnership. On the other hand, the move would prove a good thing for the Association, which cannot hope to live and maintain a leading position in base ball without larger cities and stronger teams than those now available. Of course, a move toward coalition with the Brotherhood would break the National Agreement and leave the Association players open to a raid by the League. But even so, the Association could be no worse off than it is at present with its players in sympathy with and at the mercy of the Brotherhood. But it won't work. The Sporting Life November 27, 1889

[from the column of “The Veteran”] A decided sensation was occasioned in the base ball world yesterday by the announcement that the Association and Brotherhood had decided to join hands and make a fight against their common enemy, the League. That such a movement has been going on for some time I know well, but was placed in such a position as to be unable to use it, as a premature publication was liable to cause a miscarriage of all the plans.

The details of the amalgamation are as follows: As soon as the League invited Brooklyn and Cincinnati to join their ranks and Kansas City retired, the other clubs of the Association saw that the Association was doomed. They knew that Baltimore was shaky and Louisville uncertain, so that there were really only three clubs left. There was some earnest talk of declaring war at once on the League, but more sober counsel prevailed. It was decided that the Association clubs remaining should sign their players as rapidly as possible and then break away from the National Agreement and joint hands with the Brotherhood.

Conferences have been held in this city and Columbus between Association and Brotherhood magnates and all the details of the union have been practically agreed upon, but will not be made public until the Association and Brotherhood meet next month.

The union of the Athletic and local Brotherhood clubs meets with much favor in this city as it is believed that Philadelphia will now have one of the very strongest clubs ever in the field, and one that should prove a pennant winner. All the old favorites will be retained, and the financial success of such a club is beyond all doubt. The Philadelphia Sunday Item December 1, 1889

[from an interview of Albert Johnson] Mr. Johnson was asked about the alleged combination between the Brotherhood and the Association, and was pressed for a definitive answer. He said: “The talk is not without foundation. It will be one of the principal themes for discussion at our Brotherhood meeting on the 16th. I would not like to say that the proposition is not under consideration, but I cannot anticipate the outcome.” The Philadelphia Item December 3, 1889

At the recent meeting of the American Association President Zack Phelps and Hon. Allen G. Thurman, the legal adviser of the Columbus Club, were appointed a committee to formulate a proposition or agreement under the provisions of which could be brought about an amalgamation of the Brotherhood and American Association. That committee has performed its work, and is ready to report progress. The document is a voluminous one, buts its salient points can be enumerated as follows:

First. The full amalgamation of the two organizations.

Second. The total abrogation of the reserve clause in all future contracts.

Third. The abolition of Sunday games.

Fourth. Each club to fix the price of admission on its own grounds.

Fifth. The formation of a guarantee fund out which all players shall receive their salaries and the 1st and 15th of each month without regard to receipts.

Sixth. The organization of a Board of Control, made up as hereafter may be determined, which shall have full power in the new body, and to which all appeals shall be made.

Northing is said as to what cities shall make up the new organization, the agreement providing simply for the merging of the American Association and the Players’ League. The composition of the consolidated body will be the subject of future consideration. John Ward has been fully apprised of what is being done, and, at his suggestion, President Phelps will be on hand next Monday when the Players’ League holds its meeting in New York. The Philadelphia Item December 12, 1889

Despite the fact that Manager McGunnigle is in favor of placing the opposing team first at the bat in every game he allows his men to overrule him on this point and to still keep in the old rut of having “the first crack at the new ball.” What possible advantage there is in this rule is as much at command of the side last at the bat in the first inning as it is for those who go in first; but under the rule of using two new balls neither party have any advantage. Granting, however, that the rule does work the way the rutty ball captains claim it does, it does not compare with the far more important advantage of being last at the bat, thereby having the benefit of an opportunity for a winning rally. In the large majority of games thus far played in the championship arena this season the teams last at the bat have won. It is a blunder beyond question to give an opposing team the chance for such a rally...

[from the Baltimore correspondent] Mr. Barnie is one of the joint committee on playing rules, but does not anticipate any material change except to denominate a foul tip a strike. It is also understood that Mr. Spalding is in favor of abolishing the entire system of outs of fouls, but it is not thought such a radical change will be made. Many believe that even defining a foul tip as a strike will again go far towards throttling the still weak batting of the game, but it is to be supposed a certain amount of tinkering with the rules must be done to justify having a committee on playing rules. What is the use of a committee if they don't do something? It is argued that umpires officiate much of their time behind the pitcher, and that many foul tips already pass as strikes, owing to the inability of the umpire to hear the tip at that distant position, and that the umpires' errors in that respect causes much dissatisfaction among spectators and players. That is the principal excuse given for calling the tip a strike and weakening the batting, and it hardly seems justifiable. However, if the maggots say the tip must go, it must, and that settles that.

[editorial matter signed by “The Veteran] I am free to confess that I can see nothing encouraging to the Brotherhood in the results of the meeting. They seemed to be at sea, and their declaration of independence was, to say the least, a bad piece of judgment.

It will be hard to make the public believe that men who receive salaries ranging all the way from $1,500 to $5,000 for six months are deserving of pity. It will also be hard to make the people believe that men who put up their money and organize clubs and make such salaries possible should not be entitled to all they make.

The club owners are the men who came forward when the game was at its lowest ebb and put up the money that made the resurrection of the game possible.

Their confidence in the game and their boldness at a time when the investment of money in base ball clubs was looked upon as a sure investment is certainly entitled to great consideration.

If these men have made base ball profitable they are the one’s who should receive the profits and not the players who wouldn’t risk a cent, and demanded their salaries promptly, whether any money was taken in or not.

I say that the plea that the managers are making all the money and refuse to divide up with the players is childish and not worthy of serious attention. So much for the declaration of independence.

[editorial matter] After defiantly keeping the infamous resolution to blacklist recalcitrant reserved players on the statutes for two years, the American Association finally last week acknowledged the blunder... by repealing the odious, illegal and inoperative resolution.

The other day Worcester scored a funny run. Capt. Cudworth of the team was coacher at the first base line and Jones was on second base. The ball was in the hands of Smith, the Norwalk pitcher. Suddenly Cudworth shouted to Smith: “Say, old man, isn't that ball ripped?” “No,” said Smith, holding the ball to view. “Let's see it,” persisted Cudworth. Smith, without thinking, threw the ball at him. Cudworth dodged the ball, and it rolled clear to the bleaching boards. Johnson meantime scored, and the crowd howled.

Mascot Grant, the ebony second baseman, is not likely to play with the Buffalos this year. Manager Rowe has been looking for Grant and Cliff Carroll with a view to signing them. Grant played with the Cuban Giants in Washington yesterday, and in reply to an inquiry said he would sign only for $250 a month. This is considered too high, and the other members of the nine threaten to rebel if he plays. Last year they refused to have their pictures taken on Grant's account, and objected to traveling with him. They boys acknowledge that he is a good player, but they are in rebellion just the same. Their sentiment is that colored men should not play with white men.

The Clevelands are making a much better showing in the League than they did in the Association, and yet some people would have us believe that the League puts up a much better game than the Association.

The club has decided to allow the boarded outfield to remain, also the skin diamond. The infield is very rough at present and when the clayey surface becomes baked by the sun it will be a hard field to play ball on. There is nothing like turf. Mr. Wiman is ready to make the field perfect if the club would stay, but it is not worth his while for a single season. The club’s team will not win the pennant on the ground as it is.

Here is the list of the Brotherhood players who have gone back on that organization and have returned to their old masters in the National League:

Boston—Clarkson, Ganzel, Smith

Cleveland—McKean, Beatin

Pittsburg—Sunday, Beckley, Miller

Philadelphia—Delahany, Clements, Gleason, Schriver

Indianapolis—Glassock, Denny, Boyle, Sommer, Rusie, Buckley, Getzein.

Burns and Hutchinson are also among the League's reserved men who have signed with the old League, but they were not members of the Brotherhood and no stigma can attach to them; Sunday also is free from blame, as his resignation from the Brotherhood was granted. The others, without exception, have broken faith with the Brotherhood and most of them have signed double contracts. It is thought that Sam Thompson will also be added tot he list of contract breakers.

[Chicago vs. Philadelphia 9/2/1889] In the third inning, with Ryan on first, Van Haltern hit a hard one to right, which Thompson let go by him into the crowd. A spectator, however, promptly fielded the ball into the diamond and Ryan was held on third, while Van got no further than second. Had Thompson been compelled to field the ball both men would probably have scored.

Late on Thursday evening the old Detroit League Club sued the Boston Club for $500 and interest, and attached the receipts of the games on that day in the hands of the Cleveland Club. They cover the claim, amounting to about $4,700 in all. It is a move that the old Detroit Club has been contemplating all the year, only waiting for the Boston Club to get here [Cleveland] to take action. The suit is one of the side issues of the Detroit sell out. Boston agreed to take Brouthers, Bennett, Richardson, Ganzel and White. It don’t [sic] want White, but agreed to take him for the moral effect it had on th other men. When they signed and White grew obstreperous it gave Boston a chance to get out, and it agreed to pay Detroit $500 to take him off its hands. He secured the League’s consent and transferred White to Pittsburgh.

This was in March. After it was done Boston coolly repudiated the deal, and Stearns brought suit. The base ball contract and its peculiar relations to law will not come into court by way of this suit. It is on a side contract only. When the receipts for the Thursday games were all footed up it was found that the amounted to about $11,000. This was the best attendance in the country.

[from the Pittsburgh correspondent] I may be giving a little of the inside, when I say that the Brotherhood has discovered a flaw in the contract by which any man, it seems, can get his release after laying off a year. Does not the contract say the party of the second part agrees to be reserved the following year? “now,” as Deacon put it, “this means one year, and not years, and the Brotherhood decided that Rowe's case should be made the test case of this defect. They got good lawyers to examine it, who decided that there was nothing to prevent him from getting his release this way.

This is Ned Hanlon's idea of a manager's duties: “What good are base-ball managers anyhow, except to look after the financial interests of the club? All matters relating tot he team should be left to the captain, who nine times out of ten is much the better qualified to attend to them. So far as my experience goes there is but one exception to this rule, and you have that one right here in Philadelphia. I mean Harry Wright. He has had experience, is cool headed, and can make allowances for a man.

[from a letter from Al Johnson dated 11/12/1889] At the time I was called on by the Brotherhood the League had refused it even a hearing, so, fearing worse treatment at the end of that season, it began to organize for itself, and in so doing signed an agreement of good faith with the parties who were to furnish the capital.

[from Chadwick's column] The four-ball rule has transformed the successful, swift pitchers of 1888 into decided failures in the box in 1889, while the strategic class of headwork pitchers have become strikingly prominent from their effectiveness. Look at Clarkson and Radbourn, for instance, of the Boston team, the latter especially, and contrast their box work under the new rules with that of Krock, of Chicago, who made such a hit in 1888, not to mention others of the class of pitchers who have hitherto depended on mere speed alone for their success.

To strike out eight or ten players a game last season was an ordinary result with some of the “lightning twirlers” of 1888, while this season the strike-out records are remarkably small in comparison. All this is to the advantage of scientific work in the box, and to team work at the bat, both of which develop the beauties of the game to the point approaching perfection...

The four balls-three strikes rule has come pretty nearly depopulating the strike-out department in the scores and has increased the batting appreciably. Judging from the few games played so far this season it would seem that the desired object has been attained.

The decision rendered a week ago to the effect that the Park Commissioners alone had control over the Polo Grounds property in regard to its further use as a ball field, has resulted in a practical notice to quit being served on the new York Club occupants, the said notice coming in the form of the removal of that portion of the fence enclosing the ground which crossed the lines of One Hundred and Eleventh street at Fifth and Sixth avenues. The openings were made on Thursday morning, and before the week expired preparations were being made to run the street through the grounds, this, of course, rendering the place untenable for a ball ground. The sudden action taken by the Park officials comes at a most inopportune time for the New York Club, and it will place them in a very bad situation for the coming season's campaign. It is true that they have the Jersey City Club [illegible] is as a temporary field, but the difficulties patrons of the club will have in reaching it from the city must materially affect the attendance this season, one thing being certain, and that is that the club will lose its large contingent of patrons from Brooklyn. The club can procure the St. George Cricket Grounds a Hoboken, and this field is by far the best in every respect that the club can occupy this season, as it is easily reached from the city, while the cricket field will make a splendid diamond for playing on. What is New York's loss in this matter will undoubtedly Brooklyn's game, for last year hundreds patronized the Polo Grounds from Brooklyn who will not now to to Jersey City to see the Giants play.

On Wednesday, no avenue of escape having meantime opened itself, and the wherewithal to pay the salaries—aggregating $3200 per month—not being forthcoming, Mr. Davidson pursued the only other course open to him—that is, place the club in the hands of the Association. He wrote a letter to President Wikoff explaining the situation, and directed him to sell the club for him. Mr. Davidson will, of course, get what it brings, and will settle with the other shareholders upon that basis should the club franchise be sold.

[St. Louis vs. Athletic 6/15/1889] As soon as the visitors had doffed their jackets Manager Sharsig range the bell for practice and the Browns scampered on the field for the usual unlimbering. As on everything else they do, the visitors entered on the practice with a dash and vim that frequently called out applause.

At 3:30 the gong again sounded and a second later the Athletics, led by stalwart Captain Stovey, emerged from the dressing room, and there given a hearty cheer as they arranged themselves along the line preparatory to scampering off for their positions.

The verb “to root”... is entirely modern and is limited in circulation. It concerns an art invented by and practised chiefly by sporting men. This is the concentration of individual or aggregate psychic force upon the accomplishment of some particular effect desired by the rooter.

...The management of the home team have made arrangements for the exchange of Whitney for Healy, and the League clubs have been requested to waive claim for both men. The deal is practically completed, as is shown by the following telegram to President Young from John T. Brush:

“Whenever the League clubs waive claim to Whitney and Healy, and Washington releases Whitney, Indianapolis will accept his services. At the same time Indianapolis will release Healy.

“It is understood that the trade is made even, no money consideration being paid by either club. While a great many baseball enthusiasts will regret to see Whitney leave the team, many will recognize that Washington gets equally as good a pitcher, if not a better. Whitney's repeated declarations that he would not play here next season, his dissatisfaction with the management, and the uncertainty as to whether he would be able to play any better than last season contributed to make his services very undesirable. On the other hand, Healy is a splendid pitcher, is in excellent health, and has always wanted to play in this city. Washington certainly loses nothing by the trade.” Indianapolis Journal March 25, 1889

It is doubtful if Healy knows anything of the deal yet, but he is not likely to make any objection to the transfer. Even if he did, it would avail him nothing. The clubs have all waived claim to his services, barring New York, and no trouble is anticipated from that source, as President Day has not, and will not, object to the deal. Indianapolis Journal March 31, 1889

The old Detroit League Club has declared another dividend of $17.50 on each share, payable December 10. This comes from the $7,000 received for players released to Pittsburg.

[from W. I Harris] The plan of the new league is only partly co-operative. The movement is really but little more than a change of employers with more privileges and liberties accorded to the players. … visiting clubs will be given 50 per cent. of both gate and grand stand receipts, and when the receipts exceed a certain figure they will be divided pro rata among player and stockholder.

The governing board, called the central board of directors, will consist of the president and sixteen members—one player and one stockholder from each of the eight clubs. This board at the end of each season will make up the teams for the ensuing year. The aim will be to equalize the playing strength of the clubs as nearly as possible, and changes will be the rule rather than the exception. …

…

Every League player, except Decker, of the Philadelphia club, and Anson, Burns and Hutchinson, of the Chicagos, has signed a contract next for [sic] season. President Ward says that they will keep the contracts, too. “You won't find any scabs among the ball players,” was the confident remark of Mr. Ward last night. …

…

The one question to be settled now is the policy of the Brotherhood toward the American Association. The matter may not be decided until after it is known what action will be taken by the National League and Association on the subject of consolidation. If the two bodies amalgamate, the Brotherhood men believe the best men in the Association will quickly jump into their ranks.

[from an interview of Deacon White] If we can make a satisfactory deal for our releases we ill do it and then we will play with the buffalo Club, not before. The reserve holds good for only one year, the contract plainly states it, so that if we held off for a year,we would in all fairness be free. But the League claims that the reserve continues in force. This point the Brotherhood of Ballplayers disputes, and I think they would support our position. I am not a member of the Brotherhood, but Rowe is.

Captain Stovey objected to Goldmsith umpiring from the centre of the diamond last Monday, claiming that with two umpires it was not necessary to run any risk of blocking the players. Goldsmith umpired from that position only when there was a man on second base, but it was quite evident that he interfered with the throwing of both Cross and Weyhing to second. With two men umpiring no standing in the infield should be permitted.

[Yale vs. Staten Island Athletic Club 6/5/1889] Yale was at the bat, and taking advantage of the rattled condition of the Staten Island pitcher had put three men on bases. Third base was covered by L. Small, conceded to be one of the best basemen in the amateur field, but slightly given to a fondness for pranks and horse play. Bates had placed himself in position to pitch the ball when his attention was attracted by a loud “Hist” from Small, followed by “Quick! Give me the ball.” Believe that the third baseman had a chance to make a point Bates let drive at him. Small caught the ball, touched the man on the base, and then pretended to toss the ball to the pitcher, but instead of doing so he put it in the hollow of his right arm. The movement was executed so slowly and awkwardly that the spectators laughed and the man on the base smiled disdainfully. He was not to be caught by such a clumsy maneuvre.

Suddenly Small reached under his left arm with his right hand and then threw swiftly to the pitcher; but he did not throw the ball. With a quick and almost imperceptible movement he took from the left breast pocket of his shirt a round potato and tossed that. Bates caught it, looked at it for a second, and then with a gesture of annoyance threw it down towards centre field. Of course the man on the base thought the ball had been thrown, and he started for the home plate. Instantly Small took the ball from under his arm, touched the runner, and called for judgment. The umpire could give only one decision and that was “Out.”

The trick was not discovered for half a minute at least, but when it was then came the uproar. A chorus of hisses came from the ladies in the grand stand and the men groaned in unison. Manager Thomas J. Conroy was in the clubhouse at the time and was called up by the furious ringing of the telephone, followed by an angry inquiry as to whether he intended to permit Small to continue playing. Although perfectly innocent of any knowledge of what had been done, Mr. Conroy was treated to the same goosey disapproval as soon as he appeared. Mr. Small did not appear to consider that he had done anything calling for censure and felt rather proud of his achievement. He continued playing to the end of the game. Staten Island was beaten, being genuinely outplayed. Had the substitution of the potato resulted in defeating the Yale men there would have been serious trouble. At least this is the opinion of a majority of the members of the home team. quoting the New York World

[editorial matter] The most important piece of work accomplished [at the AA spring meeting], and which is worthy of special mention, was the adoption of the amendment by which reservation of players is recognized by and incorporated in the constitution of the Association independent of the National Agreement. The amendment was conceived by President Byrne and presented by him to the Association, which adopted it unanimously. … Mr. Byrne's idea appears to be to legalize reservation, to make it more binding upon the players, , whom he seeks to make a party thereto, and to devise a means of maintaining it in the event of a collapse of or withdrawal from the National Agreement.

The reserve team craze seems to have gone the way of the other base ball fads. Very few major league clubs will sign many more men than they expect to have regular use for, and in the minor leagues, where even more rigid economy is necessary, few extra men will be carried. Retrenchment is the order of the day.

Manager Mutrie tells a story of how, in order to avoid a game with the Giants on a wet day, to make things worse, the Hoosier groundkeeper had brought out a hose and sprinkled the base lines, pitcher's box, and home plate to such an extent as to make a game wholly impossible. Jim insisted on a game, as it was not raining. The Hoosier people hummed and hawed, and finally agreed to play at 4:35. They did play and defeated the Giants, much to Mutrie's chagrin.

The New York Club is not the only club in the League that is troubled by municipal interference, the Philadelphias being placed in a similar position. In Common Council last week John D. Heins, of the Twenty-eighth Ward, introduced an ordinance authorizing the opening of Carlisle street, from Huntingdon street to Lehigh avenue. Carlisle street is now opened as far north as Huntingdon street, and is on a line with the centre of the filed of the grounds of the Phillies. The opening of the street would, therefore, divide the grounds, rendering either half too small for the use to which it is now put. The street would cut through the eastern end of the grand stand and across the diamond to the left field fence, near Lehigh avenue. The grounds were were secured by the Philadelphia Base Ball Club in 1885 on a lease for ten years, and $80,000 was spent in building the grand stand and fitting up the place. Last year the grounds were purchased by the club, and are the finest and most expensive in the country, and perhaps the world. The ordinance was referred to the highway committee.

There is no likelihood, however, of the Phillies submitting to the Councilmanic brace game. Carlisle street was not upon the city plan when the ground was purchased by Reach and Rogers, and to open it now it would be first necessary to prove that it would be for the best interests of the city, which would be a rather difficult undertaking. Col. Rogers says of the matter:

“When we secured the grounds do yo suppose we did it blindly, without thought of the future? We ascertained at the Survey Bureau that Carlisle street was not on the city plan, and so we were safe to go ahead. For Councils to open the street now an ordinance would have to be introduced to put it on the city plan. Then the matter would have to go into the courts, where the necessity of such an opening would have to be shown, and then, mark you, we would have to be paid every cent of damage the destruction of our grounds would entail.

President Young, of the League, has not made any reclassification under the new rule, for the reason that none of the clubs have yet sent their annual affidavits showing the amount of salary paid to the various players. He insists that the classification rule is not a dead letter, and predicts that it will be maintained in the best interests of the League. The Sporting Life November 6, 1889

[from Chadwick's column] Here is an interesting paragraph the League magnates had to attend to last month:

“The attention of League clubs is respectfully invited to Sec. 32 of the League Constitution, which requires each club to file an affidavit before the 31st inst., setting for the the full amount paid to each player as a salary, bonus, reward, etc. N. E. Young.”

Were the aforesaid affidavits sent in? The Sporting Life November 13, 1889

In the fall of 1886, when the St. Louis Club was about to throw up the sponge and Pittsburg was asking for admission, a resolution was passed at the League meeting on November 18 which exactly meets the case now presented. Under this resolution Messrs. Day, Spalding and Young were appointed a committee and have been re-appointed at each annual meeting since, and still have full authority in the premises. Mr. Young said that “no immediate action would be taken. The League now has a franchise and a complete outfit of players for a club. It is competent for the League to transfer it to any city which will offer sufficient inducements, or it can hold the club under its own control, employ a manager, secure grounds and play the season out in Indianapolis. Under no circumstances will there be less than eight clubs this year, and the present personnel of the Hoosier club will form one of them. There will be no scramble for the stars, for there will be no distribution, and in short there is no vacancy in the League, though some other leaders may direct the organization now located in Indiana. Denny will not be sold to Washington or any other club, but will remain just where he is.

[from an interview of John Clarkson] Mr. Spalding could have satisfied me financially and kept me here during 1888 and 1889. It was only a question of money at first. I was paid $2,800 in 1887. I wanted more, couldn't get it, and opened negotiations with Boston. After I had offered Mr. Spalding $7,500 for my release—it would have been returned to me by Boston—and had found out what I could get for pitching for Boston I refused to settle with Mr. Spalding and refused an advance, which he knew I would refuse as well as he knew that he could get $10,000 for me from Boston. Until I had been refused an increase of salary and had promised Boston that I would go to it there was no personal reason in the way of my staying in Chicago.

In Italy the absent ball players for the first time learned of the League's new salary limit and classification rule. As was to be expected, none of the players are in love with it. Still, they probably have no clearer conception of it yet than our home players had when it was first promulgated. When they come to understand it more clearly they may like it better. At any rate their like or dislike of the needed financial safeguard will not affect it one way or the other.

The New York Club will have to play on Staten Island this year, and it is going to make a big decrease in the receipts. I cannot imagine a more undesirable spot to play ball on that this place. In the Spring and Fall it is too cold for comfort and in mid-Summer the players will have to devote more time to killing mosquitoes than playing ball.

[Washington vs. Chicago 8/15/1889] Although Mr. Williamson is “weak on his pins,” [following an extended illness] with the aid of a base runner he is able to render valuable assistance to the Chicago team. Yesterday he hit the ball safely four times out of five that he was at the plate, and his last hit brought in the winning run.

…

Anson did Williamson's running in the second, fourth, seventh, and ninth. In the fifth the captain was at second when Ed went to the plate and Tener had to do the sprinting act.

[Cincinnati vs. St. Louis 4/28/1889] After bunting four fair balls foul, Latham obtained his base, but was almost caught napping by Duryea. This little incident showed that the “Nadjys” [i.e the Reds] were ripe for arguments, for at eery close decision the whole team came in from the field. St.

[reporting Thomas Fitzgerald on an extended visit to Europe] The Colonel has just visited the ducal house, whose family name he bears, and his father, Gerald Fitzgerald, stood bravely by the side of the unfortunate Lord Edward Fitzgerald in 1798.

The elder Fitzgerald escaped the fate of his associates, and fled to the United States. He settled in the city of New York, where his eldest son was born, when the century was very young indeed.

[Washington vs. Chicago 7/4/1889] The “bleachers” had any amount of fun throwing “crackers” at the old man while he stood at first. One “giant” cracker almost scared him into dropping a fly ball, but he took it good naturedly. He had to.

The umpire must bear in mind that the striker, running to the first base, is not out unless the ball is held on the base by the baseman before the striker touches it. If at the same time, the striker is not out; it must be palpable that the ball was held on the base before the striker reached it, or he is not out. It should be remembered that the ball is to be held by the base player with some part of his person touching the base at the same time. Touching the base with the ball in the player’s hand without some part of the player’s person touching the base at the same time does not put the striker out at first base. “Holding the ball on the base” means having the ball in hand whiel standing on the base or touching it.

[dateline Indianapolis 11/4] The base ball war is likely to assume a new phase from indications at this point. Samuel L. Leffingwell, one of the oldest trade unionists in the West, in talking of the probably coming struggle on the ball field, said: “The latest subject of discussion among organized laboring men is the base ball war now on. It may appear a little singular to outsiders, but a peculiar interest is being manifested in the trades union element favoring this base ball brotherhood movement.

“The way we look at this matter in its present shape is that the brotherhood is a legitimate organization of skilled workmen. No one doubts the necessity of skill for a position in either the league or the association; all minor leagues and clubs are mere schools of apprenticeship to the full fledged skilled workman of the leading leagues; the men are hired on salaries, and outside of the oppressive restrictions under which they are placed, they are to be as fully recognized as the skilled workman of the printing craft, the moulder or the carpenter.

“The key-note given by Von der Ahe in his statement that the fight now going on is a fight of capital against labor; that capital must stand shoulder to shoulder, etc., should be the cue for the brotherhood managers. Let them make application to the American Federation of Trade and Labor Unions, or to the officers of the general executive board of the Knights of Labor, or to both for that matter, and they will find no difficulty in being admitted as a trade organization to either.

“They will then be allied to organizations representing over 1,000,000 of skilled union mechanics, and if it is to be as Von der Ahe says a fight between capital and labor, it will be demonstrated by the attendance upon the games of the respective interests. The people care little who manages the games or who makes the money. They go to see good ball playing; therefore, as the brotherhood will have all the skilled players, and as the main support comes from the workingmen, it will be seen whether mere capital is to rule with despotic sway over the masses of the people in base ball as it would like to do in many other leading industries of the country.

“Oh, yes, the workingmen are in sympathy with the brotherhood.” St.

[Oh, he's doing duty on the gate until he picks up in his batting,” was the careless remark of a base ball player during the sojourn of his club in his city, referring to a friend in the same team. It seemed like a very trivial remark, and to one who has not played professional ball not a great deal of importance would be attached to it. Working the gate is an altogether honorable means of acquiring a livelihood, and withal an easy one, but is by no means a sinecure. The average player realizes that he receives too large a salary fro such trivial work, and unless occasionally relieved it means that he is soon to be released or sold. It is also a way managers have employed to get even with refractory but ambitious players. There is also a certain amount of ignominy involved, and an insinuation that the man engaged at it is not good enough for anything else. It is the especial province of a young players with whom the club may be experimenting, and even a pitcher on an off day may be found turning the stile. The player is yet to be found who would not sooner be disporting himself in full gaze of the crowd in the uniform of his particular club. Like an actor, so long as he is under contract, the ball player revels, indeed almost exists, on the plaudits of his fellow-men, and to be deprived of this even for a short time is a due punishment to him.