Semantic search

[quoting Spalding] Upon my return from Europe, together with Mr. Day, I had an informal talk with three gentlemen connected with the Players League—Messrs. Talcott, Goodwin and Johnson. These gentlemen were anxious for a cessation of hostilities, and in an informal talk confessed that they had lost about all the money they cared to sink in base ball. Mr. Talcott asked me what I thought could be done. I told him that it was my opinion that if the backers of both organizations could get together without outside influences of any kind they might be able to bring order out of chaos that would be satisfactory all around. Mr. Talcott replied that inasmuch as in the Players' League certain players were also stockholders, they wanted representation on any conference committee that was appointed.

To this I replied that the League would never meet a committee of any kind upon which there was a member of the Brotherhood. It did not object to a ball players, but would never countenance the secret organization that for two years had worked to undermine and wreck it. The Players' League people then said they would like to have Mr. Ward on the committee anyway. I replied that I had the highest regard for Mr. Ward as a man and a ball player, but that the League could never meet the president of the Brotherhood in any capacity whatever. Furthermore I did not think Mr. Ward would care to sit in such a committee. I considered him too fair-minded a man not to be willing to permit the men who had lost their money in the Players' League to determine upon their own plan to get it back. Upon this point Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Talcott and Mr. Johnson all agree with me. They left to form their committee, and securing telegraphic consent from all the Players' League clubs to go ahead, President McAlpin named Johnson, Talcott and Goodwin as its members. In the meantime Mr. Day and myself had a hard time in getting the National League to appoint a committee to meet the gentlemen, and it was only after seven hours' hard work that we succeeded. We did not dictate the Players' committee, but appointed ours only after theirs had been official announced.

H. K. Curtis, the well-known manager of one of New York's most noted semi-professional clubs—the Acmes—has published the following emphatic protest in the New York Star against one of the methods of the League adherents:

“The original Acmes of this city, are scheduled to play two games with the New York Brotherhood teams. Negotiations are also pending with the managers, whereby the Acmes expect to arrange games with other Players' League teams. Now we are semi-officially notified through the Sporting Times, John B. Day's paper, that if the Acmes play a game with a Brotherhood team, they (the Acmes) will be debarred from playing any National Agreement clubs, and also that any club playing the Acmes, after they play a Brotherhood team, will likewise by ostracized.

“Now, I beg leave to state on behalf of the Acmes that there is not a man among us that would do an act detrimental to the welfare of the national game. But we do not want to be boycotted (for we term it such) later on for doing something which we should not have done. Therefore we request the Board of Arbitration of the National League to be more explicit and describe what they term an ineligible player. They say we should not play the Brotherhood men because they are ineligible. Are we to understand by this that they are blacklisted, and if such is the case, may we ask why is it that the New York League Club is trying so hard to get these same “ineligible” (blacklisted) men to play in their team?

“To play against blacklisted men, however, might cause an injury to any club, as long as the National Agreement is in existence. We are disinterested in every shape, form and manner in the League fight with the Players, and why do they draw us into it?

“It seems to be a petty piece of business on their part, and I do not see how it can help their cause. Previous to arranging games with the Players' League I wrote at least fifty letters to managers of National Agreement clubs endeavoring to arrange games, but I have not received as much as a postal card in answer. So it is left to any one's imagination as to how many games with National Agreement clubs we will lose by playing the Players' League teams.

The League may be able to persuade Mr. Brush to give up his franchise for good coin of the realm, but I doubt it. Brush is shrewd and knows a good thing when he sees it, and that he has one now nobody will deny. The League is reasonably sure to go through the season with ten clubs. It cannot and will not force Mr. Brush out unless he goes willingly, and he will not go that way. The League may squeeze Washington hard enough to persuade Mr. Hewitt to sell out to Detroit but even that is doubtful. A compromise will have to be agreed upon between Indianapolis and the League...

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Now, as to the future. A compromise seems the only way out of it for Mr. Brush. He will not get out, and yet his refusal to do is a great injury to the League in general and the New York Club in particular. He is not to be blamed in the slightest in his course. He has rights and his colleagues will respect them. Still it is evident that what he can do to help out his associates he should do. Mr. Day doesn't need a great deal. With the men he has a short stop, a catcher, a third baseman and a could of pitchers would put him into the swim. The compromise that seems to me to be now probable would be for Mr. Brush, for a consideration of course, to let Mr. Day have Denny and Rusie or Getzein, and for Mr. Stern to give him Carpenter and Earle or Baldwin also for a consideration. This would provide Mr. Day with fillers for his present team and enable him to make a good front. He could pick up one pitcher of experience from the minor leagues and develop one from the lot of youngsters Mutrie has on hand all crazy to distinguish themselves.

The Meredian National Bank of Indianapolis October 29 entered suit against W. A. Nimick, of the Pittsburg League, to recover $548.02, a balance claimed to be due on a note. The note was for $800, and was made March 21, 1890, by W. A. Nimick, president of the Allegheny Base Ball Club, to N. E. Young, agent, who transferred it to the bank. The note matured in four months, but $548.02 of the amount is still unpaid.

The Thirteenth Regiment Baseball Association is to be congratulated on the progress made in its experiment of . When the scheme was inaugurated about a month ago the obstacles encountered were so many and so discouraging that it was generally thought the plan would be abandoned. The boys have succeeded in overcoming most of the difficulties, and the exhibition game of Saturday evening last may be considered a success. Nine full innings were played in two hours and a half and, as a rule, the boys played good ball. It could hardly be expected that they would do as well as the crack amateur teams which play in this vicinity during the Summer. A majority of the regimental players are beginners at the game, and their showing is therefore the more praiseworthy.\

The principal drawback noticeable Saturday evening was the weakness of the light. The fixtures were excellently distributed, but there was not a sufficient pressure of gas on. One of the officers of the Association told the reporter that the burners on the fixtures were old and were not capable of burning a larger flame. If this defect can be remedied it will help the boys materially. With better light the catchers would have fewer passed balls and the time of playing a game would be shortened.

The ball used in this indoor game is much lighter than the regulation outdoor ball. It is also less solid. In consequence it is more difficult and tiring to pitch it and the catchers find it hard work to get the ball down to second base ahead of a base-runner. The main advantage, in fact the necessity of suing this light ball, is found in the batting. If the ordinary ball were used there would not be much left of the inside beauty of the armory after one or two games. As it is, the ball must be hit with great force to send it to the “outfield.” If it strikes the woodwork it rebounds without doing any damage.

The diamond used in the armory is not of a rectangular nature. It is elongated, and the distance from home to second is greater than from first to third. This also militates against the catchers, as the base lines are only seventy-five feet long—fifteen feet shorter than the regulation. The catcher must throw the ball just about as far as he would on a ball field, while the base-runner has fifteen feet less to run. This helps the base-running, which is after all one of the most attractive features of the game.

Indoor base ball is becoming quite popular all over the country, but strange to say, has not yet affected Philadelphia. Chicago has many clubs, and the sport is rapidly gaining there. Winter base ball was invented by George W. Hancock and Augustus J. White, of the Farragut Boat Club of Chicago, in the year 1887, and has become a favorite amusement in the East. The game can be played in any form which allows the necessary space for the bases. It is played with a large soft ball, and a bat which resembles a billiard cue, being 2 ft. and 9 in. long and 1¼ in. in diameter. The four bases are 1½ ft. square. There are nineteen rules which govern the game as follows:

1—The pitcher's box shall be six feet long by three feet wide, and twenty-two feet from home base. 2—The bases shall be twenty-seven feet apart. 3—Eight or nine men may play on a side. 4—Only shoes with rubber soles can be sued. 5—Only straight arm pitching will be allowed. 6—A batted ball inside of foul line is fair. 7—A batter ball outside of foul line shall be foul. 8—Third strike caught is out. 9—A foul tip or fly caught is out. 10—Four unfairly pitched balls gives striker first base. 11—A pitched ball striking the batter is a dead ball, but does not give base. 12—A base-runner must not leave his base when the ball is in the pitcher's hand. 13—A runner must not leave his base on a ball not struck, until it has reached or passed the catcher. 14—A batted ball caught in rebounding from a wall is not out. 15—In over-runner first base the runner may turn back either way. 16—If a batter purposely kicked a ball he has batted he is out. 17—If a ball rebounds and strikes batter he is not out. 18—The game shall be judged by two umpires. The first will stand in the centre field and give judgments on the second and third bases. The other shall stand behind the catcher and just all points of the game. The two will change places at the end of every inning. They must not be members of either club in the game. 19—The umpires shall be sole judges of the game.

Indoor base ball was tried in Philadelphia in the State Fair building. It was not a success. Possibly some share of the want of success may be attributed to mismanagement and the inaccessibility of the building. Whether the game will spread or remain one peculiar to Chicago is a hard nut to crack. But it certainly has possibilities, although in many ways still crude. Time may evolve a great deal more than people imagine out of this latest variation of the national sport.

Indoor base ball has become all the rage in Chicago, New York, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, where the regimental armories give splendid opportunities for playing it.

The game as now played was invented by George W. Hancock and Augustus J. White of Chicago, in 1887.

Nearly all the elements that go to make the outdoor game interesting can be brought out in the indoor game, such as sliding to bases, live coaching and getting back at the umpire.

The game is played with a soft ball, somewhat larger than the regulation base ball. The bat, which resembles a billiard cue, must not be over 2 feet 9 inches in length, or about 1 foot shorter than the bat used in the regular game and 1 ¼ inches in diameter. Following are the rules that govern the game:

The pitcher's box shall be 6 feet long by 3 feet wide, and 22 feet from home base.

The bases shall be 27 feet apart.

Eight or nine men may play on a side.

Only shoes with rubber soles an be used.

Only straight arm pitching will be allowed.

A batted ball inside the foul line is fair.

A batted ball outside the foul line shall be foul.

Third strike caught is out.

A foul tip or fly caught is out.

Four unfairly pitched balls gives striker first base.

A pitched ball striking the batter is a deal ball, but does not give base.

A base runner must not leave his base when the ball is in the pitcher's hand.

A runner must not leave his base on a ball not struck until it has reached or passed the catcher.

A batted ball caught in rebounding from a wall is not out.

In overruning first base the runner may turn back either way.

If a batter purposely kicks a ball he has batted he is out.

If a ball rebounds and strikes a batter he is not out.

The game shall be judged by two umpires. The first will stand in centre field and give judgments on the second and third bases. The other shall stand behind the catcher and judge all points of the game. The two will change placed at the end of every inning. They must not be members of either club in the game.

The umpires shall be sole judges of the game. St. Louis Republic December 13, 1890

Syracuse and Rochester offer to exit the AA

[reporting an information meeting of AA magnates 12/11] Messrs. Frazer and Brinker [of the Syracuse and Rochester clubs] came prepared to make offers to withdraw from the Association circuit in order to allow stronger cities to be admitted. Mr. Frazer said he would get out for $8000 cash, and backed up this with the statement that as he had stood by the Association he thought it only fair that he should be so treated now that he was willing to abdicate in favor of somebody else. General Brinker fixed his price at $20,000 and used the same persuasive arguments, but it is thought that both gentlemen will be induced to vanish from the scene of action for about $5000 apiece. The Sporting Life December 13, 1890

The Texas League adopts a modified Millennium Plan; salary rates

[reporting the Texas League meeting of 12/1] The quota of each team was fixed at eleven men. The salaries were fixed as follows for each club:-- Three pitchers at $70--$210; two catchers at $70--$140; four infielders at $67.50--$270; two outfielders at $65--$130. Eleven men at $750.

C.P. Fegan and J. J. McCloskey were appointed a committee to receive names and engage all players for the Texas League, said players to receive salary at a rate not exceeding the above schedule of salaries.

When a complement of players has been secured there shall be a drawing of players to apportion to each club its quota of eleven men, said players to be classed according to their merit, that is, first-class pitchers, second-class pitchers, etc. The Sporting Life December 13, 1890

[from C. F. Holcomb's column] It has come; we all knew it would get here [Buffalo] sooner or later, and now we can shout “told you so!” The indoor base ball furore, which has so long been the popular amusing in other cities, has had hardly a trial in this wind-swept town, until the West End Ball Club organized a team to play indoors. The first game took place Sunday last at the Prospect Rink. A number of well-known players-Tom Brahan, Short, and others—are doing well in this first attempt, and interest bids fair to increase. It is to be presumed that several base ball players residing here will take up the sport actively, at least some of them have expressed an intention of so doing.

[from Chadwick's column] [paraphrasing the Chicago Herald, describing the game as played in the La Salle Club gymnasium A bat that would be taken for a broomstick by the uninitiated, a ball about the size and consistency of a bowl of dough and stuffed with curled hair, base bags which the base-runner carried along with them when they slid, and a tin pan containing rosin completed the tools of warfare. On account of the necessarily short hits the fielders played either within or just on the edge of the diamond. That a base-runner cannot leave his base till the pitched ball has passed, the plate, and that the pitcher delivers the ball underhand and with a stiff arm are the only rules different from those of regular base ball.

Just now there seems to be a craze for indoor baseball in military circles in Brooklyn. The members of company E, of the Forty-seventh regiment, have now organized a baseball team for the season, with George W. Pink as captain. They are now in steady practice and a game has been arranged with the team of company A, of the Thirteenth regiment.

Base ball playing indoors has certainly caught on with the members of the National Guard in Brooklyn. The Thirteenth Regiment's Association has been a success from the start. It subsequently took hold with the boys of the Twenty-third Regiment, and that crack organization, it is said, has two companies whose teams will soon be pitted against the best in the field. The Third Gatling Battery, with headquarters at Washington and Dean streets, has also organized a team which is particularly desirous of meeting the pick of the Thirteen Regiment.

Now the craze has struck the Forty-seventh Regiment, whose handsome remodeled armory at Marcy avenue, Lynch and Heyward streets, in the Eastern District, offers better facilities for playing than any other armory in the State, with probably one exception—that of the Seventh Regiment. A year ago Capt. Quick organized a team from Company E, and the boys played quite a fair game at Prospect Park. Having a number of good players in his company at present, he is making efforts to collect a team to play in the armory, and it is very likely that Capt. Christopher of Company D and one or two other companies will join in the movement. The armory is 240 feet long and 140 feet wide. Every precaution will be taken to protect the windows and chandeliers and as there is no doubt but that Col. Gaylor will grant them permission to use the armory for the purpose, the movement looks like a sure go. Capt. Quick placed the matter before the company last night, and the members were enthusiastic over the scheme. A meeting for organization will occur next week.

Billy Gale has every thing at the Cincinnati Park looking as bright and clean as the proverbial new pin. Every stone and stick has been gathered up and every broken or rotten board in the terrace and pavilion has been taken up and replaced with new timber. ... The Cincinnati team is an aggregation of fast base-runners, and every thing will be done to encourage them to take desperate chances. They can slide either feet first or head first on this new surface covering without injury. There will be no bits of gravel or sticks to scrape the skin from the arms and legs of base-runners, as was frequently the case last season.

[Baltimore vs. Cincinnati 5/21/1887] [from a retrospective article on triple plays] The Cincinnatis were at the bat. Three men were on the bases, no one out, and Jim Keenan had toed the plate. Jim is usually a sure hitter, and all the base-runners were up on their toes ready for advancement. Jim finally picked out a good one. His bat cut the air with a whizz, and the ball went on a line for waht looked like a sure base hit between second and hsort. All the runners dug theri plates into the ground homeward bound. Their flight was brought to an abrupt termination. Billy Greenwood made a side jump as the ball sped toward the field. He wore a big glove on his right hand, as he is a left-handed thrower. That glove played havoc with the Reds. They big fingers just touched the sphere. The ball was stopped in its flight. It bounced a foot high from the glove. Billy made another jump. This time he got his hand fairly on the ball and held to it. He had caught it on the fly. Quick as a flash he stepped on second base, and an instant later he threw the ball to Shindle, doubling the runner at third. In the twinkling of an eye three of the Reds were retired. Cincinnati Enquirer January 26, 1890 [N.B. 1887 accounts make no mention of the glove.]

May a man who has paid his money to see a base ball match write an account of the same as it progresses and throw it over the fence, for the information of persons not present? This is one of the questions that will come before the courts shortly, two Western Union reporters having been arrested at the Athletic grounds for sending reports in this way. The men so treated are Horace A. Shinn, of 1607 South Juniper street, and D. S. Fister, of 700 Preston street, employees of the Western Union Telegraph Company. They were held on Saturday last for a further hearing this week by Magistrate Romig, charged with illegally securing for their employers scores of the games played at the Athletic Ball Park, Twenty-sixth and Jefferson streets.

The prosecution is the outgrowth of a rivalry between the Western Union and Postal Telegraph Companies. The latter secured exclusive privilege of running wires into the ground, and to overreach its rival the company first named had its employees take the history of the game as it proceeded and throw the copy over the fence to a waiting messenger boy, by which means it was enabled to telegraph reports of the game as rapidly as the Postal Company.

At Forepaugh's Park Western Union reporters have also from time to time been ejected for the same offence, the Postal Company having the same exclusive rights on this ground.

It does not seem good policy for base ball clubs to offend a company like the Western Union, and to peddle out telegraphic privileges for such a comparatively small such as $250 per club, but having sold the privileges it is at least necessary for the managers to try to keep the privileges exclusive.

Curt Welch continues to play the trick of being hit by a pitched ball. Welch would make a good soldier; he does not seem afraid of a cannon ball.

[reporting the PL special meeting of 4/2/1890] [proceedings of the meeting with the PL umpires] To prevent a balk a pitcher will be compelled to place one foot outside of the box lines in throwing to bases.

[reporting the AA special meeting of 3/14/1890] The umpires were then brought into the meeting room, introduced to the delegates, and then the playing rules were jointly gone over and a unanimous interpretation arrived at. The most important thing in this connection was the definition of the vexatious balk question. This rule will hereafter be construed to meant that any motion not followed by an immediate delivery of the ball would be a “balk.

[PL New York vs. Brooklyn 4/30/1890] With two men on bases, Joyce muffed a little fly sent up by Ewing, and O'Rourke dashed for second. Barnes decided that Ewing was out, and also called O'Rourke out. The decision was an original one, and may never again be seen on the ball-field. New York Tribune May 1, 1890

In the last half of the sixth inning Connor was on third and O'Rourke on first base, with Ewing at the bat. The New York captain knocked a high fair fly several feet behind third base and at least three feet behind Joyce, the Brooklyn third baseman, who squarely muffed the ball. O'Rourke reached second and Ewing first base. Had Joyce intentionally muffed the ball he could not have got it to first ahead of Ewing or to second ahead of O'Rourke, who had taken a long lead off first base and was waiting for the ball to either be caught or dropped. Neither could Joyce, had he caught the ball, have returned it first in time for a double. The Sporting Life May 10, 1890, quoting the New York World

The Players' League has eliminated from its playing rules the word “momentarily,” applied to fly catches and has substituted an entirely new rule in Sec. 9 of Rule 41, which is quoted below. This new rule has already made trouble and will make more unless more clearly defined. A kick over the rule came up in the New York-Brooklyn game of April 30. Joyce muffed a short fly ball, but nevertheless Umpire Barnes permitted a double play as a result of the muff. Jim O'Rourke, when subsequently questioned by a reporter, said:

“The decision was contrary to the spirit and letter of the rules. In the first place, it was not an infield hit of Ewing's, and therefore neither Ewing nor myself could be declared out. Now, what do the rules say regarding infield hits? Rule 2 of the Players' National League says that the infield must be a space of ground thirty yards square. That meant the entire territory within the base lines, and not a foot more. Now, the ball that Joyce dropped was outside of the third base line by fifteen feet.”

“But hasn't it been the case that hits stopped by the basemen and short stop while standing in their usual positions were considered infield hits? asked the reporter.

“Yes, but the interpretations of the rules in that respect have been wrong. A ball sent to any of the infielders in the place they usually play cannot, under any circumstances, be considered an infield hit. It must be a hit to be played, even within the base line. Sec. 9 of Rule 41 says:-- 'If, where there is a base-runner on the first base and less than two players on the side at bat have been put out in the inning then being played, the batsman makes a fair hit so that the ball falls within the infield, and the ball touches any fielder whether held by him or not before it touches the ground, the batsman shall be declared out.'

“See what latitude would be given an infielder to make such plays like that of Joyce's and which Umpire Barnes says are according to rule, if the enlargement of the infield other than that stated in the rules was allowed. Why, a short stop or baseman could run into the outfield for a ball, miss it, and then throw to a base, catching the runner. Under Umpire Barnes' ruling that would be an intentional miss, the same as Joyce's was decided. There's got to be a distinction made somewhere between the infield and outfield, and the rules have always made it. You can say that even an inch outside of the base lines is in the infield.

“I am perfectly satisfied that Joyce's miss was not an intentional one. He made a supreme effort to get the ball, but failed. Now, the, do you think under those circumstances that it is reasonable to give Joyce as much credit for that play as one of the scientific character. That what he received by Umpire Barnes' decision.” The Sporting Life May 10, 1890

[describing the plans for Forepaugh Park] In style it will resemble the grand pavillion at the Philadelphia Ball Park, being of the same shape, that is, semi-elliptical. The structure will be of woodwork, with iron girders, trusses, supports, etc., forty feet deep and each wing or angle will be 235 feet long. The main entrance will be at the corner of Broad and York streets.

There seems to be considerable misunderstanding among the many amatuer and semi-professional clubs throughout the country regarding the restrictions placed upon national agreement teams in connection with the spring exhibition games. According to the rule laid down by the national agreement no clubs belonging to the National League, American Association, Atlantic Association, New England League, Interstate League, International League, Tri-State League, Western Association, Southern League, Texas League or California League, can play games with members of the Brotherhood League. Any amateur clubs who play with Brotherhood teams will be debarred from playing any clubs of the leagues under the protection of the national agreement. Any player who plays on a team which plays a Brotherhood club will also be debarred from playing with any national agreement clubs in the future.

President N. E. Young has official warned all clubs not to arrange games with Players’ League clubs on pain of being forever ruled out of games with clubs under the national agreement.

Jim Hart, the noted ex-manager, now A. G. Spalding's private secretary...

[regarding a lawsuit filed against Day by his brother-in-law Fred Davis] In reference to the statement made by John B. Day, President of the Metropolitan Exhibition Company, regarding the services of Fred Davis, his brother-in-aw, being entirely voluntary, Mr. Davis says that it can be proved that he was sent up to the grounds by Mr. Day to look after his interests. If it has slipped his memory he can refresh it by referring to his ex-partner, John P. Davis, and his present partner, Charles P. Abbey. When the old firm of Davis & Day existed, Fred's father, who was the senior member of the firm, and had many stiff arguments with John B. Day, his son-in-law, in regard to his taking Fred away from the business and wasting his time at the Polo grounds. He also found fault with Mr. Day for the valuable time he was likewise losing from the tobacco business by going off to the base ball games. In fact, it was the stiff arguments they had upon this very point which led to the breaking up of the old firm. New York Sun September 19, 1890 [N.B. Charles P. Abbey was one of the incorporators of the New York Baseball Club on October 9, 1889.]

A new base ball headquarters was opened last night [3/11], with “Honest” John Morrill, Boston's favorite base ball players, and his business partner, Mr. W. R. Burdett, as hosts. Morrill has now severed forever his connection with professional base ball playing, and has turned his attention to the less exciting practice of fitting out athletes with the articles needed in the field of sports. The new store is a t12 Bromfield street. It is centrally located in the business district, and as the games of the Brotherhood and League Clubs are to be displayed, it cannot fail to become popular. Morrill has laid in a handsome stock of sporting goods, and has every reason to hope for success in his venture.

Judgments were entered in Philadelphia last Saturday against the Athletic Base Ball Club in the suits against it by five of their players, for want of an affidavit of defense. The judgments were awarded to John O'Brien for $351.59; William A. Purcell, $376.28; George Shafer, $157.44; Joseph Kappel, $278.76; John McMahon, $483.34. These sums represent the amount of the claims of the players with interest.

[from Chadwick's column] One of the causes of the society patronage given the Brooklyn Club team at Washington Park the past two months is the absence of the vulgar, rowdy kicking which prevailed in the old Association era. Kicking suits the masses, and especially the rowdy element of the bleaching board crowds, as does the noisy coaching; in fact that element revels in anything which approaches a row or a disturbance. But kicking and noisy coaching disgusts the better class of patrons of the game, and since President Byrne put his foot down against kicking by his team at Washington park, there has been a noteworthy increase in the local patronage, the grand stand crowds at the park equaling anything seen at any other League ground in the country. The attendance at the Washington Park grounds in Brooklyn during the July campaign has been the best in the character of the assemblages known in the history of the club, and as to numbers the crowds in the aggregate exceeded the combined attendance at the other three metropolitan grounds—on the Polo and Brotherhood parks in New York and the Eastern Park in Brooklyn. The aggregate attendance at Washington Park from July 5 to July 19, inclusive, exceeded 27,000 people, and the majority were grand stand occupants. Over 11,000 saw the three Cincinnati games alone. The absence of kicking unquestionably caused the remarkable increase in the grand stand attendance.

[Francis Richter reports:] While the Bostons were in town last week, Mike Kelly sauntered in Reach's store on Market street one day and to the surprise of everybody greeted Al. Reach in the most friendly manner. Al. was no less cordiak, and to the pleausre as well as amusement of the lookers-on the rival magnates were apparently upon the most friendly terms, and one would have imagined that no such thing as a war was in progress. What took Kelly to Reach's was the fact that he had to get one of Reach's patent lace mitts, which Kelly vowed he couldn't get along without, and which he is so pleased with that before he left Reach he gave the latter unsolicited the following testimonial:

Philadelphia, May 3.--Friend Reach:--Notwithstanding I am connected with a rival organization candor compels me to say you have the best catching glove I have ever seen, and I have seen them all. I refer to your patent lace mitt. You are at liberty to use my name as an endorsement of it in such manner as you choose. Yours truly, M. J. Kelly, Boston Club.

[from J. F. Donnolly's column] There will be a new entrance built [to the NL Brooklyn grounds], which is to be used solely by lady patrons of the grounds, and innovation long desired, as the rush and crush of the male gender, both on entering and leaving the grounds, has always been a source of concern to the fair enthusiasts, whose gowns and the set thereof very often suffered through the wearers being caught in the swirl. This entrance will be designed in careful fashion, and will add to the attractiveness of the general entrance when all the changes have been effected.

Latham, whose demands for money increased in proportion to the decrease of his ability to play ball, became so violent at last that he was released by Comiskey. He tried to work the Chicago team as he did St. Louis—to be always in debt to the club from $500 to $1,000. This, the Chicago men would not stand and Latham was released. Von der Ahe immediately began negotiating for the sale of the dude's release and without asking the other Association clubs to waive their claims, Latham was sold to Cincinnati for $25,00, $500 of which it is reported Latham obtained. When the Athletics and Louisville protested against the sale the boss calmly said that both clubs had waived claim to Latham a year ago when he was on the market. The sale is going to cause trouble, for both Sharsig and Whittaker have blood in their eye. They wanted Latham themselves, and so did President Parsons, of Louisville. The customary ten days did not lapse and altogether it looks as though the national agreement sustained a violent wrench.

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

[reporting the PL Directors' meeting of 7/17] The affairs of the local Players' club were pretty thoroughly ventilated in the meeting, but for some cause two directly contradictory stories were given out. In giving out information for publication Secretary Brunell stated that Mr. H. M. Love was no longer president as he had disposed of his shares to J. Ear and George Wagner, and that hereafter the Wagners would liquidate all debts of the club. When Mr. Love heard that Secretary Brunell had given out this news for publication he became very angry and engaged in a wordy war with Brunell. He desired to know from what source the information had been obtained, and was told that such was the general understanding. Despite Love's denial, George Wagner maintained that it was the truth, and that Love was not president, and that he and his brother had bought Love's shares. The Philadelphia Times July 18, 1890

Ex-President Love has been bought out, bag and baggage, and it is now controlled by the Wagner brothers. The Philadelphia Times August 3, 1890

Of the leading salaried officials of the three major leagues Zach Phelps is the lowest-salaried man, his salary being $1800, against $3200 for Brunell, of the Players' League, and $4000 for Nick Young, of the National League. But then the Association is now in a transition stage and can't very well afford to do any better. Phelps' salary won't always be so low, however, if the Association should prove the success its friends hope and expect.

[quoting Soden] Amalgamation is a question for the capitalists of both sides to decide now. The players have no more to say in the matter than you have. The capitalists of the new League have got them as completely under their thumbs as ever we had them in the old days. They are sick of throwing away money and they have learned that the players must be governed with a strong hand if good work is to be done. They are anxious for some form of a national agreement by which they can discipline their players. Brouthers, Radbourn, Kilroy, Kelly, Ryan and a lot of other players have been absent from their teams whenever they took a notion, and nothing was done about it. The Sporting Life October 18, 1890

[quoting Day] The players have nothing to say at all. They have not lost the money during the past season and consequently they have no interests at stake. The capitalists on both sides will do the negotiating. The players will have to do what they are told to do. If a player objects to playing with any men in the National League he will have to secure employment elsewhere. The market is overstocked with good men, and those having scruples will have to stand on one side. They'll be only too glad to play ball with anybody when the time comes. Sentiment cuts no figure in the present state of affairs. The Sporting Life October 18, 1890

[editorial matter] The situation of the National League is at present anything but cheerful or encouraging. Hope from the law has been evidently abandoned, and an organized plan to capture Players' League men regardless of cost is now being vigorously pursued under the specious plea that “the end justifies the means.” But the scheme is meeting with but meagre success, the results being woefully disproportionate to the labor and expense involved. It is quite probable, however, that the scheme will be persisted in quite up to the opening of the season, and the Players' League will accordingly have to be on guard perpetually, prepared to checkmate every move of the enemy upon its ranks.

[reporting the Board of Arbitration meeting of 3/13] [ruling on the dispute between Columbus and New York for Mike Lehane] Columbus made out a strong case, showing in the evidence submitted that they were clearly entitled to the ex-Buffalo player’s services. It was shown that their negotiations for Lehane were carried on in the regular way, and that they violated no rules in securing the services of this player. Affidavits from Manager Buckenberger, of Columbus; Secretary Fitzgerald, of Buffalo, and Manager Leadley, of Detroit, were submitted in evidence, in addition to an agreement signed by Lehane to play with the Columbus team, and the correspondence bearing on the subject whici proved conclusively that the Buckeye club had a clear title to the tall first baseman. Columbus first purchased Lehane’s relese from Buffalo, which the affidavits of Messrs. Buckenberger and Fitzgerald proved. Then Columbus, being granted permission by Buffalo to do so, negotiated with Lehane through Mr. Leadley acting as agent and got the player to sign an agreement to make a contract with that club as soon as Buffalo gave him his release. On the strength of this promise Buffalo formally released Lehane.

No sooner had the release been promulgated before New York jumped in and induced Lehane to sign a League a contract. Mr. Day had not further evidence to offer than this contract, and, on this technicality, he tried to win the case. Messrs. Buckenberger and Cohen put forth argument to show that New York had no right to make a contract with Lehane, who was reserved by the Buffalo Club, and only released on condition that he would go to Columbus. They further submitted letters Lehane wrote to several frineds in which he informed them that this release had been purchased by Columbus, and in which he stated that he was glad to get out of the International League into fast company, and he felt sure Columbus would be a good place for him to go.

After Messrs. Day, Cohen and Buckenberger withdrew from the room the Board carefully weighed the evidence in the case, but could not agree, and a deadlock, so Manager Buckenberger stated last night, ensued. According to Mr. Buckenberger the Association members voted in favor of Columbus, while the League contingent stood up for New York.

The Association people used some plain words, and the League men say that they meant what they said.

A conference was held with Mr. Day, who being informed of how matters stood, and seeing that Columbus was clearly entitled to Lehane, he decided to withdraw his case and the Board decided that Lehane must go to Columbus. After the decision was made Mr. Cohen volunteered to repay Mr. Day any advances he may have made Lehane and the expenses he incurred in sending that player on the Southern trip with the New York Club. The Evening Item Philadelphia March 14, 1890

[editorial matter by “Veteran”] I feel pretty well convinced that some of the Association Clubs would have been pleased had the result of the Lehane case been different, as it would have given them a chance to get back at the League. It is an utter impossibility for two such organizations as the League and the Association to dwell together in unity, and the fight to the death between them is bound to come sooner or later. The Association cannot forget how it was knifed by the Leauge and when the chance comes it will bury the knife to the hilt in the League carcass. It is but human nature and no one can blame them. The Sunday Item Philadelphia March 16, 1890

[reporting on the Board of Arbitration meeting of 3/13/1890] [ruling on the claims of Columbus and New York for Lehane] The New York Club based its claim upon the player principally upon a technicality, Mr. Day holding that the Columbus' agreement with Lehane wa invalid, because it was given before the player had been released from Buffalo to Columbus. In support of his position Mr. Day cited the case of Mullane, some years ago, which was decided according to the view held by Mr. Day. The latter also claimed that the fact that Lehane was with the rest of the Buffalo players offered for sale to the League after the agreement with Columbus was made, showed that the Buffalo Club was in ignorance of Lehane's agreement. Mr. Day also produced a regular contract which Lehane had signed with the New York Club.

Mr. Buckenberger [manager of the Columbus Club] explained that Lehane's name was sent to the League with his knowledge, inasmuch as he was then still dickering with the player, although he had come to terms with the club.

After both sides had submitted their evidence a long argument took place on the legal points involved. The League members of the Board clung to the Mullane precedent and were strongly in favor of awarding the player to the New York Club. Secretary Phelps, however, disposed of the Mullane precedent by showing the difference between that case and the case under consideration. In the case under consideration three clubs—Toledo, St. Louis and Louisville—were involved, and it became necessary to make the decision that was rendered then to protect the equities of all parties. In the present case Mr. Phelps argued there were no intervening equities; the Columbus Club agreed to pay a certain price to the Buffalo Club for Lehane's release and a few days alter entered into the agreement with the player. No other club or party being interested in the matter between the time the release was purchased and the agreement signed, the deal was consummated and the agreement made valid, inasmuch as the New York Club did not enter the case until long after the agreement was made.

Mr. Von der Ahe agreed with Mr. Phelps, and a deadlock ensued which could not be broken. The League delegates talked and argued, but Phelps so strenuously maintained his position on legal and moral grounds, and Von der Ahe so steadily acted with him, that it was evident that the deadlock could not be broken without a compromise. Accordingly Colonel Rogers left the meeting room, and had a conference with Mr. Day. This conference lasted about twenty minutes, and at times the debate between the two gentlemen grew quite animated, but finally they came to an agreement. Both then entered the meeting, and in a few moments Manager Buckenberger emerged with a smiling face, and announced the Mr. Day had “waived his claims” to the player and the Board had awarded him to Columbus. The Sporting Life March 19, 1890

The Section A cranks, of the Chicago League grounds, have agreed to take a similar part of the grand stand at the Chicago Players' grounds this season.

Lew Simmons, who is doing an excellent business in his cigar emporium on Broad street above Columbia avenue, can't keep out of base ball, it seems, as the ex-manager has organized the Columbia ball club and has so far signed the following players...

[from a long article about past and present baseball manufacture] Beginning the building of a ball, the workman takes from an old peach basket full of rubber spheres one of the little globes. It is the nucleus of the ball. It is made in this country by a rubber company expressly for base ball. For many years, and until three years ago, the rubber balls were imported from England, but there was complaint that the rubber was too dense, and an American rubber company, after many experiments, made a solid rubber ball with a livelier rebound than the imported.

[Boston vs. Brooklyn (NL) 5/2/1890] [byline O. P. Caylor] And now I want to tell you something about coaching. Hermann [Long] and Tommy Tucker [both of the Bostons] doubled up at the business in the second inning, and an excited crowd gathered on the street outside the grounds under the partially mistaken impression that a riot raged within. Heavens, you should have heard them two howl! Six strawberry peddlers doing a competitive business on the same square would have quit and gone out of the ward against this opposition by Long and Tucker. The spectators couldn’t hear their own thoughts, and Tommy Burns, who pulls a pretty deep stroke at coaching himself, didn’t open his mouth for the rest of the day, and when Tommy Burns acknowledges himself worsted in pumping noise the ne plus ultra in that line has been reached, you can bet on it.

[from Chadwick's column] Here is a specimen of the new style of coaching which the South End grounds spectators tolerate because it is indulged in by Boston Club players, whereas when it was confined to Association clubs they pitched into it as “rowdy ball playing.” I take the following from the Boston Herald:

“The feature of the game yesterday above and beyond all others was the loud, bullying, bulldozing coaching of both side, particularly that of Long's on the part of the Boston Club, who out-Kellied Kelly and out-Longed Long in the eal and persistency with which he gave his orders and made himself generally known to the public.

“Get er long thar.

“Hustle yerself lively.

“Don't stick tew the base.

“Git a move enter yerself.

“What yer glued thar fur?

“Only one out—and git along.

“Look-a-there, and see what I told you. Git now.

“Holy Moses, go.

“Git back to yer base, ye lunkhead.

“Dig up the dust and fly.

“Don't stick there like death to a dead nigger, but get up and go!

“Make a bee line fur home, and don't let the beans parboil under her feet!

“Do yer think yer on vacation, that yer stand there when so many good chances are going by?

“Those were the noises that rent the air.”

Tucker bellowed like a bull as of old and this was done to worry the pitcher; not to aid baserunning, for it does not do it even a little bit.

[from the Louisville correspondent] This afternoon Harry L. Means, the official scorer and base ball editor of the Courier-Journal...

[from the Louisville correspondent's column] Harry Means, the clever base ball editor of the Courier-Journal, resigned his position with that paper to-day, and hereafter he will be base ball editor of the Louisville Commercial. The place is said to have been made some better in point of salary than was his position on the Courier-Journal, and I am glad to see him so nicely situated. He id decided the best posted man on base ball in the city, and the paper has secured a good all around man. Harry is to have charge of a general sporting department, which has been crated on the Commercial, and I suppose he will sign himself “Sporting Editor” hereafter.

Mr. Means is succeeded on the Courier-Journal by Mr. R. Semmes Colston, one of that paper's brightest reporters, who was base ball reporter before Mr. Means took the place.

An amusing delay occurred in the third inning of last Tuesday's Cleveland-New York game. Browning refused to take his turn at bat, because his own bat, which is ten years old, very long and heavy, had been hidden. It was restored to him when the spectators grew tired of the joke, and the Gladiator made a safe hit.

There has been but little discussion over the question of permitting team managers to coach on the lines, because the settlement of the war has absorbed the attention alike of magnates and reporters. The question will have to be met and acted upon before spring, however, since the American Association has instructed its contingent upon the joint rules committee to press the question to an issue. The Sporting Life December 13, 1890

The consensus of opinion appears to be against permitting managers to coach. The players especially decry the innovation, and for the very good reason that but few managers would be competent to avail themselves of the permission to coach, even were it granted. The players know of what metal the men who are set up over them are composed, on the average. The Sporting Life January 3, 1891

“'Records don't count. We are looking for men who play for their sides, not for individual advancement,' has long been the cry of the managers of ball clubs,” said George Tebeau the other day. “That cry don't go with me now. The truth of the matter is that managers—that is, most of them—only look at your batting and fielding record. They do'nt care how many times you have taken strikes while waiting to get a base on balls. They don't look at the number of turns you make or the number of bases you have stolen. Your hard hustling work and untiring coaching, by whi8ch you make enemies in other teams, count for nothing. All they look at is the number of hits you made and the errors recorded against you. Chance-taking cuts no figure with them. They talk about it, but that is all they do. I notice when they come to engaging players they take the men with the records. Winning players don't count. The record players are the ones that get the coin.

[reporting the AA meeting 11/22] The representatives of the Toledo, Syracuse and Rochester clubs were on the outlook for combinations or deals, but were not shrewd enough to see one when it came. These delegates were sitting on a volcano, unsuspecting and unconscious of the danger of the fire below, and they innocently voted for a resolution which, in the opinion of shrewd base ball men, just as effectually drops them from the Association, and just as surely, as if the three clubs had been expelled openly and above board and their successors named. When the awakening comes there will be an awful row, but it will be too late then to protest.

The delegates of these three clubs were hoodwinked as easily as the job could have been done in a political convention or Legislature. …

…

...Then came the time to spring the trap for Rochester, Syracuse and Toledo.

A. W. Thurman made a report of his work in connection with the recent conference committee in New York and it was approved with many commendations of his work. Now came the nut of the day.

Mr. Parsons made a motion that a conference committee of three be appointed to arrange the Association circuit for next season, and the following resolution was adopted:

“That the conference committee, consisting of William Barnie, of Baltimore; A. W. Thurman, of Columbus, and Chris Von der Ahe, of St. Louis, be continued in effect, with full power to make such disposition of the Athletic franchise as they may deem to be in the best interest of the Association, and with full power to act in all matters affecting the circuit and welfare of the Association, and to call a meeting of the entire Association at any time and place in the future when deemed necessary.”

It was unanimously carried. This is the boomerang that was expected, but the parties most interested did not see through it. They thought it referred only to the Athletic franchise and that a full meeting of the Association would be necessary to ratify any action the conference committee might take. The resolution does not read that way. Messrs. Thurman, Von der Ahe and Barnie are the members of the committee, and they are all in favor of strengthening the circuit by dropping Toledo, Rochester and Syracuse.

[from Harry Palmer's column] Base ball never reminded me so much of the cheap circus business as it does to-day. The League band wagon and the Brotherhood band wagon draw up in front of my office at the League and Brotherhood headquarters across the street and the musicians, perches upon their gilded wagons in their red coats and gold lace, blow their horns until they are red in the face, while the windows in adjacent business houses are filled with mechanics, shop hands and clerks, who listen until the music ceases and then go back to their desks and benches. Very few of them, however, go to the game. The plumed horses to the band wagons, the gaudy uniforms of the musicians and the flaring announcements which both wagons bear flavor very disagreeably of saw-dust, peanuts and red lemonade. How different from the good old days of 1886, '87, '88 and '89, when the crowds went to the ball games voluntarily and without the aid of band wagons or the catch-penny inducements of “Ladies' Day,” “Professional Day” and the other dizzy devices being resorted to by both local clubs.

[from W. I. Harris's column] In a recent conversation with me President McAlpin explained his position pretty thoroughly. I will not attempt to quote him word for word, but what he said amounted substantially to this. There is no man more anxious to do the fair thing by the players than he is, but there is something of more importance than they are and that is the national game itself. He cares more about the perpetuation of base ball as our national game then he does about the money he has lost. He argues that we do not know what the style of hats and coats may be a year hence. Another year of strife might kill the public interest in base ball altogether, and the people may adopt something else in its stead. I want to take the wisest course towards the restoration of public interest in the game. I do not think that a continuance of the fight will do anything towards that, but if it is necessary to go on against experience and reason, then everybody interested should shoulder his share of the general burden that will be the inevitable result.

“No, I never use a glove on either hand in a game, “said Bid McPhee the other day to a Cincinnati Enquirer reporter. “I have never seen the necessity of wearing one; and, besides, I cannot hold a thrown ball if there is anything on my hands. The glove business has gone a little too far. It is all wrong to suppose that your hands will get battered out of shape if you don't use them. True, hot-hit balls do sting a little at the opening of the season, but after you get used to it there is no trouble on that score. Dunlap, Pfeffer and Yank Robinson always play bare-handed.

[Jack Lynch describing his coaching at Fordham College] To make a player familiar with all positions and points of the game I have a blackboard upon which is marked a correct playing field. I then select a student indiscriminately and ask him what position he plays, or, in the event of his playing a certain position, what he would do, say, if two men were on base and a ball was hit to him. Then I would ask another one, say a first baseman, how he would play his position if there was a man at this base and another at third. Then I ask a shorts top if a pitcher gave him a signal to play in a certain place what he might expect. He would answer, probably a double play. The result of this teaching is that the smallest boy in the college can tell you in an instant all the plays in a game. A code of signals is also taught, and we have them so arranged that they can be changed if by chance they are understood by other parties. New York Sun February 3, 1890

There was little trouble in reaching an agreement between the New York parties, and on Tuesday an understanding was arrived at by which the two clubs will be consolidated, unless the negotiations for peace now pending between the rival leagues fall through and the war breaks out with renewed virulence. On Tuesday Col. E. A. McAlpin, Edward B. Talcott, Frank B. Robinson and Postmaster Van Cott, the leading stockholders in the Players' League club, and John B. Day, of the National League club, met in the office of the Postmaster. The first question put to Mr. Day was:-- “Will you sell?” Mr. Day replied:-- “No; I'd rather go into business with you.” There was some talk over a basis for consolidation. The National League club is incorporated for $100,000, and most of the stock, it is understood, has been paid in. The Players' League club is incorporated for $20,000, but it is in debt to Messrs. McAlpin, Talcott, Van Cott and Robinson for grand stand, grounds, etc., about $80,000. It is probable that a consolidation, if there is one, will be reached on a basis of 50 per cent., each party taking $100,000 of a capital stock of $200,000, at which figure the reorganized club will be incorporated.

[from the column of “Veteran”] Mickey Welch, who has been shaky for some time, jumped from the Brotherhood into the League during the week by signing with the New York Club. After signing his contract Welch met Mike Tiernan, and they both called on Tim Keefe. Tim is not the man to let a business transaction interfere with his personal feelings, and he shook hands with Welch, with the remark that every man knew his own business best.

Welch explained that his action was simply one of business. He said that he would have been willing to have played with the Players’ League for $2,000 less than he signed for with the New York League Club, but they would not guarantee him his salary for more than one year at a time.

He had always been in the habit of securing a personal agreement with Mr. Day, and he felt as though he could not stop the custom now. He said that he had a large family to look after, and that he could not afford to take any unnecessary risks. Had the Players’ League guaranteed him his salary for three years he would have signed with them.

“You see by that,” continued Welch, “that I am looking out for No. 1. I think that the Players’ League will be a success, and would have liked to have come to some agreement, but could not. I suppose that the players will find much fault with me for what I have done, but I hope that they will not be too hard on me.” The Philadelphia Evening Item January 19, 1890

Pittsburgh PL Club ownership

The capital stock of the Pittsburgh Brotherhood Club is $20,000, divided into 800 shares of the par value of $25 each. The subscribers and the number of shares of stock subscribed by each are as follows: William McCallim, Mayor of Pittsburgh, 60; M. B. Lemon, member of the Legislature, 20; William a Stone, ex-United States District Attorney, 380; W. W. Kerr, mercantile manager, 80; Edward Hanlon, ball player, 80; Henry B. Rea, commission merchange, 60; C. A. Beymer, lead manufacturer, 40; Morris Baer, advertising agent, 40; W. P. Potter, attorney, 40. The Philadelphia Evening Item January 19, 1890

In conversation with Kelly this afternoon he admitted that he had signed with his old management for next season, and that he held the contract in his pocket. He defended his action on several grounds. He claims that the Players' League violated its contract with him; that by refusing to distribute $20,000 prize money to the club winning the championship it violated one of the specific terms on which he was led to sign a Players' contract.

…

He also affirmed that he disliked to be the first man to go back on the players, and that he is not the first one to do so; but, as everybody was apparently scrambling to save himself, and there will not, in his opinion, be a Players' League next season, he did not propose to get left, and so he got under cover.

Kelly's action has caused a most decided sensation about the hotel where the ball men are assembled. The Sporting Life November 15, 1890

Mike Kelly, who was reported to have signed a contract with the Boston League Club last week, indignantly denied the story. He said:-- “The story is false. I have not signed and never will as long as the Players' league exists. I was offered $15,000 to jump this summer with a five-year's contract for $25,000 and I would not desert the boys. I am too honorable to do that. The only event in which I would sign with the Boston Nationals is the demise of the Players' League. I was the last to sign the Brotherhood compact and I will be the last to break it.” The Sporting Life November 22, 1890

[from the Peoria correspondent] As the public knows but little of the inside workings of base ball management, there are a good many points in the statement of general interest:

Per month Per month

McCloskey, c.f......... $200 Firle, 1b........ $125

Nulton, s.s............... 150 Taylor, 2b..... 125

Cain, p................ 150 Deegan, 2b..... 125

Sullivan, p............ 125 Burch, r.f........ 125

Darby, p................ 100 Popkay, l.f... 125

Rudolph, p.......... 60

Johnston, c.......... 125 Total......... $1535

Hurley, janitor, per month........... 35

League assessments, per month......... 100

Ticket sellers and police, say per month........ 50

Printing and advertising, say per month............. 50

Say we play eight games at home in a month at

$60 guarantee 480

Total............................................ $2250

The above figures do not include free tickets to Peoria for players when signed, nor does it include balls, or shoes, or gloves, and many other expenses, which, if figures in, will make at least $50 per month more. Figuring thirty days to the month and the expenses at $2250, the daily expenses are $75. Eight games played at home divided into the $2250 would make it necessary to receive $281.25 at each game in order to pay expenses. This, of course, is on the basis of playing eight games at home in a month. We cannot figure any profit to ourselves when the club is on the road, and only get a guarantee of $60 for each game they play, this being no more than sufficient to pay railroad fare and hotel bills for the club. It is now clear that base ball cannot live with this burden of expense, and until a ball player can be had at a policeman's or a street car driver's pay—say $50 or $60 per month—base ball cannot pay, or mus die, unless some good-natured fellow will put up the money to keep the ball rolling.

Ball-players in clubs belonging to the Tri-State and Indiana circuit, will not grow rich the coming season. They will not need any one to help them to carry their salary away, even if it is paid to them in large copper cents. May be some of the local professionals are not [sic] warm under the collar. They claim that the salary limit of their League is outrageously low; that $500 a month for a team, including the manager, is a niggardly salary. Possibly it is, but the gentlemen at the head of these Leagues know their business. Heretofore minor Leagues have been conducted on decidedly too extravagant lines. The salaries were two [sic] high to allow the clubs to live. The wrecks that have in days gone by strewed the paths of minor Leagues have been a good teacher, and the projectors of the Tri-State and Indiana Leagues displayed good sense in calling a halt. Base-ball salaries are too high all around, and there is bound to be a reaction. The action taken by these minor Leagues is only a sample of what is to come some day in the major organizations.

[from the Washington correspondent] ...it is not unusual to see two or three members of the home club dressed in .

John G. Johnson, J. M. Vanderslice and Alfred Moore, attorneys for the Players' National League Base Ball Club of Philadelphia, yesterday filed suits in equity against Albert Myers and the Philadelphia Base Ball Club; Samuel L. Thompson and the same organization, and John Clements, to restrain them from playing in the team of the defendant club...

John F. Morrill, one of the best-known base ball players, will open a sporting goods house at 12 Broomfield street, Boston, on March 1, under the firm name of John F. Morrill & Co. A full line of base ball, tennis and general athletic goods will be handled, and the business will be conducted very much on the same plan as that of Tim Keefe's in New York City. The Sporting Life February 26, 1890

A new base ball headquarters was opened last night with “Honest” John Morrill, Boston's favorite base ball player, and his business partner, Mr. W. R. Burdett, as hosts. Mr. Morrill has now severed forever his connection with professional base ball playing, and has turned his attention to the less exciting practice of fitting out athletes with the articles needed in the field of sports. The new store is at 12 Bromfield street. It is centrally located in th business district, and as the games of the Brotherhood and League clubs are to be displayed it cannot fail to become popular. Morrill has laid in a handsome stock of sporting goods and have ever reason to hope for success in his venture. The Sporting Life March 19, 1890

The marked increase in the attendance at the National League games, as compared with the Players' League attendance, which took place upon the return of the teams to the East, and which gave League adherent such comfort, is attributed by the Players' League people to the use of passes in certain of the Eastern cities, to such a degree as to make the League games almost free to the public. These tales were denied in League quarters, but at Thursday's Players' League meeting in Philadelphia a number of these passes, regularly printed and dated, were exhibited, and some were distributed among newspaper men as proof that the charges of “free ball” had not been groundless.

The cities in which it is charged passes are issued in quantities are Chicago, Boston, New York and Brooklyn. On this point the reporter of the Pittsburg Press who made the Eastern trip with the Pittburg team writes his paper:

“The National League, for some unaccountable reason, seems to be universally padding its attendance by means of the free list system. I investigated this question and with the assistance of two letter carriers of the Boston post office force, am able to prove the assertion that the old League is doing the pass act to an almost reckless extent. The first carrier I speak of, with whom I am personally acquainted, had a pad of twenty-five tickets for distribution, and another carrier, to whom he introduced me, confirmed the statement that almost the entire letter carrier force had tickets, not only for their own use but for distribution among cigar stores, saloons and business houses.”

Ward is of the positive opinion that the League magnates are striving with might and main to kill the game in order to lay the Players' League in the mire, hoping afterwards to rebuild it and to raise the new crop of enthusiasts and supporters. Ward says the cry of base ball being dead and the free ball scheme are all means toward the end the magnates seek. Ward's views are shared by all his Players' League colleagues. The Sporting Life July 19, 1890

[from Murnane's column] The Triumvirs got themselves most thoroughly disliked for years by refusing to admit even the mothers of some of the well-known League players to the games.

What a change. Now the complimentary tickets are as free as water. Think of one man in Lynn having 900 of these “comps” sent to him for distribution.

You can find them by the bunch at the police station houses, at the drug stores and about everywhere that people can be worked to “chin” for the old masters.

The above is no guesswork and I can prove the charge and add to it ten-fold.

It looks like one more desperate attempt to kill the game, for a time at least, with a hope of getting the chance later on to monopolize the business. I know for a a fact that the people who go to the League grounds free one day go to the Brotherhood grounds and pay the next day.

There was a time when the League magnates were looked on as men well up in business affairs, but was there ever a body of men more thoroughly outwitted than they have been during the last six months?

Outgeneraled at every turn, they have gone mad and are now cutting their own throats, like swimming pigs, as they manage to keep their heads above water.

What is bound to be the ultimate outcome of all this bad management? I think I can tell, and my honest opinion is that the backers of the Players' League can see it as plain as I, viz.: Get together, strengthen up the lines in a way to leave no doubt of their determination to not only live and let live, but fight and fight hard and fast. Stop at no quarter until the men who would ruin a fair business rival are given a lesson they will not soon forget.

Because A. G. Spalding and the Boston men have made two or three hundred thousand dollars out of the base ball business is that any reason they should expect to have the public always with them, whether right or wrong?

I contend that it was the honest ball players that built up the game in this country, and as most of them are no in the Players' League, it must be a queer world, indeed, if they can be defeated. The Sporting Life July 19, 1890

[from J. F. Donnolly's column] Secretary Ebbetts can't stand the talk about “snow” being plentiful at Washington Park, and when Wendell Goodwin, of the Players' Club, was credited with talking of the free passes that had been given out by the National League Club, Charley broke loose and invited all the newspaper men to an inspection of his books. He did this on the spur of the moment and proved to the satisfaction of all that the visiting clubs had been paid their percentage on the basis of the figures given to the newspapers, which Mr. Ebbetts is willing to swear were correct in all instances. He showed by money receipts that from July 5 to 19 just forty-nine free tickets had been issued to every 1000 persons. He also declared that the number of complimentary books issued this season (196) was smaller than last year. The Sporting Life August 2, 1890

Philadelphia, in the National League, has had the largest total attendance, 206,016, but as this is a 25 cent city, 70,000 wants to be taken away to bring them to the same financial basis as the others. This will bring the Bostons No. 1 with 178,396, closely followed by Cincinnati with 178,071. Anson's team is credited with 167,380 and the Bridegrooms next with 161,482.

...there is yet some hope in the minds of some of the magnates that it will be possible to cut down the circuit before the season is admitted. The League's hope for this event coming to pass is in the way it treated Indianapolis in the matter of playing dates. Indianapolis' right to object to certain dates and to request others was simply ignored, and to an outsider it looks as if the schedule committee went out of its way to give the Hoosier team just the dates it didn't want and to lay off the team just when it wanted to play. By doing this it was no doubt the idea of the committee to scare Magnate Brush into selling out. Brush and the other Indianapolis officials were very hot indeed over the matter, but they refuse to budge and say they will go on. In Indianapolis the feeling is general that the League is trying to force Indianapolis out covertly, not daring to drop the club openly, according to former methods.

[quoting Al Johnson] I have a ball park that is twice as large as the new League diamond will be. I have a horde of players anxious to help me in any way; I am watching out for all the cities that are thrown down by the National League and American Association. There are plenty of big cities West of the Mississippi that will be left out in the cold when the magnates put forth their pronunciamento. With two clubs in several of the cities, I will have a circuit of cities playing Sunday ball. There are three ball parks on the line of our street railroad where games are played almost every Sunday; why should there not be Sunday games on the old Brotherhood Grounds? No one can object. The Sunday games will pay all expenses, for I shall not have fifteen or eighteen stars on the pay roll. Six or seven of the old players will be enough. We can fill up the gaps with young blood.

It will be easy enough to organize an independent league of eight or twelve cities that will be frozen out of the old associations. There will be no red tape rules, but an honest struggle for the pennant and for a purse which will be worth striving for. I will wager $2500 that my club will draw as many people during the season as the League club does, and another $2500 that my club will stand higher in the race in my association than the Cleveland League Club does in the League. They have used me like a dog. Now I will show them a trick or two of my own devising. When they read the list of cities composing my independent league they'll throw up their hands. We'll have twenty five cent games—fully as good if not better than those of the League, costing twice as much. There'll be no division of gate receipts, each club hustling for itself. I am sure that the Sunday games will pay the expenses of the club.

With the close of the present week and within a few days of the annual meetings of the big leagues the prospect for a general consolidation of the two big leagues is effectually blighted and it would be pretty safe to predict that not more than one or two—if any—Players' League clubs will be absorbed by the National League. This is certainly due to the fact that the National League, instead of meeting its rivals fairly, has been trying to get the best of the deal, everywhere except in New York, where it had so much to gain and so little to lose by consolidating that it was absolutely essential to success to make a show of fairness. In Philadelphia there have been no approaches to a conference; in Boston the triumvirs are calmly waiting for such a turn of affairs as will throw the Players' League Club upon their mercy; in Cleveland the League people have made conditions that Mr. Johnson cannot [illegible]. … ...words, the League is apparently sure of consolidation in Brooklyn and New York, and, having secure that, is confident that it will break the Players' League and force all of the remaining clubs to sacrifice themselves.

The Chicago League Club managers have purchased a plot of ground on the corner of Park and Lincoln street in the block immediately south of the county hospital. Workmen are now engaged filling in the grounds, and will have shortly completed the drainage system, which will alone cost over $10,000. The same architect who planned the Boston, Philadelphia and New York grounds will be employed. The dimensions of the park will be 650 feet square, and will cost, when complete, $180,000. Beautiful private [illegible] promenades and a club house of large dimensions have been provided for. The seating capacity will be 15,000. It was expected to have the grounds ready for playing in the spring of 1891, but the recent attempt to deprive the club of its present grounds compelled the managers to take a new lease of them extending over a period of three years, and a delay will result, but the new park will undoubtedly be ready for occupancy in 1892. It will not only be devoted to base ball, but bicycling, tennis, foot ball, cricket, in short all manager of athletic sports.

A. G. Spalding denies the story sent out from Chicago that he came to New York for the purpose of buying out the controlling interest in the National League team. Mr. Spalding was seen at his New York office yesterday. He said he had not come for any such purpose, and denied that he was or intended to become interested in the New York Club. “I understand,” said Mr. Spalding, “that some of Mr. Day's friends have persuaded him to increase the capital stock of the New York Club to $100,000 and give them an opportunity to become associated with him in the enterprise. This confidence in the ultimate success of the National League in their fight with the Brotherhood and the value of a League franchise in new York is substantially shown by their eagerness to take all the stock they could get. Mr. Day tells me that he could increase it to $200,000 if necessary, and have all the stock taken. Of course many clubs in the League and Brotherhood organizations will lose money on this season's business, and all hands will continue to lose money as long as this foolish war continues, inaugurated as it was by a a few over-enthusiastic but misguided players, urged on and assisted by plunging speculators, who saw 'millions in it.' I see no reason to change the opinion I expressed early in the season that professional base ball had received a serious blow by this Players' revolt. In fact, as the season continues it must have become apparent to the most enthusiastic support of the Brotherhood movement that such is the case.

[editorial matter] The only one of the big clubs that needed reorganization was New York, because the controlling interesting in that club was owned by Mr. John B. Day, who, it was understood, was not, owing to a number of reverses in recent years, able to carry the club alone through a losing season. Accordingly, the capital stock has been increased to $100,000, which gave the club the necessary capital to stand the losses it will surely suffer this season. Who took the additional stock is not known, although it is hinted that a couple of League magnates secured a large block of it, and the Mr. Dillingham, a former minority stockholder, is also more largely interested now. It is not known whether all of the additional stock has been placed. If it has been, there are some capitalists who have an abiding faith in the future of the New York League Club. Of course this increased stock has reduced Mr. Day's interest, but whether enough to give the control of the club to other parties is not known.

A story going the rounds throws a little light on the New York situation. It appears that John B. Day has been gradually losing his grip on the control of the New York National League Club until, at the present time, he owns barely one-fifth of the stock. The other reputed stockholders are Soden, Billings and Conant, of Boston; Abell, of Brooklyn; Brush, of Indianapolis, and the Spaldings. Down deep in his heart, it is said, Day cherishes no deep affection for some of these gentlemen. A little over a year ago his relations with the Brooklyn and Chicago clubs were certainly not fraternal. If Mr. Day could consolidate the two New York clubs with a capital stock of $200,000, each of the present clubs taking half the stock, he would be able, by forming an alliance with Talcott, McAlpin, Van Cott and Robinson, to hold control of the reconstructed organization, and in the future nothing would be impossible for the majority of the stockholders., quoting the New York World

[from a dispatch by Murnane to the Boston Globe] The stock of the consolidated New York club is divided up into so many shares that John B. Day has no chance of ever getting whole in the base ball business.

The New York Players' League Club accomplished the object it had in mind ever since the first conference with the National League and despite its oft-repeated promises not to do anything until all other Players' League clubs had been provided for, consummated the consolidation deal with the New York League Club last Friday—an unlucky day, by the way. They didn't even keep their promise to see that other noble and able conferee, Goodwin, out of the mess he was in, but cruelly left him to get out of the hole he had gotten himself and his Brooklyn fellow-stockholders into as best he could.

John B. Day says the New York team will open next season at the Polo Ground in order that Brotherhood Park may be sodded and seeded. About the 1st of July the Giants will become installed at the latter ground, to be known as the New Polo Ground.

Abundant capital, energy, and local pride have at last come to the rescue of Walter Hewett, and there is nothing to prevent Washington from going to the front in League company this season. Mr. Albert Gleason, one of the wealthiest men in this city [Washington=, who has always been an ardent admirer of the national game and a regular attendant at the Senatorial combats at Capitol Park and elsewhere, has finally concluded to divide the responsibilities of maintaining a League club here with Walter Hewett. Mr. Gleason is a leading contractor, and owns some of the most valuable real estate in northwest Washington. He was tardy about entering into the base ball business with Mr. Hewett because of the uncertainty that clustered or appeared to cluster around the franchise of the local club. At the Cleveland meeting of the League the status of the Washington Club was clearly defined, and Mr. Gleason is now prepared to go down into his pockets and help Walter Hewett establish a team here that will be a credit to the national capital.

President Nick Young, of the League, will never have to depend on sweet charity. Besides his $3,000 salary as President of the League, he receives that much more as clerk in the Second Auditor’s office in Washington.

President Young draws annually from Uncle Sam's cashbox $1600 as a clerk in the second auditor's office of the Treasury Department, having been appointed from the great State of New York in 1869.

[from the Pittsburgh correspondent] It is now Ex-President Nimick, for the base ball season at least. As President Nimick explained matters the other day:-- “You know my other business matters take up nearly all my time and I really have had to neglect them just to pay a little attention to base ball. I found out lately that I couldn't handle it with any degree of satisfaction, so I turned it over to Mr. O'Neill. He has nothing on hand for the present and is a great enthusiast on the game, so I feel certain the affairs of the club will not suffer during his administration. He will take charge of the tam and will likely go on the road and watch everything. Mr. O'Neill is determined to have a winning team. We have already lost $13,000, but are not alarmed.” The Sporting Life May 17, 1890

Mr. Nimick, of Pittsburg, is no longer a League magnate. He has written a long letter to President N. E. Young informing him that he has disposed of his interest in the Pittsburg League club... The Sporting Life May 31, 1890

The World to-day [7/26] sends the following message to the president of every National and Players' League Club, and would be pleased to receive an immediate answer, at its expense, giving fully your answers and views on the following questions:

First—Would you agree to a compromise, which had for its basis the surrender of the names of cities by the Players' League clubs in return for a change of playing dates by the National League clubs, with an agreement to respect contract rights and exchange games at the end of the season?

Second—If not, is there any basis upon which you would agree to a compromise and what is it?

The World asks these questions in the interest of base ball.

The result was rather astonishing, as the answers indicated that the end of the war was as far off as ever.

Of the five answers received from National League sources four are flatfooted against any compromise, and the only sign of wavering, if it can be called wavering, is given by Pittsburg, and the diplomatic reply of Col. Rogers which left it to be inferred that a compromise on a different basis than that suggested by the World might be considered.

…

In marked contrast to the National League magnates the Players' League people are not only willing, but desirous to make some sort of compromise. Five of the six answers breathe the air of peace, but eh Boston Players will not hear of a compromise. [individual replies are included, as well as an interview of McAlpin where he is open to compromise]

[from the Boston correspondent's column] For years there has been a great complaint in Boston that we do not have coaching enough. If good coaching consists of noise, or rather a perfect hubbub, what we are getting at the South End grounds must be of No. 1 order. I am as strongly in favor of coaching as anyone, and I like to see a game enlivened with a little noise, but the continual, nonsensical screaming which is kept up by Long, Tucker and Donovan, is not my idea of coaching at all. While many now are talking here about the great change in this part of the game I will guarantee that six weeks from now everybody who thinks it is funny will be disgusted with it. If it helped to make runs it would be different, but you never hear such men as John Ward, Mike Kelly, Arthur Irwin, Anson and seldom Ewing, make such show of themselves. From the same sort of coaching by Captain Darby O'Brien and his men I judged it is American Association training that we are now treated to.

The Columbus directors did a graceful act when they appointed Geo. Gordon as the official scorer of the local team. He is an ardent admirer of the game, and a close student likewise.

The veteran player, Jas. L. White, it is said, will urge upon the Players' League a change in the scoring rules relating to the making of errors in actual play. He thinks at present too much is left to the judgment of the scorer. An error, as defined by him, is a muffed thrown ball, muffed fly ball, or a wild throw. In the matter of ground balls, where the player is unable to field the ball, he thinks the batter should be given a hit. He goes on to say that in four cases out of six, where fielders are given errors on ground balls at present, the batter should be given credit for a hit. This, White argues, will induce certain record players to bestir themselves and go after everything within reach. Mr. White's suggestion is a good one, and it should not only be adopted by the Players' League, but by all other organizations. There is very frequently a difference of opinion among scorers on ground hits, and, as Mr. White says, infielders are frequently given errors when the batsman should be given a hit.

[quoting Ward] I want to say right here that there is just one club and a half in favor of consolidation. The New York Players' League capitalists to a man, for some reason or other, are anxious to consolidate with John B. Day. Half the Brooklyn directors want to join forces with Byrne, and the other half want to continue the fight. This talk about the clubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburg and other cities wanting to combine is all nonsense. The Players' League clubs in those cities are satisfied with their present position and are not anxious to treat with their National League rivals. The Players' League had the call when the season closed, but the ridiculous and needless weakening by the local backers has placed it in an embarrassing position, while the National League magnates have been benefited. If they claim that the players should not be considered, why don't they come and tell us so instead of running round on the quiet and talking peace with the National League men? When they started in with this fight they knew very well what to expect and they have no right to squeal now.

[from Ella Black's column] Well the season has been opened at last and it is safe to say that the Brotherhood, as represented by the Players' League, has so far left the National League far in the rear. There was a wonderful contrast here in the opening day parades of the two bodies. The old League turn-out consisted of a band of music, the players of the Allegheny and Cleveland clubs and the reporters who were compelled to attend the game. The new club had two bands with the players and a long line of carriages, filled with well-known citizens who favor the move that has been made. The first parade in passing through the streets got no reception at all. There was neither cheers nor hisses. On the other side there was a continuous roar of applause for the Players' parade from the time it made a start from the Hotel Anderson until it passed into the new grounds. I saw both the turnouts and know whereof I speak. It was very evident the new League only needs to play anything like a fair game to capture the lion's share of the patronage...

Many of the Baltimore players are strongly opposed to taking part in games with Grant, the colored third baseman of the Harrisburg Club. The most decided objections are naturally made by Tate and O'Rourke, who live in Richmond, and Mack, who is a son of Kentucky.

The outlook for the Players' League was never better, and those conversant with all the facts concerning it and with the plans for the future, are positive that there can be, by no possibility, a failure in any direction. The men behind the Players' League have been apt pupils, and in one short season have become adopts in the art and mystery of running a base ball league successfully. Results will prove this assertion true.

At the meeting of the Central Labor Union, held at Clarendon Hall yesterday, the following was adopted:--

Whereas Timothy J. Keefe, on behalf of the Brotherhood, having by promises and acts lived up to all requests made on him by organized labor, and whereas the Brotherhood of New York is in our estimation a labor organization as far as possible under the circumstances of its organization, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Central Labor Union and its affiliated unions heartily endorse Mr. Keefe and his associates in breaking the chains of bondage riveted on them by the National League monopolists, and

Resolved, That the Central Labor Union and all organizations attached thereto do patronize the games played by the Brotherhood in preference to all others. New York Herald March 3, 1890

` liquor removed from Brooklyn NL park

The one notable change at Washington Park, Brooklyn, this season will be the removal of the bar. No liquors are sold on grounds where League games are played. New York Herald March 3, 1890

The National League has an array of 140 players and the army of the Players' League counts 127. The following figures will show where the forces in both armies are drawn from (the Brooklyns and Cincinnatis, of the National League, brought almost their entire teams from the American Association):

Nat. League Players' League

From National League.................... 37 81

From American Association......... 36 26

From International League 5 6

From Western Association 9 3

From other leagues and amateurs 53 11

…

A careful student of the list of players of both organizations will come to the conclusion that of the 140 players in the National League 61 are first-class, and that the Players' League shows 75 first-class players in its total number of 127.

[editorial matter] The advice that the Association is receiving from “disinterested” people as to the formation of its circuit is uncalled for and altogether ridiculous. The Association people certainly know that if their organization is to be made permanent and equal to the League, instead of a subordinate to the latter, it will have to make up its circuit as originally outlined when the present peace negotiations were begun. In the West either Chicago or Cincinnati (the latter preferred) must be included, and in the East either Boston or Brooklyn are absolutely indispensable to round out with Philadelphia, Baltimore, and probably Washington. Any change whatever in this circuit will defeat the purpose of the Association, reduce it to a secondary rank and make its future decidedly precarious. Under the circumstances it is not likely that the Association will permit itself to be side-tracked. The Sporting Life December 13, 1890

New York Club ownership

[from W. I. Harris's column] There is a mistaken impression abroad that the Spaldings own a controlling interest in the League end of the New York Club. This is not true. A. G. Spalding has not a dollar in it. Walter Spalding owns a small proportion of the stock, and he and Mr. Day have been selected by the other stockholders to settle up the consolidation. When things are fixed, as they will be in a few days, Mr. Day and Mr. Spalding will simply be able to control the League end of it, because of the desire of the other stockholders that they should do so. Either of them alone could do nothing without the confidence imposed in them by their associates. This statement is made on the authority of both Mr. Day and Mr. Walter Spalding, and is absolutely correct. The Sporting Life December 13, 1890

[reporting the PL meeting 11/11] ...Col. McAlpin took the floor to speak for his club. He made a long speech in favor of consolidation. When he had to explain the exact position of his club, however, he was deluged with questions and cross-questions and had a very uncomfortable time of it. He admitted arrangements satisfactory to the New York Club had been made with the New York League Club, but assured the meeting that no papers had been signed. He stated further that the matter of consolidation was out of his hands, as he had resigned his stock and that he had been instructed by his club to withdraw it from the Players' League, in order to effect consolidation without further complications. He then offered his club's resignation within sixty days, as required by the constitution.

[reporting the AA meeting 11/22] Manager William Sharsig and W. Taylor were present as delegates of the Athletic Club, of Philadelphia, but they took no active part in the meeting. Tim Murnane represented the Players' League Club, of Boston, which has applied for an Association franchise, and Hon. A. W. Thurman, of Columbus, also represented the interests of the Philadelphia and Chicago Players League clubs. … Sam Trott, of Washington, arrived in the morning and filed an application for membership on behalf of R. E. White, cashier of the Washington National Bank, and other Washington gentlemen. Mr. White agreed to furnish a heavy bond that the club would live out the season and fulfill its obligations. A telegram was also received from parties in Buffalo, saying that they were anxious to secure an Association franchise. The Milwaukee Club also applied for admission by telegram. These applications were referred to the committee on conference.

[reporting the PL special meeting of 4/2/1890] The next matter which was presented for the consideration of the board was the question as to whether or not it was advisable to permit the reinstatement of certain players, who, after signing a Players' League contract, jumped back to clubs ruled by the National Agreement. This question caused a hot debate, some of the delegates declaring for war all along the line, while others favored a more conservative policy. A compromise was at last effected, and it was unanimously agreed that all players who had signed the Brotherhood agreement or a Players' League contract and who reported for duty in accordance with that agreement or contract on or before April 1 st were eligible to membership in the Players' League. This lets in Mulvey, Delahanty and Beckley, and perhaps a few others who were led into signing National League contracts, but, repenting their action, returned to their pledges.

Manager Mishler, of Altoona, yesterday arranged to have Ward's Brooklyns play the Altoona Club at Altoona next Tuesday. The club claims to be independent, now that its league has disbanded. The Sporting Life August 2, 1890

[dateline Canton, Ohio] The dropping of the National Agreement seems to meet the approval of most of the sporting fraternity of this locality. After August 9 the directors propose getting several of the Brotherhood teams to play exhibition games here with the home team. Such a series of games would draw a large attendance. The Sporting Life August 2, 1890

Every club in the Players' League with the exception of Pittsburgh and Buffalo were represented at a conference held by the Central Board of Directors at the resident of E. B. Talcott, Vice-President of the New York Club, on Friday evening [5/29] , which was continued over until yesterday morning. The representatives present were: President E. A. McAlpin, Vice-President Addison of Chicago, F. H. Brunell, Secretary; R. B. Talcott, New York Club; John Ward, Brooklyn, H. M. Love and J.E. Wagner, Philadelphia; Julian H. Hart, Boston; George H. Sliney and John Stricker, Cleveland.

The most important matter brought before the conference was the question of a change of schedule,. Pittsburgh was one of two cities that would like to see a change in the conflicting dates. It was for the purpose of showing the Smoky City and its other supporters that the balance o the clubs in the Players' league did not desire a change, and that Secretary Brunell upon his own responsibility called a conference of the Central Board. A vote was taken on the question, and the six clubs went on record as voting for the retention of the present schedule.

Secretary Brunell said to a Sun reporter yesterday that the vote at the conference settled the matter about the Players' league schedule beyond doubt. “It will remain just as it is,” he continued. “If the National League people want fight, they will get all they desire before the season ends. We will get all the attendance necessary for a success when the weather settles. If any club can't keep its end up and wants to retire, I have an amount of finances right in my possession that will place a club in the place of the disbanded one at short notice.

In response to the popular feeling, the local Players' League team has reduced its price of admission to 25 cents for all home games. The change will take place to-morrow [4/29]. doubtless the small attendance at recent games has hurried the change. The club directors have issued the following statement on the matter:

“Now that the base ball championship season of 1890 has fairly opened, and the base ball loving public have had an opportunity to judge between the two clubs representing our city, it has been made manifest by the attendance at the games of the Players' League Club by a majority of 10 to 1, that that organization is the popular one, and since the National League Club has, after having used every means within their power to overthrow the Players' League here at last resorting to the only remaining subterfuge, a non-conflicting schedule, it has been determined by the Pittsburg Players' League Club to further popularize itself by the introduction of a 25-cent admission to its home games. This, which goes into effect on Tuesday, should be welcomed by all.

[reporting the PL special meeting of 8/27] The question of a deal between the Players' League and the American Association was not definitely settled. … Messrs. Johnson, Brunell and Ward, who were appointed a special committee on the welfare of the League at its last meeting in Philadelphia, made their report. Exactly what it was could not be learned, but it caused an hour's debate, and at the end of that time the Player's League was no nearer a deal with the American Association than it was last year. There are two sides to the question, which were presented to the meeting. An agreement would have its disadvantages as well as its advantages. While it would undoubtedly be a big feather in the cap of the new League to break up the so-called National Agreement, such a deal would open the door for the National League to jump in and sign as many of the Association's players as it chooses, and it needs a great many more of them than the Players' League.

[from W. I. Harris's column] The denials of the falsification of figures by the Chicago Brotherhood Club have not been very loud. There has been a general denial by Secretary Brunell and a bluff about submitting the figures to the Associated Press, and Julian Hart, of Boston, has denied that he has given out any false figures. There can be no doubt that the figures given out by the Boston are correct. E. F. Stevens wrote the article, and he told me that he had thoroughly investigated the matter and was convinced that the figures, which he compiled from the original reports of the men who did the counting, were reliable. We have some proof here of their correctness. Langdon Smith, of the New York World, a Brotherhood sympathizer, is not a partisan in any sense. Mr. Smith has had much experience, and his estimate of the crowds telegraphed to the Evening World are very near the right figures.

Last Saturday, at Chicago, Mr. Smith estimated the attendance to be about 3000. The Boston figures it 2058, and the official figures given out were 6612. On Monday, according to Mr. Smith, there was “a small crowd present,” and the club gave out 2371. Yesterday Mr. Smith wired from Boston “about 2500 people were present,” and Mr. Hart, who protests so much, gave out the attendance as 4537. At Chicago yesterday the figures sent out were 2228, while Charles G. Seymour, the Chicago correspondent of the United Press, says that the attendance was about 600. There are other things, but these are enough to show that Mr. Spalding's count may be accepted as correct, and the big jump in attendance at Players' League games after July 26, bears out Mr. Spalding's assertion that it was in accordance with action taken at that Philadelphia meeting.

The Players' revolt appears to be as disastrous to the interests of the game in the Association as in the League circuit. The attendance here [St. Louis] was bad last year, but it is frightful this year. There have not been 2,000 people at any Sunday game at Sportsman's Park this season, and the daily attendance has not averaged 400, this at 25 cents admission. An alleged turnstile count is posted at every game, but the figures are kept concealed in the turnstile and are usually double the actual number of people on the grounds.

Judges Hewett E. Jackson and George R. Sage, of the United States Court, handed down opinions yesterday in the case of the Interstate Commerce Commission against the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. The Interstate Commerce Commissioners filed a petition, asking the court to issue a writ of injunction restraining the Baltimore & Ohio from continuing to issue party rate tickets in violation of the orders and for a decree imposing upon the road a heavy fine if they failed to obey the injunction if granted. The injunction was not granted, the fine was not imposed, and the suit was dismissed at the cost of the commission.

…

Judge Sage holds that party rate tickets, which are not in general use, but are limited almost exclusively to traveling theatrical troupes, do not constitute unjust discrimination.

[from an interview of Pat Murphy] First of all, I considered the interests of my family, and in so doing I was obliged to choose between a certainty and an uncertainty. The step I have taken was prompted by that one principal motive. My obligations to the men who have always treated me with kindness also demanded my attention. I was perfectly satisfied with the New York management. I have no grievances. The only fault I found was that our captain, Mr. Ewing, did not allow me to participate in more games.

According to J. Palmer O'Neil the League has collected enough money to make good for those notes given to Brush, of Indianapolis, for League franchises and players, of which Boston is to pay about $8000, Chicago $7000, Brooklyn, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and New York about $6000, Pittsburg $3200 and Cleveland $3000. The Pittsburg Club has transferred five games to Chicago, seven games to Cincinnati, ten games to Philadelphia and six games to Brooklyn. The 10 per cent. on these games has been remitted to President Young by the various home club, abut the Pittsburg Club has received no credit whatever for the remittances. While the amount remitted on account of all these transferred games has been more than enough to pay these notes, President Young claims he has no right to apply the money mentioned to the Pittsburg notes. If Mr. Nimick pays these notes he will certainly get a drawback at the end of the season. It is understood Mr. Nimick will not settle the notes until Sept. 1. Sept. 1 has come and gone and the question is did Nimick settle?

[from Tim Murnane's column] In the summer of '88 I received a letter from the Detroit management asking me if I knew of any good batsmen in the New England League, saying they would pay me for any information. I wrote back that Sam Laroque, then with Lynn, was about the heaviest batting infielder in New England. In a few days I received a telegram asking what his release would cost. I didn't care to go down to Lynn and spend my own money, as I had no assurance that I would get it back from Detroit, so I sent the Detroit management the figures that Manager Murphy had given the Boston Club. My answer was something like this:-- “anywhere from $1000 to $1500; you can find out by inquiring of the Lynn management.” That was all the business I had with the Detroit people at the time.

In a few days the Western people commenced doing business direct with Lynn, which was going into the soup fast, and consequently the price of players was going down. If I remember right, Detroit got their man for about $500. They might have got him for near that figure for all I know, but I didn't care, as I said before, to waste my time in trying to find out. I considered my services wroth at least $100 for naming the man, as I have always been paid liberally giving my judgment about young players. After Laroque reached Detroit I sent those people word that they were indebted to me. I got word back from Bob Leadley asking me to send on my bill, which I did, for $25.

This letter was not answered, but on meeting Mr. Leadley in Boston afterwards, I told him what I thought of the whole affair, and he intimated that I would receive the amount due me. Time has flown, and no money has yet shown up. The above is a true statement of facts which I am willing to make oath to. I have been before the American base ball public for a good many years, and not fearing to speak my mind, would have such men as Mathison [reporter for the Detroit Free Press] after me all the time if they could point out a wrong I ever did.

An official explanation of the suits against W. A. Nimick, of the Pittsburg National League Club, to recover over $2400 on notes, was made yesterday. President J. Palmer O'Neill furnished the following:

“The trouble grew out of the transfer of games of the Pittsburg Club. In the Indianapolis deal it was agreed that Brush should be paid in notes made payable at Washington in equal installments, two, three, four and five months. These notes were given in part by each club in proportion to their supposed attendance of 1890, based upon the attendance of 1889. Each club at the conclusion of every game was to remit to President Young 10 per cent of the gross gate receipts.

“Under this method, if the attendance of one club at home exceeded its calculated proportion, it would pay more than the amount set apart for it to pay, the whole transaction to be balanced at the end of the year and so adjusted that each club would pay its ten per cent. no club was to pay more than ten per cent. of the gate receipts. The trouble comes with Pittsburg right there. The Pittsburg Club during the season up to this time has transferred five games to Chjcago, seven to Cincinnati, ten to Philadelphia and six to Brooklyn.

“The ten per cent. on these games having been remitted to President Young by the various home clubs names, the Pittsburg Club has received no credit whatever for the remittances on this account. While the amount remitted on account of these transferred games has been more than enough to pay these notes, President Young claims that he has no right to apply the money mentioned to the Pittsburg notes. If Mr. Nimick pays these notes he will certainly get a draw-back at the end of the season.”

It is intimated that the notes given by the other League clubs have not been met, and that suits have been, or will be, brought in other cities. It is also intimated that Mr. Nimick will not settled the matter until Sept. 1. The Sporting Life August 16, 1890

Anent the disclosures due to the suits against President Nimick and Pittsburg, the New York World ironically remarks:--”Gradually, the inside of the famous 'Indianapolis deal' is coming to light. From President Nimick's statement, the clubs were to be assessed in proportion to their attendance, but in the meantime, John T. Brush was to be paid. Pittsburg's assessment was $2400, and could not have been heavier than that of any other club, and probably not so large. This would make the sum paid to Brush for the temporary use of his franchise and players $19,2000. A pretty tidy sum for the young men who drew 814 (National League figures) at the Polo Grounds yesterday afternoon.” The Sporting Life August 16, 1890

The attention of the umpires of the American Association is called to the provisions contained in the rules of the American Association, which prohibit captains and players of the various clubs from disputing or questioning the decisions of the umpires. And the umpires are directed not to allow players or captains from either of the contesting clubs to come in from their positions to argue with him or to dispute concerning any decision made by him. The umpire will hereafter notify the captains of both clubs before play begins that this rule will be strictly enforced, and whenever any player or captain starts in from his position to dispute or question any decision of the umpire he will be warned by the umpire not to come in, and if he insists upon violating this rule the umpire will enforce the penalties provided in such cases.

This habit of allowing players to argue with the umpire concerning decisions which he has made and which he cannot change will go very far toward creating disorder upon the grounds and dissatisfaction among the spectators and I therefore insist that the laws on the subject be strictly enforced.

I beg leave to assure the umpires that I will see that they are sustained in their actions taken in pursuance to the directions herein given.

Horace Fogel, sporting editor of the Ledger, has been appointed official scorer for the Philadelphia Brotherhood Club. In this they have made a wise selection.

President Henry M. Love, of the Philadelphia Players' Club, disposed of his interest during the week and quietly stepped down and out. The club is now in the hands of the Wagner brothers, who will run it on business principles, and cater to the local public liberally and judiciously.

The directors of the Philadelphia Players’ League Club held a special meeting... yesterday afternoon. ... It was decided to issue season books, of one hundred tickets. These books will be transferrable, and all the tickets may be used at one game if the owner desires to take 99 friends with him.

In order to prevent scalpers from speculating on these books, they will be sold to responsible parties only. The object of issuing these books is to give clerks and employees in banking, mercantile, jobbing and manufacturing establishments a chance to club together and secure season tickets and get the full value of their money, which they do not get from non-transferrable books, as few can spare the time to attend all the games.

The club will also issue non-transferable season books. In addition, there will also be season tickets issued for the private boxes. The regular non-transferrable season books, as well as the 100 transferable tickets in book form, will admit the bearer to the grand stand only, and not to the private boxes. The Philadelphia Evening Item January 14, 1890

The season tickets for the Philadelphia Brotherhood Club are now ready and can be obtained either at the office of the club, room 26, 1214 Filbert street; Robert Steele’s, Broad and Chestnut streets; or at S. R. Wright’s, northwest corner Fourth and Library streets. Whole boxes seating eight persons are $240; while season books, which are transferrable, are sold for from $25 to $35, according to location. The demand for season tickets has been very large, and those desiring them should not lose any time in making application. The Evening Item Philadelphia March 18, 1890

...the Players' Club was being run on business principles under an executive committee of three, with J. Earle Wagner, the principal stockholder in the club, as the directing force, but with Mr. Love as president of the corporation, to remain at the head as long as he saw fit to remain. Since our last issue Business Manager Hilt has made preparation to resign that position and to withdraw from the club. He had already sold fifteen shares of his stock to Buffinton and Farrar, and some of the players will purchase the balance he still holds. By Mr. Hilt's resignation the club will save his salary of $2500...

[reporting on an upcoming game between and a theatrical nine from New York] The local nine will be composed of the following players:-- S. H. Jones, Associated Press; H. S. Fogel, Ledger; Robert Fitzgerald, Item; W. H. Voltz, The Press; A. M. Gilliam, Record; Ed Cole, Call; Frank Hough, North American; H. H. Diddlebock, Inquirer; Daniel Mills, Times, and H. Niles, Bulletin.

The Philadelphia Scorers’ Association held their annual meeting yesterday afternoon at the Inquirer office. ... The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President Harry Diddlebock, Inquirer; Vice President Robert I. Fitzgerald, ITEM; Treasurer S. H. Jones, Associated Press; Secretary, Frank M. Dealey, Inquirer; Board of Directors, H. Niles, Evening Bulletin; S. M. Gillam, Record; George Mason, Ledger;  [illegible] Mills, Jr., Times, and Ed Cole, Call.

The Philadelphia National League people said they were determined to retain their club in the major organization. They would agree to a compromise in their city by the terms of which the Players' League club shall assume the position of the Athletics in the American Association.

In pursuance of the League policy of persecution, the Philadelphia Club on Thursday last, through its counsel, John I. Rogers, filed in the Court of Common Please three separate bills in equity against Fogarty, Sanders and Farrar, of last year's Philadelphia team.

For the first time in the history of the two clubs the Philadelphias yesterday succeeded in winning the seventh straight game from the Athletics, thus taking the entire spring series for the local championship. This game was no harder to win than has been the majority of those played, the score at the end being 9 to 2 in favor of the Leaguers.

Judge Arnold, of the Common Pleas Court, No. 4, yesterday granted a application made by John I. Rogers for L. C. Krauthoff, of the Kansas City Base Ball Club against John T. Pickett and the Players' League Club of this city for a mandamus to restrain Pickett from playing with the Philadelphia team during the present season. The case was argued before the Court at length last Saturday, when Mr. Rogers represented the Kansas City Club, and John M. Vanderslice and John G. Johnson appeared for Pickett.

…

The following decree was issued by the Court: “It is ordered that an injunction be issued restraining John T. Pickett until final hearing of the case from playing base ball with or giving his services as a base ball player for the season ending October 31, 1890, to any other club or organization, person or persons other than the Western Association Base Ball Club, of Kansas City, Missouri; and also restraining the Players' National League Base Ball Club, of Philadelphia, from employing John T. Pickett or otherwise interfering with the giving of Pickett's services for the season of 1890 to the Western Association Base Ball Club, of Kansas City, upon security being entered in the sum of one thousand dollars.” The Philadelphia Times May 6, 1890

The Pickett case was settled yesterday by Mr. Pickett repaying the $200 which was advanced to him on account of salary, and the payment to the Kansas City Club, through Mr. Rogers as attorney, of a certain sum of money (the amount of which is a matter of no public importance), in settlement and discontinuance of the injunction case and to cover certain costs and expenses which the Kansas City Club has incurred in the matter. The Philadelphia Times June 5, 1890

[from Chadwick's column] A Boston writer, in analyzing Nichols' pitching in the Decoration Day game between the Boston and Pittsburg teams, states that Nichols pitched only 100 balls in the nine innings he played in, and of these only twenty-four were called balls. This shows surprising accuracy in command of the ball in delivery, and that is one of the most important elements of success in skilful strategic work in the box. Out of seventy odd balls sent in fairly over the plate but four yielded clean hits. This is evidence of wonderfully effective pitching.

[from the Cincinnati correspondent][from an interview of catcher Jim Keenan] “What is your idea about the best method of pitching?” “I think a pitcher should put them over the plate all the time and depend on his field. You know Bob Caruthers is a star twirler. Well, ‘putting them over’ is the secret of his success. One day last Summer, when the Brooklyns were playing here, with Caruthers in the box, Gus Schmelz said to him: ‘How it is, Bob, you put the ball over the plate right along, and yet you are very successful?’ ‘Well, Gus, I used to try to strike out every man in the game, but as I grew older I got over that idea. I would rather have the batter hit it now. There are eight other men in the game besides myself, and they ought to have a chance to earn their salaries’ Bob was right. Make the batter hit them, and you won’t lose by it.

[from Joe Pritchard's column] In last Sunday's game with the Colonels three of the Browns were on the bases when “Count” Campau stepped to the plate with a dirty, weather-beaten piece of wagon tongue in his hands. Some one called out for a home run and the “Count” smiled. “One strike,” sang Umpire Doescher, and the ball was returned to the pitcher. Ehret was signed by his catcher, but he shook his head and a moment later the ball was on its way to the catcher, but it never reached the place where the “wood-pecker” twirler desired it should, as the “Count” swung the weather-beaten bat around quickly and hit the ball fairly on the front tooth.

...Director O'Neil presented a statement of the club's financial condition during the time he has had it in charge. His statement showed that he had a good balance on the right side. Other statements showed that since June 13, this year, the club's debt has been reduced to the extent of $10,000. This has been done by money that the club has made and by assessments paid by the directors. The directors resolved to pay off all the club's debt by the 1 st of next April and to have $10,000 cash to start the season with. It is understood that this will be done by the stockholders contributing so much per month between now and April.

Nimick says he has disposed of his interest in the Pittsburg Club and J. Palmer O'Neil says he hasn't. Nimick out to know better than anyone else what he has done. The Sporting Life June 7, 1890

President Nimick, when shown the dispatch in The Sporting Life about his having sold out his interest in the Pittsburg Club, said he had written Mr. Young about his retirement from the National League club management, but that he had said nothing about selling out his interest in the club, and the fact of the matter is that, though willing to sell, he still has his one-fourth interest in the club, which has cost him about $17,000. The Sporting Life June 7, 1890, quoting the Pittsburg Press

Paul Hines declared to-day [5/8]:– “We were promised checks for the last two weeks of April at Chicago, but the checks didn’t arrive, and then word was given out that we would get our money when we arrived home. Litchen Gray is without a penny and has a poor suit of clothes. He has been at home all the time, and has asked for his money two or three times, but was put off. It told him to-day to go and buy a suit and I would stand good for it. I guess there is no danger of our losing the money, but the club might pay a little more promptly.” New York Herald May 9, 1890

The Pittsburg Club has been granted an extension until Saturday to pay the overdue ground rent--$3000. If it isn't paid then, the effects of the club, including grand stand, will be sold at public sale. The probability is that the League meeting in New York was for the purpose of considering the club's case, and there is little doubt but that the League will help the club financially. Rumors by the dozen are afloat concerning the future of the Pittsburg Club, but it is not believed the National League can afford to weaken at this juncture of the fight, and it will come to the rescue of Messrs. O'Neil, Nimick and Scandrett. Soden and Byrne are men who believe in fighting it out. The Sporting Life May 10, 1890

A good deal of mystery envelopes that alleged conference of League magnates in New York last week. Messrs. Spalding, O'Neil and Hawley now say that there was no conference, and Mr. O'Neil een asserts that he didn't see a single magnate while in the metropolis, and yet Messrs. Byrne and Day admitted, or are quoted as admitting, that there had been an informal talk.

If there was no conference it is singular that the Pittsburg Club should have been stiffened so suddenly, as the club last Saturday settled in part with its landlord for the arrearage of ground rent, voted $10,000 to sustain the club, recalled Paul Hines' release and deprived President Nimick of sole authority by making Mr. O'Neil virtually managing director with a new down-town ofice, which is to be the club's headquarters henceforth. It is openly stated by newspaper that the National League has furnished the money to brace the club up, and the charge has not yet been denied. The Sporting Life May 17, 18900

The stockholders and directors of the Pittsburg Players' League Club held a special meeting to-day and increased the capital stock to $40,000. The original amount was $20,000. This action was taken after the reading of reports showing the financial condition of the club to be unsatisfactory. The new issue of $20,000 worth of stock has all been subscribed for by the old holders. The club has latter not been attracting paying attendances. The declaration is made, however, that it has no intention of quitting the field either this season or next.

The Players League Club in this city [Pittsburgh] has been flying the flag of distress since its return from the late Eastern tour. When the club was organized it was as a stock company. Then it was changed to a limited copartnership. At a special and very sudden meeting of S. P. Potter's office to-day [7/24] a committee was appointed to settle up the business of the club as a limited partnership, as a charter had been received placing the club upon the basis of a stock company again so that an assessment can be made on every share of stock.

One of the stockholders told The Sun correspondent that Secretary John Tener, in his call for the meeting, said it was imperative that every stockholder should be present. He stated that something would have to be done to ride over the crisis, as the average receipts during the Eastern tour were only $60 per game. This, however, Manager Hanlon denies. He states that he sent President McCallum $1,000 as part of the proceeds of the last trip. According to the figures given to the press, there were 2,667 persons at Philadelphia, 4,134 at Boston, 950 at Brooklyn, and 3,711 at New York, making a total of 8,797 admissions at 50 cents and 2,667 at 25 cents. This would amount to $5,064.25, the local team's percentage would be $2,532.13. To be added to this is the amount taken in at the grand stand. If Hanlon sent home $1,000, this would leave $1,776 for running expenses for two weeks, or $126 a day.

A number of the shareholders claimed that they were opposed to changing the club into a stock company again and would not pay any assessment if imposed. It is thou8ght, however, that the stock of the disgruntled ones can easily be bought in.

[from a circular by John Tener] ...it has been determined by the Pittsburgh Players' League Club to further popularize itself by the introduction of a 25-cent admission to its home games. The Sporting Life May 3, 1890

[from the Pittsburgh correspondent] To-day [4/30] was the first day the 25-cent revival could be judged, for yesterday it rained before the time for calling the game and but 680 people were on hand. This afternoon Old Sol had his rays out and tempered thew ind and it really was a first-class base ball day. The crowds flocked into the gates. It was a representative array of base ball patrons. [The attendance was 1402.] The Sporting Life May 3, 1890

A. G. Pratt & co. to-day [8/29] entered suit against the Allegheny (League) Club, to recover $700 on a note for athletic goods furnished the club. It is set forth that the club has violated the articles of limited co-partnership by operating under another name and the stockholders are individually liable.

The following circular, issued by the officials of the local [Pittsburgh] National League Club, explains itself: “Owing to some improvements to be made at Recreation Park, which the directors desire to begin at once, the series of games scheduled with Chicago at Recreation Park for Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29 and 30, and Thursday and Friday, May 1 and 2 has, by arrangement with the Chicago Ball Club, been transferred to Chicago on these dates. This transfer has been affected by unanimous consent of the National League Clubs and will afford the management of the Pittsburgh National Club an opportunity to make such changes on the ground of Recreation Park as has [sic] been previously determined upon. New York Sun April 28, 1890

President John B. Day of the New York (N.L.) Club looks upon the changing of the Chicago-Pittsburgh series of games from Pittsburgh to Chicago simply as an ordinary business transaction. “I understand that attempts are being made to create a sensation out of the affair,” President Day said to a Sun reporter last night. “What kind of a sensation can be made out of it? It's a thing that occurs frequently, and, in this instance, the chances are largely in their favor for making more money in Chicago than in Pittsburgh, and that is all there is to it.” New York Sun April 28, 1890

The local National League Club has given up Pittsburg entirely till September 4, having transferred three series of games that were scheduled for this city to Brooklyn, Chicago and Cincinnati. There is therefore no reason at all for calling it either the Pittsburg or the Allegheny Club. It has nothing in common with either of those cities, and both places having so thoroughly and emphatically shown that they wanted nothing more to do with the club, it should surely no more lay claim to being a Pittsburg institution.

[from Joe Pritchard's column] Mr. August Beinke, the well-known architect, is now at work on plans for a new grand stand, new office building, club house and dressing rooms which will be erected next season at Sportsman's Park, at a cost of about $50,000. The grand stand will be one of the finest in the land, and it will be built of brick and iron principally. Instead of the wooden fences which now surround the park a high brick wall will be placed and the park from the outside will resemble a Chinese city of “ye olden tyme.” Mr. Von der Ahe's lease expires next October, but he now holds an option for a long lease and the improvements as mentioned are certain to be made.

There seems to be a feeling that the New York Brotherhood players will refuse to play with Glasscock, Denny, Buckley, Bassett and others of the New York League team. Buck Ewing, however, has put himself on record as saying that he is perfectly willing to conform with the wishes of his backers. Buck as a great deal of influence with his fellow players, and if he advises them to do as he does there is little doubt that they will fall in line without much hesitation. The Sporting Life October 18, 1890, quoting the New York Herald

This feeling of the players was made evident to Al Johnson on Sunday. He had gone to Boston for the double purpose of attending the Bostons' benefit and explaining things to the backers of the Boston Club. Incidentally he also took the Boston and New York players into his confidence. Of this interview he says:-- “I called the players of both clubs into the Boston Club house and told them exactly what had been done. They objected strenuously to the idea of playing with the men who deserted the Brotherhood last winter, and were indignant at John Ward's expressed willingness to play with them. Julian B. Hart and General Dixwell were also present and heard what I had to say.” Mr. Johnson declined to say, however, whether any of the players had refused point blank to play with the deserters, although he admitted that Jim O'Rourke had made a pretty strong argument against any pardon of the deserters. It can be stated here that the Philadelphia players have expressed themselves in unmistakable language against any dicker with the jumpers. The Sporting Life October 18, 1890

[from Chadwick's column] The most important change made in the rules was that governing the introduction of substitute players in the team. Under the rules of this year the captain of a team could only introduce two new players in his team during a contest, except in the case of a substitute for an injured player. The revision made by the committee last week has changed all this. In the first place, the clause having reference to a substitute for an injured player has been thrown out as unnecessary under the change made in the rule applicable to the placing of new players in the team during the progress of a match. Under the rules which go into effect for 1891 the captain of a team can substitute any player he may have in his reserve corps of uniformed players on the grounds for any player originally placed in the team at the commencement of the game, and at any period of the contest, it being provided, however, that no player retired from the game and replaced by a substitute can return to the field again during that special contest. Under this new rule the captain of the team can replace his whole field corps if he chooses and has players on the grounds ready in uniform to act as substitutes. This is a good provision, and one which will add to skilful, strategic movements in generaling a team during a contest.

[discussing the Players League rules] It also official declares that the foul tip behind the bat, if legally held, retires the batsman, as under the rules of 1888.

Counselors J. M. Vanderslice, Alfred Moore and John G. Johnson on May 10, in Philadelphia, filed three bills in equity against Albert Myers and the Philadelphia Ball Club (the National League), Samuel L. Thompson, and the Philadelphia Ball Clubs, and against John Clements. The Players' National League Base Ball Club of Philadelphia, is the plaintiff in each case.

In the cases in which Myers and Thompson and the Philadelphia Base Ball Club, Limited, are defendants, the court is asked that Thompson and Myers be restrained from playing base ball or giving services as base ball players for the season of 1890 to any corporation, club, or organization other than the plaintiff, and that the Philadelphia Base Ball Club, Limited, be restrained from interfering with Thompson or Myers until January, 1891.

[reporting on the PL special meeting 10/21] The first business was the reception of the report of the conference committee. … When the committee had finished its report Mr. Addison, of Chicago, opened the battle by moving “that the report of the committee bet accepted and the committee be continued with the addition of three player-stockholders thereto.” This motion was seconded and then debate upon it began.

Colonel McAlpin called Mr. Addition to the chair and took the floor. He spoke for half an hour, mainly in opposition to Mr. Addison's resolution. The gist of his remarks was that, owing to the deplorable condition of base ball, it was essential that some arrangement should be made for its perpetuation by means of an agreement with the other antagonistic base ball leagues. He contended that this was a critical period in the negotiations and that any step which would lead to a cessation of the negotiations should be carefully considered. He believed that a change of the committee at this period, and against the known position of the other conferees on this point, would be injudicious and perhaps fatal. He then reviewed the condition of the Players' League as he saw it, and plainly intimated that the capitalists should, in justice to themselves and the players, protect their interests without regard to sentiment. Colonel McAlpin's address was eloquent, his words well chosen and the views expressed conservative to a degree. He plainly showed though that New York was opposed to the addition of a player to the committee or to any breaking off of consolidation negotiations.

…

[Ward's argument] “Gentlemen, do I understand that it is a crime to be a ball player? On the committee appointed by the League and Association you will find the name of A. G. Spalding and William Barnie, both retired ball players. Are they any better than the men who take active part in the game? I am a stockholder of the Brooklyn Club, and have the right to protect her interest. I claim that it is ability, and the fact that a man is an honest player, that should entitle him to a place on any board looking to the advancement of the national game. I consider it an insult to the Players' League and hope they will so consider it.”

…

With these speeches the debate closed, the opposition to the Addison resolution having been confined to the New York Club, which stood alone. When the motion was put to vote it was carried almost unanimously, and Messrs. Ward, Hanlon and Irwin were named as the additional members of the committee. The Sporting Life October 25, 1890

the PL on consolidation versus compromise

[reporting on the PL special meeting 10/21] Mr. Linton then moved “that the committee be instructed to confine its deliberations in the joint conference committee to an effort to compromise and not consolidate.”

Mr. Addition moved to amend, “except when it was found to be for the best interests of base ball to consolidate.”

Mr. Addition's amendment provoked quite a lengthy discussion, which was finally settled by Ward's amendment, who moved to strike out “for the good of base ball” and substitute “for the good of the Players' League.” This was adopted almost unanimously. The Sporting Life October 25, 1890

Al Reach has a “school” in a back room in his Market street store where a number of young men are being taught the art of manufacturing base balls. Three hundred men are employed at his factory on Beach street turning out balls, and these apprentices will be transferred to that establishment as soon as they have thoroughly learned the business. Norman Baker, pitcher Anderson, catcher Decker and half a dozen others are at present in the “school.” Decker, however, is exclusively engaged in the manufacture of a glove, of which he is the patentee. Baker and Anderson are stitching the covers on the balls, which are wound by machine at the factory. Backer is becoming quite a good mechanic and turns out about three dozen balls a day. Anderson's best effort thus far has been 21 balls for one day's work.

[reviewing the PL rules] First in importance among the changes are the rules which make the use of two umpires in championship games obligatory. The players' League recognized the public call for the double-umpire system, and answered it. It will be a costly change, but is expected to satisfy the public, which pays the bills, and in consequence has a right to demand satisfaction. The majority of the playing rules committee of the new League, practical and experienced players like Ewing, Pfeffer and Ward, say that their observations have led them to believe that the double-umpire system is the only one fit for use in important games, and every game in the championship season is important.

The only difference of opinion between the Players' National League people over the so-called deserters, was as to the wisdom of allowing the League to go out, bribe and sign a man, turn him into the contractual corral with the label “sacred and safe” upon him. Then the bribers chipped into a pool and went out looking for a fresh man. It didn't seem like fighting sense, this stand of the Players' National league, yet it was hung to and served the purpose. The deserters who came back came back at their original salaries, and each loses money by their return. This was accepted as an evidence of repentance, which it undoubtedly was. We lost a few men which we might easily have retaken on account of what the base ball utilitarian calls”squeamishness,” but the Boston, St. Louis and Holyoke crowds said that the public would not forget honor even in base ball. There was nothing from the ball-playing side to excuse the men who sought to wreck the Players' National League in its early weaker form. There was a business argument in favor of taking the most talented of the Judases back. It was put in words thus:-- “You weaken the other fellows and strengthen yourselves.” Finally it was left to the players, and they settled their own closest question wisely. For my own part I do not believe that one other of the men who broke agreements and contracts will ever be reinstated. It requires a unanimous vote of the board of directors—sixteen--to reinstate, and there are one or two votes that will never be cast in favor of such an action.

The players of the New York (P.L.) Club were rather surprised when they entered the club house yesterday to find the following notice chalked on the blackboard. “Everybody will report for practice at 10:30 each morning. Excuses will not go.” Some one remarked that the notice was hardly of an official character, as it was not signed. One of the players quickly replied: “Don't believe it; everything goes that is written there. It's from Capt. Ewing. We know the writing very well.

[editorial matter] If the Players' League be in existence another week it will be simply because the National League shall have failed to second the unremitting efforts of its undisputed leader, Mr. A. G. Spalding, to settle the war in a manner satisfactory to everybody and restore base ball to the basis—with improvements—it was on before the revolt of the players and the organization of the Players' League.

[reviewing the PL rules] Second in importance is the rule which increases the pitchers' box six inches in length and increases the distance from the front of the pitching box to the nearest batsman's line from 50 to 51 feet. Thus, as the pitcher delivers the ball with his foot on the rear line of the box, increasing the distance for a ball to go from the pitcher's hand to the bat from 50 to 51 ½ feet. All rules changing the distance between the batsman and pitcher in position have of late been looked upon as important and with awe. It is hardly likely that this change will have any very marked effect on batting, yet it is in the nature of an experiment and ought naturally to increase batting all around less than one per cent. it is, however, likely to act as a wedge for further amendments to the code. The new League will improve the rules of the game as it goes along and thus lead the procession in more than playing strength.

The Players' League contains a larger number of well-to-do players than all the other leagues put together, partly because the men have been in the business ever so much longer and have therefore had the opportunity to save from big salaries, and partly because they are a superior set of men, with the ability to take care of, as well as earn, money. Among the men who have money and property may be cited Comiskey, Keefe, Ward, Irwin, Quinn, Brouthers, White, Rowe, Dan Richardson, Whitney, Pfeffer, Buffinton, Hanlon, O'Rourke, Ewing, Kelly, Stovey, Hardie Richardson and many others.

It is all very well to say that neither side will ever yield, and that it is a fight to a finish, but when it is seriously considered what a fight to a finish means, one is inclined to doubt very much that there will ever be a finish in the sense that one organization will be complete driven out of business.

The settlement of the war will eventually be made by the capitalists. The players will have very little to do with it, except in the case of a few who have invested some money in the scheme, hence the idea of an amalgamation, which no doubt would be against the best interests of the non-stockholding players, is not so chimerical as it may appear. Indeed, there are some good authorities on the game who believe that an amalgamation is the only course that can be taken that will continue professional base ball as a profitable investment. Those who hold this view are, however, extremists., quoting the Chicago Tribune

Indoor base ball has taken a decided hold upon the public of Chicago and has become so very popular that the games are nightly witnessed by large crowds. By reason of this patronage, composed of the best society of the Windy City, considerable profit has accrued to the clubs, which are composed of amateurs. The financial success of the sport has attracted the attention of New York—anything with the ring of the dollars always attracts Gotham—and it is, therefore, not surprising that the professionals of that city will make an effort to capture a piece of the pie.

Messrs. Day and Mutrie, of the New York Club, feel that if there is any money to be made out of indoor base ball in New York they ought to be the ones to make it, as the outdoor game hasn't done very much for them for some time. Accordingly they are going to play a professional team at Madison Square Garden. The proprietors of the new enterprise propose to place the Garden as near like a base ball field as it is possible to make it. There will be a turf foundation, with regular base paths, and other portions of the field all complete. Spectators will be protected from injury by a netting which will encircle the entire auditorium.

… Challenges will be issued to all the crack regimental teams of New York City and Brooklyn and games will also probably be played with teams from Yale and Princeton, and the Staten Island, Crescent, New Jersey and other prominent athletic clubs. If everything turns out all right and the public takes an interest in it, other professional teams will be organized, and games will be played nearly every night until the season opens.

...the amateur ranks are being thinned out and spoiled by that ever-present greed for money. One club after the other has fallen by the wayside in their endeavor to compete with clubs that have a larger financial backing. Extra inducements are held out by those possessing the largest fund of available cash in order that they may get the players from other clubs that they want. It seems to be almost an impossibility nowadays to get up a team of amateurs who will go through the season without a break. A few good games played enlarges the players' heads and immediately they are up for the highest bidder. Time and time again has attention been called to this point and the decline of amateur base ball been commented on, but all to no purpose. They still go on in the way that eventually leads to total destruction, and with some the way is very short. There seems to be no way out of the difficulty so long as the managers themselves are guilty, and until they come to their senses it will go on and work havoc in all directions.

The Y.M.C.A. says it is is prohibited from admitting professionals to membership, hence its stand in the cases of Denny, Boyle and Rusie. These three players wanted to buy membership tickets in order to get into the gymnasium for a few weeks before the season opens. They were barred out, however. It looks a good deal like straining a point, but the same trouble has arisen at other points. Sunday was refused admission to the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium at Pittsburg on the same ground, though he is known to be in thorough sympathy with the organization. The association says it must draw the line plainly between amateurs and professionals, but it seems as though a relaxation of the rule in certain cases would be advisable. Many of the people who help support the Association, also aid in keeping up the Indianapolis ball club, and it would not be in conflict wit their wishes were the trio of players named above allowed the use of the gymnasium for an hour every morning, when there are few members o n the floor, even if membership tickets could not, under the rules, be sold them. Surely there is nothing in the rules to prevent the free use of the hand-ball court being granted them for a brief time each day during the next two or three weeks.

[discussing the upcoming PL annual meeting] The clauses relating to prize moneys, equal division of profits, salries dependent upon gate receipts, etc., will probably be stricken from the constitution, so that in the future the stockholders will take all risks of losing money and the players be guaranteed their salaries in full, no matter what the receipts are. Under this system the capitalists take all the chances of losses and profits and the players get a sure thing, and are relieved of financial worriment to the betterment of their professional work.

[editorial matter] “A change should be made in sacrifice hits. Many favor giving the batter credit for one-third hit. It is a good idea.” – New York Press

A half hit would be about the right thing. Then we shall have real team work at the bat, and the slugger who can do nothing bug slug for home runs and his personal record would soon be brought to his proper level. The Sporting Life May 3, 1890

[from Red Mulford's column] There have been many laments over the fact that under the present rules sacrifice hits have no value so far as being factors in building up a record are concerned. Several suggestions have been made in the line of amendment, one—which I deem foolish—advancing the idea to credit each sacrifice as one-third of a hit. Even if that fractional hit scheme should carry, one-third is not the right proportion, but one-fourth. There are four bases in the game and the fourth is the most essential of all. I have a proposition which I beg leave to submit to the Scorers' League, and all lay brethren without the fold as well. Under this plan of mine a percentage can be gained for sacrificing just as easily as one for hitting or fielding. Let me illustrate: Captain Ollie Bear, let us say, has played in eight games. He has these figures to his credit:

A.B. R. 1B. SH.

Beard....................... 39 8 12 9

In batting he has made .307, and I figure that as a sacrifice hitter he is deserving of a percentage of .333. He has been at bat thirty-nine times and has succeeded in making safe connection with the ball a dozen times. Subtract twelve from thirty-nine and you have twenty-seven times at bat in which he has made no hits, but on nine of these occasions he sacrificed. By the same rule of average-making carried out in safe hitting—dividing nine by twenty-seven—you have the percentage of .333, showing that he was equal to sacrificing once in every three times at bat. The idea of mixing one-third or one-quarter hits with safe hits would be just as misleading as was that old and awful rule charging a base on balls as a base hit against a pitcher. The Sporting Life May 10, 1890

[editorial matter] It has been suggested that in the major leagues at least the use of signs on the fences enclosing diamonds be totally prohibited, and such an order would be a good one could it be carried. A good many players hold that “the light batting done in a good many cities by the visiting clubs is due to the dazzling effects of the glittering and many-colored signs on the fences directly on a line from the batter's box. The batter loses sight of the ball until it is on top of him, and of course fails to connect. The home team having the same background for the ball every day becomes accustomed to its peculiarities, and has the advantage of the visitors.” That there is a good deal in this cannot be doubted, and that a plain white or gray fence would probably help batsmen seems reasonable. But these signs are a source of considerable revenue to clubs and in these expensive days it is not likely that any club would consent to have any portion of its income cut off.

[from Chadwick's column][from a letter from W. A. Wilson of Indianapolis] Formerly the foul tip caught off the bat was “out.” An injustice to the batsman. Now this play is “not out,” but simply “foul.” This seems just to the pitcher since the batter has failed to turn the ball from its course. A fair compromise would be to call a foul tip caught off the bat a “strike,” thus giving the pitcher credit for his skill in deceiving the batter, and yet not depriving the batter of his time at bat. This would also do away with close decisions between strikes and fouls.

[reporting the meeting of the joint rules committee 11/12] Suggestions from outsiders were presented to change the foul-tip rule so as to have every foul tip called a strike. This point was fully discussed, but was not adopted, the committeemen holding that such a course would interfere with the batting.

[from an interview of Spalding] In Boston the League people were opposed to the introduction of a second club. They claimed, with good precedents for their theory, that two professional clubs could not be made to pay. When I pointed out how, with the many popular Boston players, two teams, working on a friendly basis, ought to receive good support, the objections first formed were partially removed. Prince is quite willing to compromise by being given an Association franchise, and I rather think that may be done. Under such circumstances I could not very well oppose strongly the establishment of an Association club in Chicago. But I would insist positively, were a second team placed here, that no Sunday games be played and no beer nor liquor be sold on the grounds. I should also desire to be satisfied that the club was under proper management, with some guarantee that the officers intended to run the club for the good of the game in general. In Philadelphia Reach does not oppose an Association club; in fact, he favors one. It is possible that the Wagners may secure a franchise. Too much credit cannot be given President Thurman for the manner in which he is endeavoring to elevate the American Association and sport.

The crusade against Sunday ball playing has been pretty generally successful in the East, and Sunday playing in this section will for some time to come be only tolerated in spots. … In the American Association games are still played at Gloucester and Long Island without interruption, but at Three Rivers and Windsor Beach, the Sunday grounds of the Syracuse and Rochester clubs, the games have been stopped.

A number of … ways to repair the breach in its line are, however, open to the League. Baltimore is available in the East should Brooklyn also drop out and would really be a better city without conflicts than Brooklyn is with two clubs. Should Brooklyn remain true, Baltimore is still available as a Western city in place of Pittsburg, or if the latter be considered too valuable on account of its geographical location, Baltimore could take Cleveland's place and the latter's now strong team be transferred to Pittsburg, thus ridding the League of one unprofitable double-club city. Under such an arrangement but one new club would be needed in the West, but with Baltimore in the Eastern circuit two new Western clubs would be necessary. In either event the League has such cities as Indianapolis, Detroit, Louisville, Kansas City, Minneapolis or even Milwaukee to draw upon.

The two first-named are old League cities and educated up to the League standard, but otherwise not specially desirable. Louisville and Kansas City, though Sunday-playing and low-priced towns, have the advantage of possessing strong teams ready-made—a very important consideration, when it is remembered how difficult, nay, next to impossible, it is to organize any team capable of making a good showing in a major league upon the spur of the moment or even in an entire season. Either Kansas City or Louisville would, we think, forgo both Sunday games and low prices for the sake of escaping from their present insecure and probably unpalatable surroundings and becoming safely anchored in a major organization with the prestige and stability of the old National League. St. Louis is not to be considered as a League possibility at all, as that city is a poorer ball town than ever, and positively worthless without Sunday games; and it is pretty certain that the National League, no matter what its stress, will never descend to the level of the American Association and depart from its well-known line of policy as regards Sunday playing and low prices. Whenever it does it will no longer be the National League, but merely a revamped sort of American Association. Sooner than fall to that level we are sure the League would reduce itself for a season to a six-club basis.

The first meeting of the Players' and National League representatives here to form a combine resulted in a draw. President Nimick and J. Palmer O'Neill represented the League, and Wm. McCallin and Secretary Brunell embodied the authority of the Players' club. As the first step to a combine the National League representatives handed in a statement of assets to be paid for and [illegible] new concern. Among these assets were $7000 blown in on Rowe and White, a like amount on Dunlap, not one of whom is now in the club; also a round sum paid for men who are now with the Players' club. The Players demanded that the old League grounds and men and available assets only be considered, and the old League managers retorted with a long statement of what had been lost during the past season. A halt in negotiations was called here, and all handed decided to adjourn until Saturday, hoping to hear from the New York meeting in the meanwhile president O'Neill, of the Nationals, says that the only question that separates the clubs is one of price, and they will surely come to that at the next meeting. This has been definitely decided upon at a joint meeting of a committee from each club.

On Wednesday the Pittsburg Times said:-- “There is still a remote chance that Pittsburg's base ball clubs will be brought together. Presidents McCallin and Nimick and Director Kerr had an extended talk yesterday in the latter's office on Church street. The result of it was the belief expressed by Messrs. McCallin and Kerr that the matter had better be left to the New York meeting, Oct.22.

“It leaked out yesterday that the real price put upon the National League franchise, players and property, was $93,000, instead of $50,000, as at first reported. The sum did not stagger the Players' League people in the least, however, and they said the highest valuation they would put on everything was $10,000. This they would give the four owners of the National League club in stock, amounting to $2500 each in the Players' League club, in consideration of their withdrawal, should they make any settlement at all. The Players' League people still cling to the idea that, while peace is desired, they will not pay too high a price for what they consider a defunct organization.

[reporting an informal meeting between the AA and PL] [quoting the NY Sun] One thing that was considered at the meeting was whether the Players' League and American Association clubs will play exhibition games after the championship season has ended. Every club was represented by proxy, and all excepting Baltimore were in favor of these games. As it requires a unanimous vote, no decision was reached. It is said that the Association people at this meeting insisted on the return of every player taken from them by the Players' League, and on this rock negotiations were stranded. This was apparently the basis of the whole transaction on which St. Louis, Louisville and the Athletic people would bolt to the Players' League.

Should these Association clubs join the Players' League it would open up a field where new players could be secured, and the National league clubs would be made materially stronger. The National League magnates are moving along quietly, not a ripple disturbing their actions toward the American Association which would give that body even the slightest pretext to break the national agreement. This was clearly demonstrated in the Daily case.

Manager Barnie, of the Baltimore Club, who was in Philadelphia, was very outspoken about the whole matter. “I received positive assurance from Phelps and Von der Ahe, before Baltimore was readmitted into the Association, that no such deal as is spoken of had been made with the Players' League or would be. It was upon their statement that the Baltimore Club once more became an Association member. Consequently, you see I do not believe any of these yarns. If Phelps, Von der Ahe and Whitaker have made any deal they must have done so on their own responsibility. If they have made a deal, it is an act of treachery to the Association and myself, Why, Phelps and Von der Ahe told me only lately that they had been approached by the Players' League, but had declined to make a deal.

There are grumblings that threaten to break out with volcanic force at the meeting of the Players' League which will be held in the Fifth Avenue Hotel next Monday. All of the clubs are not satisfied with the present negotiations for consolidation. The dessentients claim, with considerable reason, that the gentlemen who represented the Players' League in the recent conference with the National League have exceeded the powers vested in them as a committee. Strong exceptions are being taken to the present proceedings.

These objections are not confined to the players, who are opposing the idea of playing in teams with the Brotherhood deserters, but they reach out among several of the most influential capitalists in the Players' league. They say they want a compromise, but that compromise must be one which will restore thorough harmony in base ball, and not one which will leave a rankling among three-fourths of the people who did lend their support to the national game during the season just finished. Under the latter conditions, they say, the situation would be just as bad as it will be if the war is continued until one league or the other is fought to a standstill.

The Athletic management has decided to issue not only to the bleachers, but grand stand patrons are also furnished with them.

The opponents of Sunday ball playing have been more than usually active and aggressive this season, probably because the area of Sunday playing territory is widening the high pressure speed at which professional base ball is being conducted making such remunerative games absolutely necessary to the clubs which had hitherto abstained from playing on the first day of the week, at home, at least. [Goes on the discuss Washington, Baltimore, Easton, Pa., Rochester, and Wilmington.]

In order to increase the attendance at Sportsman's Park, the management has practically cut the admission to twenty cents. This is how it is done. At every game coupon score-books will be sold for a quarter and the coupon will entitle the purchaser to one admission. The regular score-book will also be on sale for the usual nickel. The Philadelphia Times June 8, 1890

Brooklyn AA Club to home games on the Polo Grounds

Manager Kennedy of the Brooklyn Association team has made arrangements whereby, in the absence of the National League team, his club will play at the Polo grounds. The first game will be played there to-morrow afternoon with the Syracuse Stars.

“Yes,” said Manager Kennedy to a Sun reporters yesterday. “I think we ought to draw pretty good crowds. The National and Players' League clubs of both this city and Brooklyn will be away, and I will have the field all to myself. My team is now playing first-class ball, which is shown by the fact that it defeated the strong Rochesters two out of three games last week, and one game was a tie.

“The admission being only twenty-five cents will bring out a goodly number of people who many times stay away from the other games. Is hall continue to play Sunday games at Ridgewoood. There need be no fear that Brooklyn will get out of the American Association, as I consider that I have now the strongest team in the Association. There was a great deal of hard luck for us at the beginning of the season, and that gave th4e croakers a chance to circulate all manner of stories concerning Brooklyn's weakness, in none of which there was any truth. You can rest assured that we will make the other teams hustle from now on.” New York Sun June 8, 1890 [N.B. Future games were in fact played on the Polo Grounds.]

[from Chadwick's column] So “Long John” Reilly does not believe in place hitting, eh? Really, John, I thought you had more judgment. While a batsman may not be able to hit all balls in any direction he chooses, he certainly can stand at the bat in such a manner as to hit a majority of the balls to the right or the left if he chooses. Place hitting needs the keenest sight and clearest judgment, besides lots of practice, but as yet I have to see the first team do any practice looking to place hitting. They all keep in the old, old rut of fungo hitting in their practice, and hence little improvement is to be seen. Ewing was formerly of your opinion, John, but now he is a place hitter.

The Press base ball department is at last in competent hands, Frank Hough having resigned from the North American to accept the base ball editorship of the Press. The North American's loss is the Press' decided gain, as a first-class paper will at last have a first-class man in one of the most important special departments. The Sporting Life November 29, 1890

When The Sporting Life congratulated the Press upon having at last secured a thoroughly competent base ball editor, in the person of Frank Hough, no reflection upon his predecessors, Messrs. Fogel and Voltz, was intended, quite an interim elapsed between Mr. Voltz's retirement and Mr. Hough's appointment, and in that interim the base ball department of the Press went to the dogs. For that reason, more than any other, The Sporting Life congratulated the Press upon securing a man capable of putting the department back to the high place it occupied under the guidance of those capable base ball men, Fogel and Voltz. The Sporting Life December 6, 1890

The Boston Herald and Globe between them have four men on the road with the two Boston teams. The Herald has Stevens and Morse with the League and Players' team, while the Globe has Tim Murnane and Kenny. What other daily papers in the country would do so much for base ball?

[from J. F. Donnally's column] The Brooklyn League Club officials have adopted the policy of giving the exact number of paid admissions, together with the free passes. This is fair and square all through and must prompt the applause of all the honest-minded. Up to date the Players here have not fallen into line. Why don't they?

At a meeting of the Philadelphia Scorers' Association last Tuesday.... was the appointment of a committee, composed of Messrs. Fogel, Diddlebock and Voltz, to confer with the managers of the three local clubs to see what arrangements could be made for getting the exact attendance at all of the games.

The Cincinnati Times -Star wonders why the New York World has no love for Buck Ewing. Ask George Dickinson. The latter last June was on to the beginning of the scheme which finally led to the consolidation trap, but was prevailed upon to let up on Ewing although he accused the latter to his face of being a traitor to the Players' League. Dickinson now regrets keenly he did not then publish all the facts in his possession. Had he done so, instead of listening to the pleadings of Talcott, et al., things might have turned out different.

[from Albert Mott's column] ...the empty benches are filled with an excited, if not an exultant, mass of humanity which at times overflows into the field. What a change from the Atlantic to the American Association. … Here it was, in the latter part of a season, when the club never would draw flies, that a change comes after the people have hungered all the season for base ball, and they tumble over each other in their efforts to get to the grounds and occupy good seats. All is again activity and life—a resurrection in a graveyard of base ball hopes.

[reporting on the meeting of the conference committee 12/12] Feeling the necessity of advice upon the important matter of admitting the Western Association to the National Agreement as well as upon a necessary reconstruction of that famous compact, a task quite beyond the capabilities of Spalding, that gentleman decided to doff his cap to the ablest man base ball ever knew—A. G. Mills, the original author of the National Agreement—and secure the benefit of his advice and perhaps active assistance. Accordingly, Spalding invited Mr. Mills to meet him at dinner at the Manhattan Club with Messrs. Byrne, Day, Krauthoff and Thurman.

After dinner the situation was freely discussed, among other things considered being the relations of the humble Association to Mr. Mills' old pet, the League, and the reconstruction of the National Agreement, Spalding being desirous that some of the objectionable features of the reserve rule and sales system should be modified. In this connection Mr. Krauthoff's proposition for the admission of the Western Association to equal rights under the National Agreement was also brought up and fully considered. What conclusion was arrived at regarding all these important matters was not given out to the reporters, probably because nothing definite had been arrived at, and perhaps also because the learned gentlemen feared to give the reporters the task of writing something beyond their grasp and capacity to do justice to.

The idea of a young man playing ball for money is not nearly as abhorrent now as it was some years ago, when a ball tosser and a loafer were synonymous terms to many minds. There is nothing at all derogatory now-a-days in a young man playing base ball for the return it brings him. In fact, it must be considered in the highest degree commendable if a young man has the requisite skill to play ball so that it will command a financial return, and he is thus enabled to defray, in whole or in part, his expenses.

The American Association is making a commendable effort to re-establish itself. Rochester and Toledo have been admitted, thus bringing its membership up to six, and the chances are that two more available cities will be found ere the flowers bloom in the spring. Baltimore is said to have applied for reinstatement, and Providence, R.I.; New Haven, Ct.; Toronto, Newark, and a number of other towns are seeking admission. Washington may yet also be admitted to the circuit.

[reporting on the oral argument in Philadelphia Ball Club v. Hallman 3/7/1890] [Col. Rogers arguing for his fool of a client] “I want to admit that this is a one-sided contract,” continued Colonel Rogers, but he claimed that professional base ball could not exist without such restrictions being put upon the players and such rights accorded the clubs. What the Philadelphia Club, therefore, asked for was for the Court not to make Hallman play ball with them, but to restrain him from giving his services to the Philadelphia Players' Club.

“I don't think a club should carry more than fourteen players,” said McPhee, of the Cincinnati club, the other day. “In order to get first-class playing out of the men they should be worked very regularly, and the only way to do this is to carry a small team. Two catchers, if they are first-class, are enough for any club, and not more than three pitchers can be worked to good advantage. One of the drawbacks to the Cincinnati club in seasons past was the fact that too many men were carried, and naturally some of them were forced to remain idle. A catcher should be worked every other day and a pitcher should be required to go in at least twice a week. Keenan caught splendid ball last year, and why/ for the very reason that he was given plenty to do and was not allowed to get rusty from lack of work. Earle is a fine catcher, but he must be constantly used in order to show to advantage his playing ability. If I was handling a team I would not use more than three pitcher, and two of them would do the bulk of the work.

The chief topic in base ball circles during the week was the proposed amalgamation of the Players' League and American Association, the ball for which was started rolling last week. Everywhere but in League circles, of course, the scheme is regarded with more or less favor, and either amalgamation of, or at least an alliance between, the two organizations is generally conceded to be entirely practicable and calculated to simplify the situation. At any rate, the matter has been made the subject of much comment, and now that it has been broached it will go on bringing out new ideas in connection with the movement and making new friends for it.

The Brotherhood people feel very confident about Ewing, but at the same time they take the caution to send some one to shadow him. They evidently think in their hearts that this “sturdy oak” is susceptible to sufficient inducements.

[reporting the meeting of the joint rules committee 11/12] Rule 48, Sec. 6, pertaining to base-running, was modified to allow a man to overstep the three-foot limit in running to first base on a fair hit. The previous ruling confined him to the space between the two lines, which ran parallel half way between the plate and first base. The object of the change is to allow the runner a good, wide swing in running on a long hit. The advantage will be readily understood.

A few seasons back such a thing as beating out an infield hit was unheard of. It was rare, indeed, that you heard of a player making a base hit on an infield grounder that had been cleanly handled. Now it is a common occurrence. The reason for this change is, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer's notion, this:-- “Simply because the men 'p0lay ball' now, when they used to only make a bluff at it. Now every man in a team, whether fast or slow, is compelled to run out every hit. He is expected to start for first on a hit to the short stop with the same energy and determination he would use if it were a clean drive to the outfield for three bases. In older days, when a grounder was hit to any of the infielders, the batsman used to start as if he had lead in his shoes. It was taken as a matter of course that such a hit meant a sure out, and there was no need of exertion. Now the reverse is the case. A man is never out until he is actually out. He is expected to run out everything. The players in the League who do the best work in this respect are the Chicagos and Philadelphias. Anson has a standing fine of $5 for any player who does not run out his h9t. This little fine keeps the gang full of ginger.

[Cleveland vs. New York (NL) 5/17/1890] [byline O. P. Caylor] There is a pretty generally acknowledged agreement abroad among baseball patrons, and ball players too, that the young man is the greatest pitching living, or dead either, for all that. Yesterday when the game ended by Davis striking out for the third time and Pitcher Rusie started across the field toward the club house the crowd jumped down from the stands and followed him. Whenever the spectators follow a player or a team from the diamond to the club house it may safely be said that the player or the team has been installed a favorite in the public heart.

[from W. I. Harris's column] ... There are several things to be borne in mind when considering when a sacrifice hit will count or whether there will be a chance for it to count. The average player seldom gets about .250 in the averages. This means that he makes a base hit about once in four times at bat. The very best men, whose figures ran from .300 and upward,w ill not hit safe once in three times at bat, while a large majority of the player will not average much better than one in five times at bat. Now, there are some players that seldom ever fail in an attempt to sacrifice, and the majority of them can do so four times out of five.

If these statements are correct, and I do not think that any one will deny them, it is obvious then that the chances of a successful sacrifice are about four times as good as the chances of making a base hit. In a close game—by which I mean a pitchers' contest—one run will sometimes win, and three or four are pretty sure to do so. It is therefore of the greatest importance that the ice should be broken, for a team with one run to the good finds it much easier to score than the team which has no runs at all. If there is a man on first and no one out, it often happens that a skillful sacrifice hit will send the runner to third. If the batsman hits the ball toward right field, a slow one, just as the runner on first starts to steal second, the runner nearly always reaches third, if the team has the proper signs and every man is working “one for all and all for one.” Then all that is necessary is a fly to the outfield or a slow hit to the infield to score a run or a base hit.

Team work pays and sacrifice hitting is the acme of team work. There are times, however, when sacrificing is the height of absurdity. For instance, in a game where the other fellows are four or five runs ahead in the seventh inning about the only way to win is to bat out some runs. Of course, if the other side is five ahead and your side bats out a couple of runs and the weak hitters are up and it is possible to get a third run in the inning by sacrificing, why the attempt should be made. If a batsman makes a two-base hit two sacrifices will score the run and they should always be made, no matter who is at the bat, unless it is during the latter part of a game,w hen one run is of no value. With one out a runner on second and a good hitter at the plate let him hit it out if he can. I do not believe in ever sacrificing a man to third base when there is one man out unless the base-runner is notoriously slow and it is a fact that he cannot score from second base on anything less than a two-base hit. In such a case it is sometimes advisable to sacrifice, but even then it depends very much upon who the batter may be.

A man named Max Meyers was arrested last Saturday and held for trial by Magistrate Neal for selling rain checks for the [Philadelphia] Players' League game of that day. It is alleged that the defendant bought the checks at a discount, when the game of Friday was declared off on account of the rain. He sold the checks for less than the price of admission. Suit was brought by Manager Benjamin F. Hilt, of the Brotherhood League, under the act relating to ticket scalping. It is also alleged that some of the rain checks received at the gate were counterfeits.

[from Chadwick's column] Why do not official scorers when they send reports to the press give the number if inning s each pitcher pitches in when more than one pitcher is employed on the team? Looking at a score in the papers, one finds the names of two pitchers on each team, without any figures on the score to show how many innings each pitched in. the summary score of a game should include the following pitching record...

[from Chadwick's column] An important and valuable amendment to the scoring rules has been made which bears with telling effect on the recording of effective team work at the bat. … While the revised rules still offer a premium to the batsman to bat for a record by giving undue prominence to two and three-base hits and home runs, the team batsman now has somewhat of a show given him by the introduction of the new record of “runs batted in by base hits.

[from Chadwick's column] A correspondent from the West wants to know whether I charge an error to an outfielder who throws the ball in home from deep outfield on the bound, the same as is down on a bound throw to a base player in the infield. The answer is, that it depends upon the nature of the play. In some cases I do, in others I do not. A bound throw to a base player in the infield is unquestionably an error, and if a failure to hold the bounding ball does not follow such a throw it is all the more to the base player's credit in handling the badly thrown ball. But in the case of a throw in from deep outfield the position is different, and the bound throw in a majority of instances does not excuse a failure to stop the ball as it does from an infield bound throw. An accurate throw in from the outfield to home base—except from short outfield—is a very difficult play, and when made successfully redounds to the credit of the outfielder just as much as a brilliant running catch does. But it must be borne in mind that a throw in from deep outfield is safer when the ball comes in on the first bound than when the risk is run of an overthrow in trying to send it in on the fly. Of course, if the ground is dry and hard and the ball rebounds very lively, the infielder is excused from an error in receiving the ball. But in cases of all throwing in from the outfield there should be plenty of backing up from the infield when the catcher strives to take the ball on the bound. If then a failure to stop the ball occurs down goes an error to the infield player who fails to back up properly.

On account of the way clubs are going in for sacrifice hitting, batting averages will mean little this year. If the players tried for hits every time they went to the bat, base hits thus computed might mean something, but the intelligent player of to-day plays ball for his side, and does not care for a batting average as long as he can help his club to win a game. If the readers of the papers that print batting averages were to examine also the sacrifice record, and put the two together, the true value of the player as a batsman will be ascertained.

[from a letter to the editor by “Enthusiast”] By the way, while talking of averages here is a suggestion anent the sacrifice hit and its place in determining the standing of a batter. In place or, or in addition to the columns of A.B., B.H. and Ave., have these:-- C.A.R. (chances to advance runners), C.A. (chances accepted) and Ave. In the column of C.A.R. include the times a man comes to the bat with men on the bases, of course, omitting when he is hit by the pitcher, as well as bases on balls, unless there is a runner on first. Under C.A. place all base hits made with men on bases, all sacrifices and bases on balls with first base occupied. In case of a fielding error being made the chance should be scored against the batter as not accepted, as, although the runner is in fact advanced, this is not due to the skill of the batter, but the want of it in the fielder. The only exception to this would be when the first baseman, with less than two hands out, drops the ball when thrown directly to him by the fielder who stopped it, as this must, from the fact of no attempt being made to catch the runner, be a sacrifice. Now, divide the C.A. by the C.A.R., and you will have the real value of the man as an aid to run-getting, and let this be the determining against as to his standard as a batter. Such a system, especially if given prominence over the old system of averaging, would encourage that much-desired-end, team work in batting.

[reviewing the new rules] A change was made in the rule governing the completion of a game. Last years, when the side last at the bat made the winning run, the game was not ended until the hit which sent in the run had been completed and the runner had made all the bases he could by it. This year the revised rule on the point of play ends the game the moment the winner's run is scored. This puts a stop to all such disputes as that in the Boston and Philadelphia game in Philadelphia last season. Consequently the batsman making the hit which brings in the runner from third can now only be credited with a single hit. Last year he could have scored a home run.

Thirty-five out of the one hundred season tickets to be sold by the Cincinnati Club have been disposed of. There yet remain sixty-five, which must be sold by the close of this month, when they will be withdrawn. The tickets are worth $35 and entitle the purchaser to admission to every game during the season and all the privileges of the park. As there will be ninety games during the season regular patrons will make money by purchasing such tickets, as they will get a 75 cent seat for 35 cents.

Season tickets will be placed on sale during the week. The Cincinnati Club will send Treasurer Hettes to a few of its patrons to arrange for season tickets and choice seats for $35. There are 100 tickets in each book. They are transferrable on the day of the game.

For a consideration of $1,000 the lease of the ground at the northeast corner of Broad and Dauphin streets was transferred to the Brotherhood base ball club yesterday. George McKay & Company, the lessees, had an unexpired term of three years to run, but all claims were relinquished on the payment of the above mentioned sum and the moving expenses, amounting to about $500. The firm will locate at Twenty-seventh and Diamond streets and erect an office and a number of sheds.

[from the Pittsburgh correspondent] [from an interview of W. B. Howell, formerly a stockholder in the Wheeling club] When I was with the Wheeling Club that was our entire aim—to develop some good man and realize on him. I don't think I am going too far when I say that some minor league clubs took pride in turning out promising men for the big leagues. I sold Delehanty to Philadelphia for $1800, and you can bet this sum of money came in very handy. There wasn't a club in the Tri-State that didn't dispose of one or two men to fast company. The Sporting Life July 12, 1890

[from R. M. Larner's column] President Young says the financial distress prevailing in so many of the minor leagues is due to the falling off in the sale of players. In former years a minor league could develop two or three good players and dispose of them to the League for a sum sufficient to tide them over many difficulties. There has been a decided stagnation in the base ball market and but few profitable deals have been made. There was a great howl made about buying and selling players, and there was much talk about the League growing fat off of the minor leagues. As a matter of fact the League pays from five to ten times as much to the minor leagues for desirable players as the minor leagues pay to the National League for certain privileges and protection under the National Agreement. The Sporting Life July 19, 1890

[from Tim Murnane's column] The train with the Boston men on held up when they got to Wilmington to wait for the way train and take the car containing the Phillies on as far as Petersburg. As the way train came rolling into the depot and it was given out that the Philadelphia League team was on board and would get off for dinner, it was suggested that all the men get in line where the passengers would have to pass within a few feet. Harry Stovey came out of the car in the middle of a shave and carried a razor. Dan Brouthers said he would not miss seeing Sam Thompson for a farm.

“Let us hiss them,” suggested one of the boys.

“Not for a thousand dollars,” sang out Mike Kelly.

“Every one a gentleman,” said Billy Nash.

“Look into their very souls and see them flinch,” was Jim O'Rourke's advice. “Here they come.”

Sure enough, with big Sam Thompson in the lead. As he caught sight of the Boston men his cheeks turned crimson and his chin went up. He looked over the heads of the men in line, after first looking for recognition and finding nothing but a cold stare.

Myers passed, but never turned his head or lifted his eyes from the platform. The color seemed to leave his face and his step was uncertain. The young players of the party looked bewildered, but the Boston men had only eyes for the deserters, as they said, and paid no attention to the inoffensive players. Clements came along with his head bobbing up and down and his face turned in the opposite direction. Schriver was an object of pity; his face changed color, and he went by with bowed head. Gleason came last, looking straight at the Boston men and a smile on his face, but the cold stare he got in return made the smile look like a ghastly bluff, and he turned color. Not one of the deserters looked back. Harry Wright and his wife came along soon after and was cordially greeted by all his old acquaintances, who had a pleasant word for the old veteran.

After that the Boston men paid no more attention to the men who had sold their honor. Several of the young players of the Phillies came back and had a pleasant talk with the Boston men, and were assured that there was nothing but the kindest feeling entertained for them. This seemed to please the boys, and they were not backward in expressing their good will for the Players' League.

From what I saw I am sure that the young men now going into the League ranks will soon detest the players who sold out their fellow players just as much as the regular Brotherhood men do now. The Sporting Life April 2, 1890

After a ten-minutes’ lunch the Phillies marched back, the Brotherhood men turning their backs as the deserters went by. This caused the crimson to rush to the cheeks of the ladies of the party. Phenomenal Smith, Burke, Allen and some others of the young players of the Quaker team mingled in with the Brotherhood men, saying they hoped they were not looked on as against the Players’ League. Hardie Richardson, Nash, Kelly, O’Rourke and some others assured the boys that it was the men who sold them out that they were down on, and not on the young men who were doing perfectly right in signing wherever they could do the best. The Evening Item Philadelphia March 24, 1890

Manager Sharsig, in reply to a question as to whether he was making any effort to get Stovey, Bierbauer, Larkin, Cross and Weyhing back, said:

“No, sir. These men, I understand, have signed Players’ League contracts, and as men of principle, I expect them to stick to their agreement. A contract is a contract, according to my way of looking at it, and I would not have a contract jumper on my team. A man who will jump a contract is not honest, and I want nothing to do with him. I would not think of such a thing as bribing a player to jump a contract, and certain League clubs who are in that business just now will be sorry for their actions before they are much older. I do think Stovey, Bierbauer, Larkin, Cross and Weyhing treated me very shabbily by deserting the Athletic Club, but since they have signed contracts to play elsewhere they shall live up to thiir contracts so far as I am concerned. If either of these men would offer to come back I would not take them unless they first obtained an honorable release from the Players’ League clubs with whom they have signed for next year. It would not be honorable on my part to sign a man knowing that he had previously signed another contract, and I propose to do nothing of the kind. The public will have very little use for clubs or players who are in the bribing or contract-breaking business. I went into base ball with clean hands, and mean to leave it some time in the distant future with a good record.

“Ever since my connection with the club the Athletics have played honest ball and employed honest players, and so long as I am connected with them they will follow in that line of business. When the time comes that we must bribe players to jump contracts and employ contract-jumpers, then I will quit the business forever.

The decision by Umpire Peoples in declaring the Brooklyn-Columbus game played at the Long Island grounds yesterday forfeited to Columbus was based upon a mere technicality which the umpire himself afterward could not explain. The Columbus team had just started the last half of the eighth inning. Sneed, who was at the bat, knocked a foul, the ball going out of sight. Immediately a ball was thrown into the diamond from the grand stand, and somebody yelled to the umpire that a ball lay on the ground near him. But he called for a new ball, and as there had been a limited supply, there were none on hand. Capt. Gerhardt claimed that the ball that lay within ten feet of Peoples was in play. He picked it up and was about to throw it out when Capt. McTammany of the visiting team very emphatically said he would not play unless a new ball was forthcoming. This settled it in the mind of Umpire Peoples, and he then thought the same way. The ball just batted foul was thrown in, and with three balls in his hand it was supposed he gave the game to Columbus, for those players began to pack their bats. He had no watch in his hand not even allowing the Brooklyns five minutes in which to get a new ball. It did not take him two minutes to give the game to Columbus. The score at that time was 13 to 8 in favor of the Brooklyns.

[from TTT's column] Is the Association so foolish as to believe the League will ever permit a competitor of equal merit in the personnel of the game and territory to become an actual rival for its business? If so, how foolish is the trust. If territory is conceded, then must the clubs be so inferior in playing strength as to be shorn of equal prestige and therefore patronage. And with it must be conditions that have always been vital to Association clubs—such as internal lubricants and restrictions from exhibiting every day in the week. With weaker clubs and the same prices inferior games would result and absolutely starvation patronage. Will the League permit teams of equal strength find non-conflicting dates? The Association would be subaqueous fools to believe it. The League could have had the same result in 1891 with the Players' League. The first was for advantages, and the League will have vastly superior advantages to the Association or concede nothing. This is the only logical result, and the Association people are a flock of trusting lambs if they cannot see it, and may God bless their fleecy innocence. The proposer thing for them to do is to at once and without delay negotiate with those people who have now strong clubs in remunerative cities and complete a circuit and an equitable business arrangement, and then, after becoming a powerful business concern of equal prestige with the League negotiate with that body for a protective business arrangement. Every day's delay is fatal to the prospects of the Association, inasmuch as the clubs and cities which are now available will become less so. Players will lose hope, and while not openly contracting will so commit themselves as to unintentionally play into the hands of the great monopoly. Delays are always dangerous, but never more dangerous than in the present situation of the Association. If the Association must wait until January it will be put off to February, and then to March, and then find itself, whenever the time comes, an organization of unbalanced cities supporting unbalanced villages, a state of affairs that neither guarantees nor liberal divisions of gate money will give life to, or a minor league except in name in the larger cities unproductively filling in the vacant time of the one and only great base ball monopoly to half-filled benches of the hoodlum element. The Association may trust in “assurances” from League people or from its own president, but the result will be just as here outlined just as sure as the law of cause and effect. The Sporting Life December 20, 1890

[quoting the Philadelphia Press] From semi-official utterances in New York papers it is evident that the League is not so much in love with the idea of permitting the Association to locate clubs in Boston and Chicago as it was when the cry was “Let us have Peace.” If Mr. Spalding, as the representative of the League, gave the Association and the Boston Players' League people to understand that the League would offer no opposition to the location of a club in those cities, it is the duty of the League to make good that promise, despite the rights of Conant, Soden and Billings under the territorial clause of the National Agreement. The triumvirs will not voluntarily consent to a rival club in their city. They're not built that way. But they should be forced to, and no false sense of duty to the Agreement should prevent the other League magnates from carrying out a promise, equally sacred, made to another set of men. The Sporting Life December 20, 1890

[from an interview of Von der Ahe] The American Association is in good shape at present—in fact in better condition than for years past—and the club owners will not sit idly by and allow the League to dictate to them. The League people know well that the Association would not hesitate one moment to join hands with the remnant of the Brotherhood that is left, in case any dirty work was done, and they also know that one of the best circuits that was ever organized could be arranged for 1891. this fact alone insures harmony, and I feel no uneasiness as to the treatment we are to receive at the hands of the National League people. The Sporting Life December 20, 1890

[New York vs. Boston (PL) 4/28/1890] In the sixth inning a run was made by a safe hit by Kelly and Richardson and a remarkable slide to the home plate by Kelly. Ewing had the ball, but Kelly slid sideways and touched the base without being touched by Ewing.

President A. G. Spalding, of Chicago, put at rest all doubt as to the future of his immediate rival by closing a deal yesterday morning [11/13] for the purchase of the Chicago Players' League Club. The negotiations were begun in Pittsburg by ex-President McAlpin and Mr. Addison, and were concluded yesterday morning by wire, F. G. Robinson, of the New York Club, acting as intermediary. The minor details of the deal are, of course, to be settled later, but the price has been accepted. It is said to be $20,000. The Sporting Life November 15, 1890

President Addison, of the local [Chicago] Players' League, got home from Pittsburg yesterday [11/13] . He said that he had sold the club to the National League people for $25,000 in cash and $15,000 in stock, the negotiations having been conducted through J. Palmer O'Neill and ex-President McAlpin, of the New York Players' Club. The Sporting Life November 15, 1890

[reporting the PL meeting 11/12] Addison, of Chicago, claimed to be a much-disgusted man over the turn affairs had taken and stated that he would now look out for himself and have nothing more to do with the Players' League, whose capitalists could be turned from a well-defined and settled purpose in an hour and lured into another conference with the enemy, which could only result in more “throw-downs” for somebody. He declined to go East and left for Chicago in the afternoon with a view to accepting the terms Spalding had offered him through Col. McAlpin. The Sporting Life November 15, 1890

[reporting the NL meeting of 11/12] While the League was in session a dispatch from Col. McAlpin at Pittsburg, it is said, was received by A. G. Spalding stating that the Chicago Players' League Club could be bought outright for $25,000. Mr. Spalding informed the meeting that he would give $15,000 toward such a purchase. The Boston people agreed to pay their share of the balance if the other League clubs did likewise. It was stated after the meeting that the League had decided to break up the Players' League, to buy out Chicago and Cleveland, force Philadelphia into the American Association and strand the Boston Club. The Sporting Life November 15, 1890

The Chicago deal was completed last Saturday and the club will be turned over to Mr. Spalding by Mr. Addison. For some reason no injunction was issued by Secretary Brunell, of the Players' League, although he had been ordered so to do by President Prince. Recourse to the law is, however, still open to the Players' League, it is claimed, should the latter decide to go on, an most improbable contingency. … Twenty-five thousand dollars in cash is the amount to be handed over to Addison and his partners for everything in sight and for their withdrawal from the base ball business. He was also given, it is authentically stated, $15,000 worth of stock in the new club at New York. The gift of the New York stock to Addison is practically a settlement with Spalding, for Spalding and his brother own all the League end of the New York reconstructed club. The Sporting Life November 29, 1890

[an interview of Spalding] Nothing but an unconditional surrender on the part of the Players' League people will be listened to by the National League. The potency and power of the National Agreement must be maintained and reaffirmed in order to make base ball profitable again to players and clubs, and it is the only way it can be done.

To recognize any of the Brotherhood revolutionists by making a compromise would forever do harm to the game I can assure you that the League is perfectly able and ready to stand this fight for a long time yet. It is a business we have established, and we have not been in it fifteen years to surrender when we have the victory won. We are not fighting with out eyes shut, for we know how many people pay to see every Brotherhood game and how many sit in the grand stand. Ever since the season started an actual count has been taken and regularly forwarded to President Young. In this way we know just how much money the Brotherhood has taken in to fill up its treasuries, and as we have never been deceived as to their actual strength. Now the League is losing money. That we have not denied once this season. But our losses are not so much as the Brotherhood's. The difference between the League and the Brotherhood is this:--The League acknowledges that it is losing money. The Brotherhood denies that it is losing, and yet the public knows better.

The League is friendly disposed toward the players who revolted, and when the surrender does come we will prove our friendliness to them to their satisfaction. Of course the Brotherhood will surrender in time, but it will not humiliate or dishonor their leaders. It is folly pure and simple, this Brotherhood sentiment of sticking together. It is always manliness to acknowledge it when you have done a wrong and are convinced of it. These players, in order to be more manly and honorable, should go to the men whom they induced to put up their money and say in a straightforward way that they will not ask for another dollar to be spent o them in a venture that is already lost.

[reporting the AA meeting 11/22] [from an interview of Thurman] “Will the Association get a foothold in Chicago?” Mr. Thurman laughingly replied:-- “Well, Mr. Spalding is kicking pretty hard against it, but he is just as desirous as we are that the Association should be a great and powerful organization next season, and I hardly think he will throw any impediments in the way. Out of the chaos of this disastrous base ball war will spring two of the finest organizations ever known in the history of the game.” The Sporting Life November 29, 1890

[from an interview of Allan Thurman] “Have you asked permission to put a club here [Chicago]?” “No; I have not gone far enough yet to know whether we want Chicago in our circuit. You can say this, however, that if there is a club put in here it must be distinct from the League Club in every way, and the officers of the latter must not have a a dollar in our club. I shall insist on the same thing in all our other cities, because if we don't it will again come back to syndicate ball, which wrecked the Players' League. We may or may not want Chicago in our circuit.” The Sporting Life December 6, 1890

[from an interview of Spalding] In this city the lying that has been going on as to the attendance at the Brotherhood games is simply outrageous. We have done some lying ourselves, but nowhere near as strong as the other fellows.

Spalding left on the midnight train for Boston, to whip the Boston triumvirs into line. He found Mr. Soden tractable enough, but Conant and Billings were obstinately set, and, according to reports, were in the same frame of mind when Spalding left Boston Tuesday night. That won't matter much, however, as the boss of the League has given it out that nothing and nobody will be permitted to interfere with or block his readjustment scheme. “Those who stand in the way,” he declared in New York before he left for Boston, “will be promptly brushed aside and trampled upon.” Of course, the boss must have had the Boston men in mind, as no other League men have so far dared to oppose the scheme, publicly at least.

[quoting the New York World, purported quoting Spalding] Mr. Spalding has done his work well. “When I entered that first conference,” he said recently to a friend, “and saw all those elegant looking gentlemen, each clad in evening dress, while I had on the tweed suit I wore while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, I said to myself, 'These gentlemen intend to frighten us;' but after having talked with them thirty minutes I made up my mind I would drive a coach and four through the Players' League within six weeks.” And that is exactly what Mr. Spalding has done. If four horses are not enough there is plenty of room for fourteen—or forty. The Sporting Life December 27, 1890

[from an interview of Bid McPhee] In old days, when batsmen had a choice of a high or low ball, it was far easier to tell the way he would hit. Of course, he would call for the ball he could bat the hardest, and such hits most always go in one direction. Now, however, anything within the shoulder and the knee goes; he does not know where it is going, and a baseman or fielder is all at sea in trying to size them up.

[from Joe Pritchard's column] The Browns' new secretary is none other than Mr. Edward Sheridan, who served as the sporting editor of the Republic of this city several years ago. Mr. Sheridan left his position here and joined forces with the Daily Base Ball Gazette or New York, which died a bornin'. After coming West again he obtained a position in Indianapolis on one of the daily papers there, and he also acted as official scorer of the Indianapolis Club. Last year he wound up in his old town, Greencastle, Ind., where he was since been editing a weekly paper. Ed is well known in St. Louis, and his large circles of friends will be glad to see him here again.

The Players' League people now regret having been wheedled by their New York “friends” into another conference with the National League. They claim that the latter has shown no disposition to do the square thing by all of the clubs, and that, having secured Chicago with the aid of the New York Players' League people, they are now only playing their cards to secure the controlling interest in the Cincinnati Club, and then the rest of the Players' League clubs will not be considered at all and no settlement made with them, despite the assurances of the New York people to that effect.

The Brooklyn League people are said to have endeavored to squeeze the Brooklyn Players' League men, in the belief that they had the Players' League where they wanted it. This has drawn the Brooklyn Club into line against consolidation. Philadelphia and Cleveland also claim to have little prospect of fair treatment. Several meetings of these club representatives have been held and the result is that they have come to the conclusion to maintain the Players' League at all hazards.

A Players' magnate stated this morning that he and his fellow delegates had come to the conclusion that they could not expect decent treatment from the League, and that the Players' League would be maintained as a six-club league, made up of the best players—Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Washington and Cincinnati, the control of the latter club resting with the four clubs first named. In conclusion Mr. Wagner said:-- “No more business with the National League for us. My only regret is that we did not stick to that resolution at Pittsburg and save Chicago.” The Sporting Life November 15, 1890

The National League has its rival, the Players' League, badly beaten. To effect the complete demolition of the younger base ball organization it is only necessary for the old magnates to secure a controlling interest in the stock of the Cincinnati Club now held by the Players' League syndicate. The capital stock of this club is $40,000. The National League has practically absorbed the New York and Chicago Players League clubs, each of which owns $7500 in the Cincinnati Club. To attain its end there are two ways open to the National League. The first is to make terms with the Brooklyn Players' League Club, which also holds $7500 of Cincinnati stock, and the second is to satiate A. L. Johnson, of Cleveland, who possesses a similar amount. The only hope of the Boston and Philadelphia Players' clubs is that neither of the deal can be made. The Sporting Life November 15, 1890

In these degenerate days of base ball, if a player has a fine bat he had better put an iron anchor and a padlock to it. “Bat swiping” is considered legitimate, and nearly everybody in the profession is ready to nail a good bat every time there is a chance.

[from an interview of an unidentified Reds player] The old stereotypes rule, which prevails in most clubs, that when two men are out and a man on second, under no circumstances must a base runner attempt to steal third. They argue that a sacrifice hit is no good at such a time, and that the runner can score from second on a base hit just about as well as he can from third, and that there is no sense in taking a long chance. Here’s where I think they are wrong. A base runner ought to steal third every time he has a chance. There is no use to handicap a fast man like Nicol or Earle with rules. With two men out and a man on second there is always a good chance. A pitcher pays very little attention to a runner then, as he thinks he will not go, consequently he can get a good lead, and a good start for a fast runner is equivalent to giving him the base. I would never make such a rule. It is good enough for slow runners, but in a pinch let a fast man exercise his own judgment.

It is scarcely probable that the reports are true that President Byrne, of Brooklyn, and Stern, of Cincinnati, advocate the dropping of Indianapolis and Washington from the League, for the reason that those gentlemen personally pledged themselves, at the ball meeting, to oppose any such move if Indianapolis and Washington withdrew their objection to the admission of the two Association clubs. Aside from this, it would certainly be in poor taste for clubs, whose League existence numbers but a few weeks, to talk about dropping cities which have been represented in the great organization for years.

President Stern yesterday received a telegram from the Indianapolis Journal asking him if he intended to vote in favor of reducing the League circuit and freezing Indianapolis out of the League. President Stern at once replied that Cincinnati owed its position in the League to the Indianapolis Club, and that he was not ungrateful enough to treat Mr. Brush so shabbily. President Stern also added that he was in favor of retaining Indianapolis in order to have Mr. Brush’s wise counsels and hustling ability. He believes that he is one of the brightest of League magnates. If the League had six more men of the caliber of Messrs. Stern and Brush there would be no Brotherhood.

[from an interview of Harry Sterne] “The League has won the battle,” said he, “and I am honestly glad of it. The purchase of the Cincinnati Club actually broke the Brotherhood. They had to rake and scrape to raise the money, and if it had not been used here might have formed a fund to keep up the fight. I hope the League intends to do nothing rash. It looks as if the plan was to expel Cincinnati. We did not resign, for the simple reason that we had nothing to resign. To all intents and purposes Cincinnati's League franchise is in other hands, and if the purchasers of our stock violated League law they are responsible. Mr. Byrne advised me to grab at the chance to sell if the money was really offered, and I think a majority of either League or Brotherhood managers would have done the same thing had the opportunity presented itself. We have been called traitors. It is an unfair attack. With the same reason the charge could be made today against the sensible men in the Players' League who are now being applauded by all who love the game.

W. R. Parks and George W. Carman will represent Easton at the Inter-state League meeting at Allentown next Wednesday. It looks very much as if the new club will be located on College Hill, the cause for the change being that the street car company now running to the old grounds does not appear to be willing to render any financial assistance, while it is reported that the Electric Street Car Company, which runs to College Hill, has made the promoters of the new club a very flattering offer.

[describing the new Manheim grounds of the Germantown Cricket Club] An ordinance was secured from Councils striking a street as it was laid out through the property from the city plan, and the club is now proprietor of a block somewhat larger than the ordinary city block, with the exception of a small lot on the corner of Manheim and Morris streets, for the purchase of which negotiations are now in progress.

Two men in a box at Friday's League game had a great deal of fun in a queer fashion. And the tale may open the Clevelanders' eyes to possible future cases. The cunning folk in the box came loaded with a couple of Brotherhood balls in their overcoat pockets. Whenever a foul tip would sail back over the grand stand one of the men would make it a point to get the ball on its return. Putting it in his pocket he would toss Umpire McQuaid one of his imported Brotherhood balls. In a few minutes it would be in play. As everybody knows the Players' ball acts in a peculiar manner in unfamiliar hands. Viau shot one down to Earle in the second inning and the long Chicagoan hit a tap that would scarcely have driven a League ball out of the diamond. The strange ball mounted in the air like a bird and lost itself somewhere in Congress street. Earle chased round the bases with the surprised expression of a man paid a forgotten debt. The merry strangers quietly dropped their second Brotherhood ball on the grass a few minutes later. Wilmot was the first man to get a good crack at it. That, too, was lost over the South wall. Where the joke comes is in the fact that the cunning strangers' plan was to let Cleveland get the good of the lively ball, and when they had the chance they fell down without one fair jab at it., quoting the Chicago Inter-Ocean

Mr. Day's unfortunate position has evoked the compassion of even those who have been so unmercifully abused in his weekly paper—the players. For instance, Tim Keefe remarked the other day tat he wished Mr. Day was interested in the Players' League instead of being its chief adversary among National League magnates and added:

“He is one of the squarest men in the base ball business. If he would be satisfied with the shares that the largest stockholder in the Players' League owns we would give him a royal welcome into our ranks. He could have entire control of the New York Club of our League.”

In connection with Mr. Keefe's remarks, the following item from the New York World, which is the admitted Brotherhood paper of the metropolis, is very significant:

“There is a chance for John B. Day to get in out of the rain. If he stays out much longer he may be soaked through.”

Perhaps there's something here calculated to set the other League magnates to guessing.

One of the financial incidents of the Association campaign to add to the disgraceful Athletic and Brooklyn incidents was the attachment of the Syracuse Club's gate receipts during the week by President Phelps. On Sunday last when Manager Frazer, of the Syracuse Club, went to the Louisville Club to get his share of the receipts, he found that the money had been attached by President Phelps. The Syracuse Club has not paid its dues since June and the amount due the Association approximately $500. Mr. Frazer had been asked for the money several times, but had failed to pay it, so President Phelps ordered the money withheld, and it was accordingly paid over to Mr. Phelps' secretary.

Mr. Frazer was not notified of the attachment until the last game was concluded, and if there ever was a mad man, it was the Syracuse manager. “I will give up the club right here,” said he, and he went up-town speaking in anything but complimentary terms of the Association.

At the hotel that night he took a different view of it, however, and said that he had no intention of quitting. He said that he had intended paying the money before leaving Louisville, and that it would be satisfactorily settled.

[reporting on the meeting of the conference committee 12/12] The most substantial progress was made Friday, when Syracuse was gotten rid of. Rochester had previously been partially satisfied, it only remaining for Thurman to clinch the deal, although this fact was not generally known. On Saturday George K. Frazer, representing the Syracuse Club, agreed to give up his franchise in the Association, when called upon to do so, in consideration of a mutually satisfactory amount of money. The agreement provides that MR. Frazer shall retain control of Syracuse under the National Agreement, and that he shall have the right to enter any base ball league or association to the exclusion of other parties. He will also keep all his players.

It now only remains to placate Toledo and the job is done so far as the Association is concerned. The total amount the three clubs will receive is $25,000, which the other Association clubs will be proportionally assessed for. In what proportion Toledo, Rochester and Syracuse will divide this lump sum is not known.

As soon as Syracuse had been disposed of the Boston and Philadelphia clubs were given the Athletic and Boston franchises with the concurrence of the League conferees, Spalding and Byrne.

[from Chadwick's column] The idea of allowing the manager of a base ball team to direct his players in the field somewhat similarly to the manner of the captain of a lacrosse team in coaching his twelve, is now the talk in professional circles. It has its good points as well as its objectionable features. As managers to, it would not be advisable, I think.

[from W. I. Harris's column] Since the failure of the conference committee which it was thought, by those who engineered that failure, would end all negotiations, there have been no less than four conference between the individual capitalists representing the four cities I have named [Chicago, New York, Brooklyn, and Cleveland], and for all anyone really knows to the contrary there may have been twenty such meetings. And everything goes to show that some plan of action was agreed upon. Certainly these men did not get together merely for the pleasure of getting better acquainted. The closeness with which they have kept their own counsel as to what took place at these meetings is an indication that their conferences were fruitful. Had nothing serious come of the various conferences we would have had twenty versions of them, in which each narrator would have sought to give his side the best position before the public. Besides this it really looks as if part of the deal had been perfected. And by that I mean that appearances indicate that the two New York clubs have actually consolidated. The Sporting Life November 1, 1890

[from W. I. Harris's column] Over in Brooklyn affairs are in an advanced state of progress toward one club. A week ago there were but two directors, not counting Mr. Wirth, who holds but one share of stock, or something like it, in order to enable him to be a director, who were in favor of amalgamation, but now it is said that all but Mr. Ward have been talked into the scheme. There was a meeting of the directors yesterday [10/29] and a committee wa appointed to meet with Mr. Byrne and see what plans could be agreed upon. Mr. Ward was not present at the meeting. It is said that he did not get the notice in time to be there. Another story is that Mr. Ward was so disgusted with the turn affairs have taken that he remained away as a silent protest against the plan which he was powerless to prevent, and as an indication to his fellow players that he had nothing to do with the deals now in progress. This latter story is more apt to be the true one. The Sporting Life November 1, 1890

The impression gained from conversation with the gentlemen [PL Brooklyn Club directors] was that they would be willing to consolidate with the National League Club on a 50 per cent. basis, equal capitalization, play one year at Washington Park and thereafter at Eastern Park, provided satisfactory terms could be made in other cities where there are two clubs. No Players' League club would be “thrown down” by the Brooklyn organization. They would not stand by any obstinate or unreasonable club in their league, but would be a party to no combination which failed to consider the interests of a club that had tried honestly to settle the war. The Sporting Life November 1, 1890

[reporting the AA meeting of

A dispatch from Louisville during the week made the announcement for the first time that a twelve-club circuit for the Association was among the probabilities. The dispatch stated:

“It is positively stated that the American Association will have twelve clubs next year. The finance committee of the American Association, of which Mr. Whitaker, of the Athletic Club, is chairman, have written President Phelps a letter in which they pictured for the Association a bright future. The financial backing of the numerous applicants was carefully inquired into and the result was so satisfactory that the committee could not distinguish between them. A twelve-club league was then proposed, and a letter was accordingly written President Phelps apprising him of the scheme.”

President Phelps is reported as favoring the twelve-club scheme. Syracuse, he says, is anxious to re-enter. Washington wants to come, and Providence, Toronto, Baltimore, Newark, New Haven and Detroit are among the applicants for membership. Treasurer Whitaker, of the Athletic Club, who, by the way, has become the real leader of the Association, is not particularly in love with the twelve-club idea unless each of the clubs will give heavy bonds to play out the season. He thinks that a twelve-club circuit may be forced upon the Association by circumstances. Says he:

“If Washington and Indianapolis are dropped by the National League we might want to take Indianapolis into our Western circuit, and then we would have to have another club. This we could secure in Detroit. What a glorious circuit that would make in the West. Columbus, Louisville, St. Louis, Toledo, Detroit and Indianapolis. We can easily secure six good clubs in the East. I was in Washington on Tuesday of this week, and the outlook there for us is very encouraging. The Baltimore Club is pretty sure to be with us also, notwithstanding all talk to the contrary. Mr. Barnie is in rather a peculiar situation just at present, because of this negotiations with the Atlantic Association and the National League men, but I think he is for the American Association heart and hand.”

Manager Sharsig is unqualifiedly opposed to having more than eight clubs, and points to the season of 1884 to show the foolishness of organizing with twelve clubs, when, he says, the five tail-enders did not draw enough people in Philadelphia to pay expenses.

The opinion prevails that the Boston and Chicago League clubs will change their Fourth of July dates from Chicago to Boston. President Soden, however, flatly denies any such intention. The attempt to change the Pittsburg series of the Fourth to Brooklyn has probably been abandoned. It is among the probabilities, however, that the Cleveland series may be transferred to New York. It would be a good business-stroke for the League to leave all of the unprofitable Western cities to the Players League for the Fourth of July series, and play in the big Eastern cities on the great holiday, but it is not likely to be done.

When one of the directors of the Brooklyn National League Club was seen on the subject he was very emphatic in his denunciation of the change. He said:--”I have stated before that the National League will not change its schedule in any event, and that statement still holds good, and will continue so until the season closes. The National League began its campaign as it has in years gone by, and will go on as it has in the past. We stand at the head of the base ball profession, and anything the Players' may do is their own business and must concern them only.”

President Reach, of the Philadelphia Club, says he is not only opposed to any change of the League schedule this season, but he is in favor of meeting the Brotherhood on the same grounds next year if that organization is in existence, which he very much doubts. [N.B. The League did in fact keep the games in the West.]

The Western Union and Postal Telegraph companies are having a little war here over the transmission of news from the Players' League grounds. The Postal has the contract, but the Western Union has been beating it out on the news. It was found at first that the Postal wires had been tapped and that scheme was soon blocked. The next day the Western Union beat its rival again, this time by means of observations taken from a neighboring building. The information is wanted for pool rooms, which pay $50 to $100 a week.

Mickey Welch, the fine pitcher of the New York League Club, in speaking of Ewing recently, said: “Buck is the only friend I have in the Players' League Club. Not another player in the team would speak to me after I signed a contract with Mr. Day to play in the League. I wish Ewing was with us now. You don't know how I miss him, for we were always great friends.” New York Sun July 1, 1890, quoting an unidentified exchange

Clarkson doesn't seem to be much worried at the failure of the Brotherhood men to recognize him., and when interrogated on the subject, said: “I have no fault to find with any man for not wishing to recognize me. Such a thing certainly doesn't injure me, and it may do the non-recognizer some good.” New York Sun July 4, 1890

...Mr. Talcott was particularly cut up over an interview with John Ward that appeared in a morning paper in which the popular short stop was made to say that Mr. Talcott was a weakener and had seriously injured the Players' League.

“Patience ceases to be a virtue now,” said Mr. Talcott to a Herald reporter. “I don't propose to have Mr. Ward or anybody else criticise my business methods, nor shall I allow Mr. Ward to tell me how my financial interest must be managed. I am looking out for the interests of base ball in New York, and no one can dictate to me.

“Mr. Ward says that when the different clubs in the Players' League wanted to change the schedule last summer I fought them for all I was worth. That's right. I did oppose that plan, because it would have killed the Players' League. To have changed our dates then would have been showing the white feather, but the situation is different now. The fight cannot go an another year, for base ball will become a dead sport. Ward can say what he likes, but it will not alter matters with us a particle.

“Another thing that has riled me a trifle is this continued kicking and howling on the part of Ward that he has as much right to negotiate with the National League as I or any of my partners have. Wards owns ten shares of stock in the New York Club and ten in the Brooklyn Club, amounting in all to about $2000. He received a salary of $5000 from the Brooklyn Club this season, which makes him $3000 to the good. All this time I have been putting up $3000 a month to keep the New York Club on its feet. So have Messrs. Van Cott, Robinson, McAlpin and others. We have received nothing in return except high-priced ball playing. What right has Mr. Ward to talk about being out of pocket?

As will be seen by the schedule, the Athletics are not scheduled for any Sunday games at Gloucester, but they have thirteen Saturday and as many Friday dates, and the latter can easily be changed to be played on Sundays, if the club officials and Mr. Thompson, the owner of the grounds, can agree upon terms. Last year Billy Thompson netted $6000 as his share of the games played on his grounds by the Athletics. No wonder the Athletic Club kicked.

[from an article by Ward in the Players' League guide] In 1885 the passage of the arbitrary $2000 salary limit rule forced the organization of the Brotherhood for mutual protection of the players.

[editorial matter] There is no reason to apprehend that the American Association will get the worst of the new deal, because even if the League people were disposed to treat the Association with the customary contempt and disregard, they could not now afford to do so, for a number of reasons: The public, which has had enough of chicanery, has its eye on the situation, is scrutinizing every move, and will not support cold-blooded selfishness in the interest of a pure monopoly; the Players' League is not yet totally extinct, and is still in position to make an alliance with the best part of the Association, if the latter should be forced to resent any breach of faith; the following of the Players' League must be won over, even after the Players' League is disposed of, which can only be done by caring for the remaining interests; and, finally, the American Association has its fate in its own hands, inasmuch as it has an equal voice with the League in the settlement, and if it shall get the worst of it, it will be simply because its conference committee is either incapable or treacherous.

[reporting the AA special meeting of 1/6/1890] [after the readmission of Syracuse] Letters were also read from Washington, Brooklyn and Newark, N.J. The Washington syndicate agreed to place a team in that city in case the National League did not do so, and Brooklyn and Newark both made formal application for admission. Owing to the lack of information as to the financial status of the gentlemen backing the enterprise in these cities, the whole matter of selecting the eighth club was left to the finance committee. That body was empowered to act at once and communicate with President Phelps. In order to strengthen the Association and add to its permanency the president was instructed to prepare bonds in the sum of $10,000 each to be filled out by each club, guaranteeing to play out the full schedule of 140 games during the season of 1890. The Sporting Life January 15, 1890

A special meeting of the committee appointed by the American Association with power to fill the Eastern vacancy was held at the Astor House, New York City, Jan. 9... the application before the meeting was that of W. W. Wallace, of the Ridgewood Exhibition Company, who wanted to locate a club in Newtown, or rather in Ridgewood, which is just outside of the Kings County boundary line, and therefore in Queens County, where Sunday baseball can be played. … The new club is to be named Brooklyn, and is to be run by a stock company. … The Ridgewood Exhibition Company owns its own grounds. It has a capital stock of $15,000, and in order to purchase a plot of land necessary to complete the ground, arrangements have been made ti increase the stock to $20,000, and the increase will be voted on Feb. 1. Games will be played by the club at Ridgewood Park on week days and Sunday, and the rate of admission will be 25 cents. The Association men agreed to give up one or more of the players of each club to enable the new club to form a team. … The new club expect to draw its patronage from the cities of Brooklyn and New York. Residents of the former city can reach the grounds in half an hour, and New Yorkers can get there in an hour. It has been thought that the National Agreement would prevent the establishment of a club at Ridgewood, but this is erroneous, as the Agreement simply prohibits the Association from putting a club into any city, town or county already occupied by a League club. As Newtown is in Queens county a club there does not conflict with the Brooklyn League Club, which is in Kings county. The Sporting Life January 15, 1890

President Byrne, of the Brooklyn League team, will make no opposition to the American Association placing a club in Ridgewood. The Sporting Life January 15, 1890

The new pennant, unfurled today for the first time by the Brooklyn (N.L.) Club, is a handsome burgee in red, white and blue. The field is shite, with a blue border containing forty-two blue stars to represent the Union. The words “Champions of the American Association, 1890” are in red letters in the centre of the flag, preceded by eight red stars, one for each club in the Association. The Philadelphia Times April 5, 1890

a proposal for a national amateur championship

The Base Ball Committee of the Amateur Athletic Union, which has been at work for some weeks on plans for the championship season of the nines representing the various athletic clubs in the West as well as the East, has prepared a report.

...

“That the winning teams of the two series of games in the East shall play three games at such times and places in September or October as may be hereafter determined, to decide the Eastern championship of the United States, and that in like matter shall be determined the winner of the Western amateur baseball championship.

“That the Eastern and Western champion baseball teams, as above, shall at such times and places as may be determined play a series of three games to decide the Amateur Athletic Union baseball championship of the United States for 1890, the winning team to receive the Amateur Athletic Union and the Spalding silver trophies, emblematic of such championship.” New York Herald April 6, 1890

[see New York Sun April 6, 1890 for a very reasonable proposal for reducing draws in cricket; discussion of the MCC's new rule allowing a side to declare its innings closed.]

A bill in equity was yesterday [11/13] filed in Common Pleas Court No. 3, by lawyer Joseph Baringer, on behalf of Joseph J. Snellenburg, Thomas A. Mink and Richard J. Lennon, against the Athletic Base Ball Club, asking that a receiver might be appointed for that corporation. The plaintiffs state that they are stockholders of the club, which is insolvent, judgments having been entered against it in the courts and executions issued upon them, the creditors threatening to sell the property of the club.

The plaintiffs claim that if this should be done it would be at a great sacrifice, the sale being detrimental and injurious to both the creditors and the stockholders. They therefore asked the Court that an injunction be issued restraining the club from exercising their corporation rights, and also that the Court appoint a receiver to take charge of the property. Judge Finletter granted a preliminary injunction in the case.

...The adjourned stockholders' meeting was held on Monday night. It was soon discovered that the stockholders were no nearer raising the needful cash than they had been on the previous Thursday night. All sorts of propositions were considered, and after talking over the matter for three long hours Joseph Snellenburg, Benjamin Shibe, Richard J. Lennon, Thomas Mink, George S. Horn and George M. Taylor were appointed a committee to devise ways and means for obtaining the money to pay the men off and defray the expenses of the western trip. The players, through Captain Welch, were notified to report to President Pennypacker Tuesday night at eight to receive their checks. After the meeting Messrs. Pennypacker, Whitaker and Sharsig all declared that the club would finish the season and meet all its bills. Manager Barnie, who had been notified by President Phelps that no special meeting of the Association would be held, was present at this meeting in the “interest and as representative of the Association.” he was assured that the players' salaries and other debts would be paid in full, and he seems to have been content to take their word for it and permit matters to take their course.

…

...On Tuesday night the players assembled in high good humor over the prospect of getting their much-needed back salaries. At 8o'clock, the appointed hour, everybody concerned except the committee was on hand, and their arrival was anxiously awaited. Time slipped on, however, and no committee made its appearance, and hope died within the needy and anxious souls present. Still they waited, hoping against hope, but at 10 o'clock it could no longer be concealed that no arrangements for cash had been or could be made. Treasurer Whittaker, in his usual bland and suave manner, told them, with faltering voice and tear-dimmed eyes, that he was pained to inform them, etc., etc., that, owing to, etc., etc., the club was in the soup, and that it could not pay the salaries,but that he would like to take as strong a team as possible on the Western trip, and that he would be willing to continue all hands at the same old rates.

This was a facer for the players, many of whom had confidently expected to receive their money. Curt Welch was the first to break the silence. “Well, then, I'm free from the Athletic Club, am I? Well, give me my release.” This President Pennypacker proceeded to do with an alacrity that was astonishing. All the other players, with the exception of Purcell, Conroy, Green and Shafer followed suit, while the President of the club was writing out the releases of the different players,each one in turn paid his respects to Treasurer Whittaker, who had to stand a severe tongue lashing from all of them.

[reporting the AA meeting 11/22] [the directors' meeting] The case of the Athletic Club was next taken up. It was shown that no salaries had been payed the players for some time previous to their protest. The club had also neglected to pay its dues to the Association, and it was also indebted to Toledo, Syracuse and Rochester to the extent of about $600 for guarantees. Mr. Taylor, representing the Athletic Club, was allowed to state his side o the case fully. He said that the old club was prepared to settle up with its creditors and would raise the money to put and maintain a good team in the field next season if it was permitted to retain the franchise. He was then asked to withdraw pending consideration of the question. After thoroughly discussing the matter it was finally decided to report unanimously in favor of the expulsion of the club.

[Yale vs. Brooklyn (NL) 4/3/1890] A preliminary ceremony was the raising of the American Association championship flag. The Yales joined hands with the Brooklyns at the rope, and as the great white banner was unfurled the spectators gave a hearty round of applause. The flag around the borders has forty-two small stars for the States of the union, and in one corner eight large stars for the clubs of the Association. In large capitals, extending the length of the flag, is the legend, “Champions, American Association, 1890.

Negotiations were resumed between the two Brooklyn clubs during the week, a meeting of the conference committees being held on Tuesday last, after which it was announced that the club had practically agreed upon terms. The difficulty hitherto had been over the grounds, the Brooklyn Players' club people insisting upon the consolidated team playing at Eastern Park, in order to further their real estate interest, which to them were far more important than their base ball interests.

The Brooklyn League people solved the trouble by proposing that they be given a controlling interest, say $30,000 in stock out of a capital of $40,000, in the consolidated club, in return for which they would give up Washington Park and play at Eastern Park. In plain terms, they proposed to absorb the Players' League club in return for vacating Washington Park, otherwise they would consolidate on equal terms and play at Washington Park. By this method of settlement the Brooklyn League people were virtually to secure the controlling interest in the Brooklyn Players' Club without putting out a cent in actual cash, while the Brooklyn Players' people would have no club, but would have somebody else's team play at their park and benefit from the increased railroad business which they control. The Sporting Life December 6, 1890

The two Brooklyn clubs are as yet no nearer a satisfactory settlement than they were a month ago, and the outlook for consolidation is not particularly bright. From an inside source we learn that Director Linton has the whip hand now in the matter, and that unless things go his way they consolidation deal will fail and the Brooklyn Players' Club remain as a separate organization either in the American Association or the rejuvenated Players' League. The Sporting Life December 13, 1890

[reporting the Brotherhood meeting 10/20 – 10/21] The general opinion also was that the new League should not have entered into conference with the National League on any other basis but that of compromise, which was a most elastic term, covering a wide range. Consolidation it was agreed should not have been considered at all, as that simply meant the wiping out of the Players' League and the substitution therefor of a new league, which would be the National League still, under another name, but the old conditions.

[reporting the Brotherhood meeting 10/20 – 10/21] The discussion also brought out the fact that should, by any chance, next season be again unprofitable to the capitalists, it would by no means be impossible to make some arrangement whereby the players would share the burden with the capitalists; at least, that was the sentiment of every delegate present, all of whom, however, felt sanguine that, war or no war, next season would find the Players' League on top and safely established.

A. J. Reach, the base ball supplies manufacturer, has purchased from Decker the entire right, title and interest in this glove, which is now worn universally by catchers, and has, in fact, become indispensable because with this glove such a thing as a broker finger is impossible and catching is made wonderfully easy. The new owner, Al Reach, of this city, has taken steps to fully protect by patent this invention, which is valuable because it is sure to be profitable, since the glove is bound to come into universal use and further improvement seems impossible.

Catcher Decker, of the Philadelphia League Club, whose catchers' glove has been a standard article of base ball equipment, has made a new glove, which is declared by experts to be the best thing in that line ever put on the market. Cuts of the glove will be found in our advertising columns, from which the reader will gain a pretty fair idea of what this indispensable article is like. With this glove injury to the hands is impossible and there can be no such thing as broken or mashed fingers or bruised palms with it, and, in the opinion of many experts, by its use one catcher can now do the work that formerly had to be shared by two or three. Clements, Schriver, Robinson, Collins and other League and Association catchers, are using this glove and its use is bound to become universal. It is manufactured by the A.J. Reach Co., 1113 Market street, Philadelphia, under the general supervision of catcher Decker, the inventor.

[an advertisement] The Irwin Glove Mitt, manufactured solely by Draper & Maynard, Ashland, N.H., was used last season by the following League catchers: Bennett, Ganzell, T. Daley, Mack, Murphy, Farrell, Con daily. Price, No. 1, Felt-lines, $6,00. No. 2, Leather-lined, $5.00. No. 3, Amateur, $4.00. For sale by all dealers. Send for catalogue. Arthur A. Irwin, 860 Dorchester Ave., Boston, Mass.

The final meeting of the League schedule committee was held to-day [3/6]. The sole business transacted was the adoption of a ten-club schedule, which was forced upon the organization by the refusal of the Indianapolis club to retire. The League early decided not to use coercive measures, and when it became evident that Indianapolis was in to stay, the last report was the adoption of the schedule. Each club plays a fewer number of games than in former years, and the basis of individual championship contests is figured on seven games in each city with the nine different organizations. The magnates of the League declare that the schedule suits them as well as a ten-club schedule could. Indianapolis Journal March 7, 1890

Several of the magnates were bound to go ahead with eight clubs, but, for once, the great men were confounded by the small ones. President Brush, physically speaking, is a midget alongside of Presidents Spalding and Soden, but from a mental stand-point he is more than the equal of these men. He held the key to the situation, but refused to unlock the combination that would retire him from base-ball and scatter his strong team to the four winds. He believes in getting something in return for the enterprise displayed in getting his strong force together. He, therefore, refused to listen to any dictation or overtures whereby Indianapolis was to be crushed. Indianapolis Journal March 10, 1890, quoting the New York Herald

If Washington is sincere in the oft-protested intention to continue there seems little danger of a freeze-out, for two reasons: one that the League, as stated above, will hesitate to take the radical action now that it would not take at the recent meeting, and another that it is extremely doubtful if it could summon the necessary two-thirds vote. Indianapolis has friends enough, if Washington has not, to make such a summary disposition of her team well nigh impossible. Indianapolis Journal March 16, 1890

With the 1 st of April all contract went into effect, and with that date, under the National Agreement, arrived the time when the men who had cast off allegiance to the League and defied the reserve rule would have to be proscribed, so far as National Agreement clubs are concerned. This was done in the form of the following notice in which the new players and men in rebellion are lumped with the old clubs, so that if the Players' League fails no other club but the old reserving club can employ the revoked players, and they will be thrown on the mercy of these clubs for reinstatement or relegation to obscurity:

“Washington, March 28.--The following named players under contract with, or reserved by club members of the National League, are ineligible to contract or play with any other organization during the season of 1890 unless released: [A complete list of reserved PL players follows]

[reporting the NL meeting of 11/12 – 11.15] The regular business of the meeting could have been settled within two days, but the meeting was prolonged two weary days through vainly waiting for the two Cleveland and two Brooklyn clubs to settle their affairs and effect consolidation or for either one to do so in order to give the League control of the stock of the Cincinnati Club, which was all the League needed to kill the Players' League. Neither club was able to do this and so the League had to adjourn without having either crushed out the Players' League or arranged for another peace conference with it. In Brooklyn such a difference arose between the two clubs over the details of the consolidation that all negotiations were suspended and the Players' club cast its lot with the Players' League. In the Cleveland matter the League club would not agree to Johnson's terms, while the latter would do nothing unless his fellow-capitalists in Philadelphia, Boston and Brooklyn were taken care of, and so nothing was accomplished.

When The Sporting Life went to press last Friday afternoon the Leauge meeting was still in progress at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in New York City. The delegates re-assembled at ten o'clock and remained in continuous session until ten o'clock Saturday morning. The most of the time was taken up with the case of the Cincinnati Club, against which charges had been preferred the day previous by John T. Brush, who wanted the franchise for himself, provided the old club could be gotten rid of by the League.

After an exhaustive study of the previsions of the constitution, the mode of procedure was mapped out and followed in a businesslike way. The new board of directors—N. E. Young, J. Palmer O'Neill, A. J. Reach and John B. Day—acted on the charges as presented by Mr. Brush and found that they had not been disproved. They thereupon reported back to the regular meeting, which had taken a brief recess while the board was deliberating. In consequence the Cincinnati Club, which one brief year ago had been admitted to membership 'mid the clinking of glasses and plaudits of the old stand-bys, was ignominiously expelled. Not a dissenting vote was cast. A brief breathing-spell was taken, and then the application of John T. Brush for the vacant franchise was taken up....

Then, still adhering to form, J. Palmer O'Neill and Frank Robinson were appointed a committee to dispose of the franchise. This was done over a bottle of ginger ale, and John T. Brush, the wheel horse of the League in the early part of the fight, secured the right to put a club in Porkopolis the coming season.

Mr. Brush would not say who the Cincinnati capitalists are, but stated that their names would appear in due time. Each of the other clubs has agreed to give over from one to three players to the new organization if terms cannot be agreed upon with the Players' League syndicate, which now holds the reins of the old club. The League also confiscated the $1000 which Aaron Stern put into its guarantee fund and will also probably sue Mr. Stern on a $5000 bond which he entered to remain in the League. John T. Brush also holds one or two notes given by Aaron Stern in connection with the Indianapolis deal last spring, and he will sue these out.

[dateline Indianapolis] The directors of the Indianapolis Baseball Club state to-night [2/20] that negotiations for the sale of the club to New York are pending. The sale, they say, was to have been completed to-day, but up to a late hour to-night no message has been received from President Brush

Mr. Brush’s price for all his League rights and his eighteen players under contract is $67,000. The directors think he will be able to get every dollar he asks.

Since the Cleveland meeting Brush has been quietly carrying on negotiations for the sale of the club. He made one trip east, and last Monday he and Director Schmidt went to Chicago to see President Spaulding. Last night they left that city for the East, presumably for New York.

The stay-at-home owners of the club, Messrs. Meyer, Jameson, McCutcheon and Mayer, say the sale is not made because they feared the club would be forced out, but because they foresaw that they would lose money under the schedule. They figured that the club could not be kept up with less than fourteen hundred people to witness each game played. Last year the average attendance was not over one thousand.

I saw Glasscock to-night. He said he had heard nothing from Brush, but was hourly expected a telegram. “I do not believe the club has been sold yet,” said he. “Because Brush promised to wire me as soon as the deal was complete.”

...

The Indianapolis citizens are indignant over the sale. They charge that Brush has been raising the public sentiment to force a big price from the purchasers. New York Herald March 21, 1890

...A ten-club league, it was claimed, would never do, and it was stated to him very forcibly that unless he accepted the terms offered, there was but one alternative, and that was to vote him out. After twenty-four hours of consideration Mr. Brush reluctantly consented to the League's proposal. It was to purchase the players, but allow him to retain the franchise. Just what amount was paid is not known, but it is generally thought that it was in the neighborhood of $40,000. The disposition of the Washington club was of but little consequence to that of the Hoosiers. It was well understood that Mr. Hewitt could place himself where he was liable to make a little money this season, and that he had already made an application for membership in the Athletic [sic] Association. The result was the franchise of the Washington Club was bought by the League, but the players were retained.

In an interview with a Journal reporter, shortly after the negotiations were closed, Mr. Brush said: “This is an unpleasant position that I have been placed in, I must confess. I have almost assured the people of Indianapolis that I would keep the club in the League, but what was I to do? I was told that I had no other alternative but to retire. I told the League exactly how matters stood in Indianapolis, but that did not help matters any. When I found that the Club would have to go my object was to make the best arrangements possible, and I think I have succeeded. The franchise I retain, and therefore, at the first opportunity, Indianapolis will be found again in the League.” Indianapolis Journal March 23, 1890

The [Indianapolis Club] has resigned from the old organization with the understanding that if ever there is an opening in the League the Hoosier capital is to have the first opportunity to re-enter. In fact Indianapolis has not forfeited its franchise to the magnates, but has, for a financial consideration, agreed to transfer its players, who are virtually the League’s property, to that organization. The Sunday Item Philadelphia March 23, 1890

There will be no trouble among the players over salaries. That questions was all settled before Brush went away from Indianapolis a week ago. Said Glasscock this morning: “Before Brush went away he called us together and the matter of transfer to New York was discussed. He foresaw that he was going to be forced to sell and, of course, he wanted to know whether we would consent to the transfer, and what salaries we would demand from New York. Our propositions made though him have doubtless been accepted or the transfer would be announced. Indianapolis News March 24, 1890

Indianapolis and Washington have been dropped from the National Base-ball League. It was a terrible blow to those two clubs, but as President Hewitt, of the Washington Club, remarked, “It was the salvation of the League.” Mr. Brush fought earnestly and against great odds to be retained. He met the conference committee appointed at Cleveland—Robinson, Soden and Spalding—at the Fifth-avenue Hotel, on Thursday night, and told them distinctly that it was demanded by the patrons of the game in Indianapolis that the club should remain in the League. The committee, however, just as earnestly told him that that was impossible. A ten-club league, it was claimed, would never do, and it was stated to him very forcibly that unless he accepted the terms offered, there was but one alternative, and that was to vote him out. After twenty-four hours consideration Mr. Brush reluctantly consented to the League's proposal. It was to purchase the players, but allow him to retain the franchise. Indianapolis Journal March 24, 1890

The magnates refused to reveal the nature of their conference, but stated that it would be given out in a day or two. It can be stated for a fact, however, Indianapolis and Washington have sold their franchises to the League, and their players have been divided among the other clubs. New York secures Glasscock, Denny, Bassett, Hines, Buckley and Rusie, while Pittsburg will get as many of the others as are wanted. The cost of the six players to the New York Club is nearly $40,000. The Sporting Life March 26, 1890

The money required to induce Indianapolis and Washington to withdraw nor the terms of surrender were not divulged and will not be, the League delegates being pledged to secrecy. It is believed, however, that the amount is close to $80,000, and that this burden was assumed by the League as a whole. Of this amount Indianapolis gets the bulk, as Washington had only a franchise to sell. Both clubs will, it is believed, continue as members of the League; that is, their resignations will be allowed to lie without action and they will thus be members of the League without being scheduled for games, thus holding their territory under the National Agreement. This is simply a repetition of the smooth trick by which Detroit was enabled to pose as the ninth member of the League until all of its reserved players had been sold and coerced into accepting such disposition as had been made of them.

The League also disposed of the Indianapolis players. Nine of the men were assigned to New York and their contracts were at once delivered by President Brush, who had signed the men for New York more than a week previous at bonuses ranging from $800 to $5000. This shows that an understanding existed, even while Mr. Brush was assuring Indianapolis people that the club would remain in the League, and selling season tickets on the strength of this assertion and the Hoosier public's belief in his professions. The Sporting Life April 2, 1890

historical player salaries

The appended table is compiled from the League’s ledgers and shows the salaries paid to the players since the much discussed reserve rule went into effect in 1881. There is one feature of it that is certain to attract particular attention, and that is the increase of salary that invariably followed the transfer or “sale” of a player from one club to another. It is indicated in the table by a star, and shows that the players derived material benefit from such transactions. [See table] the Sunday Item Philadelphia March 23, 1890 [See also Spalding NL Guide 1890 pp. 17-23.]

The League is soon to take a flank movement on the Brotherhood. … If there is not a flag of truce raised in Brotherhood quarters the League will go on with the war of extermination. To more successfully conduct their campaign the League leaders will wipe out a rule that has hitherto proved a handicap. In short, it is the intention of the League clubs which lost some of their players by the revolt to waive their reserve claim to such players. In other words, any League player in Brotherhood company can be signed by any League club that wants him.

The National League is now upon a new tack to achieve its purpose of breaking down and swallowing up the Players' League. It appears that since Wednesday, when the joint committee was broken up by the refusal of the League and Association committees to confer with the ball players... the League magnates and their counselor, Allan W. Thurman, have been working upon individual capitalists of the Players' League, with a view to effecting a consolidation here and there and then breaking up the Players' League piecemeal. In this work the New York capitalists, who appear determined to quit, regardless of consequences to all others whom they induced to enter the business and stay therein, are apparently lending much valuable assistance, if the New York papers are to be believed. Evidently the Players' League is not yet out of danger from its own people. The Sporting Life October 25, 1890

...the danger to the Players' League is not yet over, because there is still an element of discord and dissatisfaction in the new League, while the old League presents an apparently united and still aggressive front. The National League realizes that it cannot now crush out the Players' League by force, and will henceforth exert all of its cunning and skill to effect by diplomacy what it failed to achieve by force. Balked in its first attempt to absorb the most desirable clubs of the Players' League and fashion the rest into a secondary and servile league, ti will, in all probability, now seek to accomplish in part what it failed to accomplish in entirety.

The news from New York to-day would indicate that the League people are already at work upon the new line of dismembering the Players' League piecemeal, and that they probably count upon the assistance of the New York Players' League contingent, which appear determined to carry its point of consolidation and force an issue regardless of consequences to the League as a whole. So the Players' League is not yet quite out of the hole into which it fell when it consented to enter into negotiations with the League upon a consolidation instead of a compromise basis, and it will have to keep a careful eye upon the situation and be prepared to meet new assaults, from time to time, in various and perhaps unexpected quarters. The Sporting Life October 25, 1890

[from R. M. Larner's column] I am informed that the League is prepared to advance money to the amount of $30,000 to such clubs as may need assistance before the present season terminates. When it was discovered that the Brotherhood had determined to make the fight the League magnates called a meeting, at which it was agreed that under the existing circumstances it would be almost impossible for the League to go through the season without losing money. It was proposed that each club should advance a certain amount to form a guarantee fund, which aggregated $20,000. if I was correctly advised a large hole has already been made in the guarantee fund, and another assessment of $1000 has been levied upon the various clubs. The last assessment was not made because the funds in the League treasury are low, but because the League has always made it a rule to have a large and substantial sum in the treasurer's sock in case of an emergency. I believe President Young could draw his check, as representative of the League, for many thousand dollars and have it honored, as I am aware that he has a snug surplus in a local bank.

`In answer to questions about , otherwise known as the “corruption fund,” Colonel Rogers said: “This fund is the accumulation of five years at the rate of $1,000 per year for each club. We now have $40,000 and at our last meeting it was voted to increase this to $200,000. President Young has the control of the entire fund, which is now invested in government bonds.

“The only use to which the fund can be put is to defray proper legal expenses. This includes attorney fees. I am chairman of the law committee and we are the only ones who can draw on the fund and then only for proper and legitimate expenses.

“What any club pays out in bonuses or advance money is a matter of their own and does not concern the League as a whole. Not a cent of the fund has ever been sued for any such purpose nor can it ever be drawn on with that intention.

[a letter to the editor from “B”] The National League's declaration that the present fight was one of extermination and that it was in it to stay is being borne out by its actions. When the Brotherhood took up the fight its best friends said that if the League won it would b by superior legislation. The magnates who have controlled the game for years are certainly shrewd men, and in the present fight it is known that they would stop at nothing to effect the removal of their troublesome rivals from the field. On the surface it looks as though a scheme was being hatched worthy of the genius and shrewdness of Richelieu. A few days ago Mr. Spalding came out boldly and expressed the opinion that the game was dead for the time being. Simultaneously Byrne, of Brooklyn, Stern, of Cincinnati; Day, of New York; Robison, of Cleveland, and Nimick, of Pittsburg, rushed into print with the same statement. While Mr. Spalding was sincere in his first statement, he seems to have given the cue to the League for its future action. There can be but one inference, and that is that the league has adopted a desperate measure, involving the death, for the time being at least, of the national pastime.

It strikes me that their idea is to kill all interest in the sport and then freeze the Brotherhood out by playing to empty benches. The Brotherhood is paying big salaries, and besides was under enormous expense in fitting up grounds in the cities of its circuit. The old League men argue that if, with less expense, they can kill the game and then worry along until the Brotherhood backers have tired of their bargain, then they will remain sole masters of the situation and will reorganize on a more economical basis. Left alone in possession of the field, they will proceed to build up the game with low salary limits and will in a few years make back their losses. Their plan is certainly a far-reaching one. The League magnates, of course, deny that they have any such purpose, but their whole course points to it.

If any business man went around the country telling people that his business was dead, that there was no demand for his goods, but that he proposed to run his store because he had a pride in it and was willing to lose a lot of money in it, he would be considered crazy, and justly so. When men are in a losing business they are the last ones to say so. Yet the League magnates are going out of their way to advertise the fact that their business is dead. It is a situation almost without a parallel in the history of sport. The League announces that in the whole course of its existence it clubs had declared dividends amounting to $155,000, while it declares that some of its clubs have lost over that amount. If certainly looks rather queer that if base ball is such an unprofitable venture the League should make such a desperate attempt to hold on to it. There can be but one surmise, and that is that the old League, in some quarters at least, has been making money and sees prospects of more in the future. The League magnates are all business men, and as such would not hold on to a losing venture unless they felt that in the future there would be some chance to make back their losses.

It is known that even before the Brotherhood outbreak the League had fully determined to take up the high salary evil and correct it. Here its magnates see an opportunity to bring salaries down at one clever stroke. If the Brotherhood can be wiped out and all interest killed for the time being in the game, it would be easy to cut salaries down to a low level and by stringent legislation keep them there. Then there would be big money in the game. It looks like a conspiracy of gigantic proportions. The magnates are playing a very desperate game.

John B. Day of the New York National League Club is doing what he can toward fracturing the national agreement in the case of Mike Lehane. Two weeks ago Lehane signed a contract that he would play with the Columbus Club at a stated salary if Manager Buckenberger could secure his release from Buffalo on or before Feb. 10. The deal was made yesterday [2/4] and Lehane notified that his terms were accepted and a contract would be forwarded immediately. Secretary White of the International League to-day notified Vice-President Lazarus of the Columbus Club that his offer for the release of Lehane had been accepted by the Buffalo management, and authorized him to treat with Lehane as to terms.

This afternoon that player telegraphed here [Columbus]: “Do not negotiate my release from Buffalo as I will not play with Columbus.” The efforts of Day and Mutrie to secure Lehane were well known and Mr. Lazarus wired both gentlemen that Columbus had purchased Lehane in a regular way from Buffalo, and warned them against treating with him any further on pain of violating the national agreement. President Phelps was then informed of the status of the matter, and he he at once promulgated the contract of Lehane with the Columbus Club. It is known that Mutrie offered the player a fabulous salary to play with New York. The trouble is the New York magnates were outwitted and are now endeavoring to get Lehane to renounce his obligations. He will be held by Columbus at all hazards. New York Sun February 6, 1890

“It is the first time I ever knew that a player under contract and reserve could sign a personal contract to play elsewhere,” said President Day of the New York Club. “This appears to be the state of affairs as the Columbus officials present it, in the case of Mike Lehane. No: It can't be done, and further, I can say that as soon as Lehane is released by the buffalo Club he will be signed to play with the New Yorks. New York Sun February 7, 1890

[reporting the NL special meeting of 10/9] While the delegates were indulging in their discussion a request for a hearing was received from Mr. Allen W. Thurman, of Columbus, O., who represented the Columbus Club and had been for days busily engaged in acting as a mediator with a view to bringing about a conference between the National and Players' leagues. Mr. Thurman was admitted and made a long appeal for a conference and compromise. He had, he said, had a number of conferences with the Players' League officials and had gained their consent to a conference, if the League could be induced to appoint a committee to meet a similar committee of the Players' League. Mr. Thurman also outlined a plan for combining the three present major leagues into two leagues, upon which basis the Players' League people were at least willing to confer.

Mr. Thurman's proposition for a conference was then discussed for hours by the League delegates. A decidedly hostile spirit towards compromise was shown at first by a majority of the League men, some of shoe who had suffered the most being most bitterly opposed to any deal whatever with the Players. The matter was discussed until 4 o'clock, when a recess was taken. The delegates came together again at 5 o'clock and consumed several more hours in discussion. Finally wiser counsels prevailed, and a big step was taken towards a solution of the base ball problem by the passage of the following resolution:

Resolved, That Messrs. A. G. Spalding, John B. Day and C. H. Byrne constitute a conference committee of three to confer with a similar committee of the American Association to meet the committee which we have been advised has been appointed by the Players' League, consisting of Messrs. E. B. Talcott, Wendell Goodwin and A. L. Johnson, and said committee is hereby requested to report the result of such conference to this meeting at its earliest convenience.

The delegates then adjourned until 10 o'clock to-day, when the report of the conference committee will be received.

While the League was debating the appointment of a conference committee, a number of Players' League magnates were domiciled at the St. James' Hotel, one block up Broadway, awaiting the outcome. Those present were Johnson Talcott, Goodwin, Ward and the Wagner brothers. When notice was received that eh League had appointed a conference committee, a meeting was held, at which a conference committee consisting of Al Johnson, E. Talcott and Wendell Goodwin was appointed and the subject of compromise fully considered and a plan of action outlined. The committee then proceeded to the Fifth Avenue, and at 9 o'clock was closeted with the League committee in the famous Parlor F. whose walls, could they speak, would reveal many base ball secrets.

Messrs. Spalding, Day and Byrne represented the League; Johnson, Talcott and Goodwin the Players' League, and Thurman, Barnie and Von der Ahe the American Association. The meeting organized by electing Mr. Thurman chairman and Mr. Byrne secretary. Mr. Thurman started the ball rolling by an eloquent speech, in which he demonstrated the absolute necessity of peace and a readjustment of the base ball business. He then, as a basis for reconstruction, proposed a consolidation of the existing three leagues into two stronger organizations. His scheme was to bunch the three leagues, leaving two clubs in Boston, Philadelphia, and perhaps Chicago, consolidate the duel clubs in New York, Brooklyn, Pittsburg, Cleveland and Chicago, and then regroup them into two organizations under new names; one organized to comprise Boston, new York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Chicago and Cincinnati; the other to take in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, or some other Eastern city, and Louisville, Chicago, Columbus and St. Louis.

… [a long discussion follows over the names of the two leagues, and a tentative agreement about locating the clubs, with two-club cities to work it out between themselves]

This was as far as the committee could go, as they had no power to bind their respective organizations to anything, the object of the meeting being merely to agree upon a general plan and report the same to their organizations for adoption or rejection and settlement of details. As neither the Players' League nor the American Association was fully or authoritatively represented, it was decided to defer any further consideration of the subject until the committees of those two organizations could confer with their respective bodies. Therefore it was decided to adjourn the conference until Oct. 22, at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. [A resolution follows where everyone agrees not to poach any players before Oct. 22.]

In the new schedule adopted by the National League this obstinate organization has unmistakably thrown down the gage of battle to the Players' League, as this schedule is a fighting schedule through and through. Dates are made to conflict with the Brotherhood on every possible occasion. In New York Ewing and his men will play only eight of their seventy home games without opposition on the League ground. In Brooklyn Ward and his team have only seven open dates. In Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Cleveland and Chicago it is just the same—strife, conflict, warfare from start to finish. The plan of the League magnates is apparent. They will meet the Brotherhood in a hand-to-hand fight and will leave it to the people to decide which shall survive. The Sporting Life April 2, 1890

[editorial matter] The purpose of the League is plain. It is not, as might be supposed, to refer the dispute to public arbitration and to compel the supporters of the game to choose between it and the Players' League by giving it no opportunity through a non-conflicting schedule to support both liberally, because the League knows that for an entire season, at least, its unequal and experimental teams will prove no match for the admittedly powerful and well-equalized teams of the Players' League—teams which are collectively the strongest in point of skill and prestige ever concentrated into an eight-club League. No, the calculation of the League is to cripple the new League financially no matter how much it may suffer itself, and thus end the war and choke off business rivalry in one season no matter what the cost. The League has the wealth accumulated during past seasons of successful monopoly, while the Players' League, new to the business, has had no opportunity of creating sinking funds, has been put to the extraordinary expenses always incidental to organization, necessarily depleting its capital. The League can, therefore, easier afford to lose heavily than the Players' League can afford in its first experimental season to lose at all, especially as in the League the losses would fall on a few individuals, while in the players' League, under its cooperative principles, losses would have to be shared by many and perhaps involve the players. It will thus be seen that the League's object is to conflict wherever possible, no matter what the loss to itself, simply to divert enough patronage from its rival to prevent a profit on the season and thus to sicken the stockholders in the new League, to discourage the investment of further capital, to compel recourse to other than the gate receipts, to chill the enthusiasm and arouse the fears of the players, and to pave the way for their defection and for those internal dissension, from which alone, aside from financial disaster, the National League can hope for the overthrow of the west-organized Players' League. There is no bluff about this, as some may unwisely consider it, but a cunningly-conceived and well-executed plan of campaign, which will be carried out to the bitter end with the League's characteristic energy and persistence.

This is the fell purpose of the League that confronts the Players' League men, and they must look it full in the face and bend all their energies to defeat it. Two alternatives present themselves—one to accept the issue and take all the chances of a battle on the lines laid down by the League; the other, to avoid the issue and adopt a new schedule. To go on with the fight as it stands means probable loss; the Players' League is almost certain to vastly outdraw the National League teams as the latter are now constituted, but the new League will need a large patronage, indeed, to realize the financial expectations of its backers and players, and if the League can divert enough patronage to defeat those expectations the consequence may prove as disastrous as the League evidently calculates.

To decline the League's open challenge to battle and adopt a new schedule would perhaps look like a confession of weakness repugnant to the combative instinct in the new League,and perhaps a disappointment to that small portion of the public which likes to witness a Kilkenny cat-fight. It might also afford League partisans a chance to do some crowing. But what of that? The Players' League was not organized to fight the National League, but to establish itself in the base ball business, to give the best possible exhibition of ball, and to profit thereby; to accomplish this purpose it need but consider its own necessities first, always with an eye to the future, without knocking chips off shoulders or indulging in fights with all who choose to challenge it to battle for the edification of the outsiders who have no more material interest in the war than a spectator at a dog fight. If the Players' League shall, upon deliberation find that, all things considered, its best course would be to avoid such a battle as the League insists upon forcing upon it, it should bravely adopt such a course and leave its vindication to an intelligent public, which has its eye upon the situation, does its own thinking, and which has hitherto plainly indicated that it is not in sympathy with the League's method of crushing out business competition. The Sporting Life April 2, 1890

[reporting the PL meeting 11/12] Talk of consolidation was then again taken up. The old conference committee was discharged and a new one appointed, consisting of Messrs. Prince, Johnson and Ward. In explaining the duties of the conference committee, Secretary Brunell said:-- “The committee is simply to arbitrate on matters of base ball law regarding our League and any outside club or organization. Of course, in that respect it can never be called upon to act. It is also empowered to confer with representatives of the National League as well as other leagues, and if the same gentlemen had been on our recent conference committee instead of others, the Players' League wouldn't have received such a crack on the jaw.” The Sporting Life November 15, 1890

...Then the suggestion was made that the conference committee appointed the day before be instructed to reopen negotiations with the League.

The New York delegates favored this and argued long and hard for it. Opposition still continued, Boston particularly objecting, but suddenly J. Earle Wagner took the bull by the horns and declared that the men who had the most money invested, and therefore the most at stake, were the men to settle the question, and that he had decided to vote for another conference with the National League. Mr. Wagner's declaration was like a bomb shell, especially to the Boston mean, and for a moment a pin could have been heard to drop. Mr. Johnson quickly fell into line with Wagner, and the question was settled.

It was decided that the committee should leave for New York that evening accompanied by Judge Bacon, Director Robinson and J. Earle Wagner, and the League was notified of the action taken and of the committee's advent in New York Thursday. It was also agreed that all should stand together. It is also stated that the New York Club agreed to stand by the Players' League in case the promises and agreements made for settlement were not lived up to by the League, or else make good itself. The Sporting Life November 15, 1890

[reporting the PL meeting 11/12] John M. Ward had little to say after the meeting. His disgust, however, was deep, and he declined to go East, although a member of the conference committee. He saw clearly that a settlement was desired by the majority of the remaining capitalists, and would no doubt be reached, and he did not feel warranted either in exerting himself in its behalf or doing anything to obstruct it by his presence. He was satisfied to take a rest and let matters take their course. He left of Uniontown, Pa., in the evening for a few days' shooting. The Sporting Life November 15, 1890