Clipping:Teams bulldozing umpires; St. Louis refuses to pay fines
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| Date | Wednesday, May 19, 1886 |
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| Text | The stand taken by the American Association in the vexatious umpire question through its president, Mr. Wikoff, as set forth in the circular... It has ben intimated that this circular is mainly directed at one club and one or two players, namely, the St. Louis Club and its captain, Comiskey. Such, however, is not the case, although his disgraceful conduct—conduct actually unmentionable in print—toward Umpire Young and the approval accorded this conduct by his superior, President Von der Ahe, has helped precipitate matters. But not alone the disgraceful scenes at St. Louis, but the equally disgraceful happenings at Louisville, where Young was nearly mobbed; the narrow escape Umpire Carlin had from maltreatment at Baltimore, and the unnecessary kicking and bulldozing of Captain Stovey which nearly precipitated a riot on the occasion of the first Sunday game at Brooklyn, all had their effect and led to the decisive step which has been taken by President Wikoff with the advice and assistance of his able coadjutor Chairman Byrne, after a careful consideration and with the approval of the majority of the club... … The trouble began with the fines imposed by ex-Umpire Young upon Comiskey and Latham, both of whom richly deserved the punishment. Comiskey's fines, aggregating $175, were imposed for the vilest language and abuse it is possible for one human being to address to another—epithets absolutely unprintable. Latham's fine of $50 was for a threatened personal assault upon Umpire Young. Neither player supposed that the fines would “go<” (as it is a well-known fact that Mr. Von der Ahe personally pays the fines incurred by his players for “kicking”) and told Mr. Young so to his face. Mr. Young, however, determined that the fines, deserved as they were, should go so far as lay in his power, and not only notified President Wikoff of their infliction, but gave a detailed account in writing as to the causes of the fines, and the infamous treatment to which he had been subjected. Mr. Wikoff, after consultation with Chairman Byrne, thereupon notified Mr. Von der Ahe that the fines must be paid, and that Comiskey's conduct must be amended, as he was bringing the American Association into disrepute not only in St. Louis but throughout the country with the entire base ball public. In reply Mr. Wikoff received a most insulting letter, which not only in effect resented Mr. Wikoff's entirely proper interference in the matter, but in which the writer—Mr. Von der Ahe—went a step further—indeed, too far—absolutely refusing to pay the fines imposed, which refusal is an expellable offense. Mr. Von der Ahe's attitude precipitated the crisis. Either the president of the Association had to pocket the insults and the Association had to submit to a constitutional violation and to permit St. Louis and her players to rule the Association; or else the Association had to assert its power to restrain an injudicious member from folly; to protect its chosen officer and servants, and compel obedience to the written laws on the part of the clubs and players. … Mr. Von der Ahe's refusal to pay the fines ha also made a square issue with the Association and the matter must now come before the board of directors. The latter have been notified of the state of affairs by President Wikoff, and a majority of the board—Messrs. Phelps, Barnie and Simmons—have taken a manly stand in the matter and emphatically endorsed Mr. Wikoff's action. … The Sporting Life May 19, 1886 There will not be a special meeting of the American Association after all, the necessity therefor having been obviated by Mr. Von der Ahe's submission to the executive's power and to the Constitution. He met Chairman Byrne in Brooklyn last week and the two talked the matter over and the result was that Von der Ahe concluded to pay the fines imposed upon Comiskey and Latham and take an appeal at the annual meeting next September if he deemed proper. President Wikoff was then notified of the result of the conference. The President's efforts for the protection of umpires and the enforcement of fines imposed by them have now met with the approval of all the clubs, all having agreed, without the formality of a special meeting, to sustain the position taken. The fines imposed by ex-Umpire 'Young at St. Louis and Louisville will positively be paid to the Association. Players should take notice that hereafter insolence to and abuse of umpires will be severely punished, that fines “will go,” and that also they run the risk of the President's personal intervention—which means suspension. Under this order of things players will find that ultimately the fines will come out of their pockets, as clubs will quickly tire of paying them in lieu of the players, when they discover that remittance is out of the question. The Sporting Life May 26, 1886 |
| Source | The Sporting Life |
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| Comment | Edit with form to add a comment |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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