Clipping:Lawsuits against Athletic Club; finances; ownership
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| Date | Sunday, September 7, 1890 |
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| Text | There was a little scene at the Athletic base ball grounds, Twenty-sixth and Jefferson streets, yesterday, which escaped the notice of the regular visitors to that place. Deputy Sheriff J. B. Pattison, aided by Assistant Deputy Link, made a levy on all the goods belonging to the Athletic Base Ball Club, and especially the gate receipts. The attachment was made on a writ issued by Judge Hare, of Common Pleas Court, No. 2, giving judgment in favor of George W. Walton & Co., Limited, for $234.15, being the amount of a bill for lumber, with interest. … The attendance at the game was very light, the amount of the receipts carried off by the Sheriff being only $28. The Philadelphia Times September 7, 1890 Players of the Athletic Base Ball Club of the American Association yesterday began legal proceedings for the recovery of salaries for the month of August. None of the fourteen players have received any pay during the past month, and it is also claimed that the club in indebted to a number of them for services in July. Last week attorneys for the players notified President Phelps, of the Association, that unless the arrearages were paid within ten days the players would seek engagements elsewhere. The players not receiving a response yesterday made affidavits and statements of their claims, which were filed in the office of the Prothonotary. The claim of Edward K. Seward is $377.56; that of Wilfred Robinson $350. George Shafer's claim is $244.30. The remaining eleven players will institute similar proceeding later in the week. The attorneys state that the executions and attachments against the funds of the club would not prevent the players from securing the salaries remaining unpaid, as the law gives a prior lien for wages to the amount of $200 in each case in preference to all other claims. The Philadelphia Times September 9, 1890 [reporting the Athletic Club stockholders' meeting 9/11] The amount due the players for salary is $2,650. The entire indebtedness of the club, in which this amount is included, and outside of the $9,000 worth of bonds that do not mature until 1893, is $16,500 in round figures. Of this amount it is only necessary that the $2,650 due players be raised before Wednesday next, as on that day the ten days' notice would expire and the players be free to sign elsewhere. The Philadelphia Times September 12, 1890 At the last meeting of the stockholders a committee had been appointed to raise the necessary funds for carrying the club to the end of the season. This they failed to do and on Monday night [9/15] the club was practically disbanded. The scene at their headquarters on that night was a never-to-be-forgotten one. The stockholders and directors stood around talking in a whisper and the whole aspect betokened a funeral more than anything else. When it became impossible tp put the players off any longer and they were released one by one it seemed more like the breaking up of a family than the dismemberment of a club. Manager Sharsig took the whole affair more to heart than did any of the other,s, and he was truly to be pitied. Speaking of the affair, he said: “This is the most severe set-back I ever had in my life. Years of labor and constant toil have been swept away to-night, and I am just where I began again. I cannot fully realize yet the extent of my loss, but ii will gradually force itself upon me. I, of all the club, was nearer tho the men than anyone else, and, therefore, I feel it the most. Many of these players have been associated with me for years, and while we all have our faults, the parting is extremely hard.” The Philadelphia Times September 21, 1890 Up to the middle of the season the club was doing well, and according to the words of one of the officials the club had more than made expenses. They had got their share of the local patronage and away from home had done equally well. At the time the first default in payment occurred these conditions had not changed and the wonder now is where did the money go. This was answered perhaps in part when Secretary Whitaker gave out the financial condition of the club at the last meeting. Of the $17,000 indebtedness, exclusive of the $9,000 in bonds that do not mature until 1893, he said more than $8,000 was due the club officers for salaries. This was the first intimation any one had that the officers were salaried menials and it has caused no end of talk since. When stockholders say they will have an investigation ordered what are outsiders liable to think? To many it appears like an effort to save their own investment out of the wreck. However that may be, an itemized account of the club's receipts and expenditures would be an interesting article for perusal. The Philadelphia Times September 21, 1890 Judgment was entered in Common Please Court, No. 3, yesterday against the Athletic Base Ball Club in the claims of Players John O'Brien for $351.67, Joseph Kappel for $278.76, John McMahan for $483.34, William A. Purcell for $376.28 and George Shafer for $157.44. The Philadelphia Times November 2, 1890 |
| Source | Philadelphia Times |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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