Semantic search

[from C. F. Holcomb's column] How would “American League” do for the consolidated name? I have not seen it mentioned.

The rule calling upon players to address the autocrat as is deader than a salted mackerel. Everybody calls the gentleman now presiding by his christian name or his abbreviated surname.

There is going to be a big row in this old town over Barnie's Sunday base ball movement. The Law and Order League is already preparing to jump upon him, and to-morrow the preachers will make their protests against it. The city laws plainly forbid ball-0playing on Sunday, but the management, in connection with a beer garden proprietor across the river, in Anne Arundel county, propose to have a grounds especially for Sunday games. The stands are being erected and the grounds laid off. Accommodations will be provided for over five thousand people and Manager Barnie thinks he can pack the gardens every Sunday. The proprietor furnishes the grounds and expects to reap his reward in the profit on the beer and cigars sold. The Baltimore Club is running behindhand in its finances and the Sunday game movement is a desperate resort to raise funds to make ends meet. The attendance at the home games have been thin and but little interest is manifested in the team. Barnie expects a big enough crowd at the first Sunday game, billed for June 8, to pay for the stands and other improvements and a handsome margin of profit besides. Should ti rain next Sunday, however, Barnie will be ruined, particularly if the authorities prevent further Sunday playing. This innovation is likely to hurt Manager Barnie's reputation in Baltimore. Some of his strongest supporters have been church people, who are bitterly opposed to Sunday games. Such a movement will cause these people to withdraw their patronage from the week-day games. Barnie had often been urged by the sporting community to have Sunday games, but never made the effort until he got into the Atlantic Association. No beer is sold on the grounds at the week-day games.

[Jersey City vs. Baltimore 4/30/1890] German has a peculiar way of tossing the ball from one hand to the other while in the box, but it is not legal. Yesterday Burdock got on to it, and requested Umpire Valentine to prevent it. He cautioned German that he must use no motions to deceive the runner outside of his usual movements.

The Baltimore Sun says: “Umpire Valentine put a veto yesterday upon German's well-known trick of tossing the ball from hand to hand before hurling it in. captain Burdock, of the Jersey City team, entered a protest, and Valentine adjudged the motion to be illegal on the ground that, as stated in the rules, it is “calculated to deceive the base-runner.” German can continue to use his other deceptive movements, however.

[from a letter from Charley Mason] I have organized a strong club called the “Philadelphia Professionals” for the sole purpose of playing exhibition games with the Brotherhood clubs, and I am pleased to say that I have this day completed the entire circuit, playing two games in each city with each club as follows...

The team I have selected are the strongest players that are to be had, and will give a good exhibition of ball playing. I think it will be only a matter of time, when all the clubs will be only too glad to play the Brotherhood clubs. I was quite surprised to see the college clubs refuse to play the Players’ League. It certainly would be more to their credit and honor to play against the Brotherhood clubs. Why? The college clubs are mostly composed of gentlemen’s sons, and don’t you think it would be more to their credit to associate and play with men of honor, such as those who compose the Brotherhood, instead of playing against contract jumpers, oath violators, etc.? For good practice for any club it is best to select the best clubs to play against; hence, the Brotherhood comes in again.

[New Haven vs. Baltimore 6/30/1890] Perhaps the little second baseman touched the runner too hard, for McKee turned savagely and dealt Mack a stinging blow in the neck. Reddy retaliated with a right-hander on McKee's jaw, and then they clinched, and the crowd recognized that what they at first thought was play was a real slugging match. The players of both clubs surrounded the men. The crowd shouted: “Knock him, Reddy!” “Clean him out!” and then the police took a hand. Both combatants were arrested and bailed for a hearing to-morrow.

The game netted Sharsig quite a neat sum, and will give him another start in life. It is worth noting that neither Whittaker, Pennypacker or any other ex-Athletic official, except Director Mink, put in an appearance or even purchased a ticket.

In a game between two amateur clubs, the Elliots and Woodburns, of Cincinnati, O., played at Walnut Hills May 18, before about a 1000 people, a remarkable home run was scored. With two on bases, the batsman hit a ball to left field, an ordinary base hit, but the ball took refuge in a lady spectator's dress and was not found or recovered until three runs had crossed the plate, the batsman counting a home run. It was the feature of the game.

[from the Rochester correspondent's column] A foul tip from Greenwood's bat collided with catcher Munyan's mask, breaking it, and the wires cut his face so badly that several stitches were necessary to close the would. He retired from the game in favor of Trost.

[Ed Morris speaking of Fred Carroll] If for no other reason than that the Pittsburg National League Club broke a promise to him, Carroll should abandon the National League. When the club was transferred to Pittsburg from Columbus, President Nimick gave Carroll a written guarantee that at the end of the first season he would be given a release to go wherever he desired. When the season ended, though his guarantee bore the personal signature of President Nimick, he absolutely refused to live up to it, giving as an excuse that while he was willing to do so the other stockholders objected. He also took the pains to assure Carroll that any attempt to go to law about the matter would result fruitlessly, as he (Nimick) had no right to make the pro9mise without the consent of his co-partners, and that the document would not hold in law. Carroll then asked for an increase of salary, which was also ignored until he was forced to sign at the old terms on the opening of the season.

It was intended to open the new grounds with the Pennsylvania University team in April, but the manager of the latter has, under pressure of some other parites, decided to break his contract and has so notified President Love. He weakly feared that he would not be able 6to get on games with the Philadelphia League and Athletic clubs. Of course, this is a fact, but the few games he will be able to arrange with these two clubs will hardly compensate him for breaking a formal agreement, especially in view of the fact that he would probably have realized more money for his University team by playing with the Players' league team, which will be the great novelty of the opening season, at least. It is more than probable that the Players' club would also have given the Pennsylvania University team a date for every one they lost by sticking by their agreement. Under any circumstances the Pennsylvania University team should not have permitted itself to be bulldozed into breaking an agreement.

Last Sunday at Sportsman's Park, there were two amateur games played. The first one was between the West Ends, the champion colored club, and the N.O. Nelsons. The feature of the game was the umpiring of a lady, who hailed from St. Charles, Mo., where, it is said, she has umpired several games. She was a lady of color.

In the American Association it is too expensive and troublesome to hold directors' meetings to look after a failing club or the grievances of players. Once upon a time it was too much trouble for the League to meet its players in mid-summer, and—well, we all know the result.

[from the London correspondent] We hear but little—hardly the faintest echoes—of the Brotherhood trouble over here. The few papers that have referred to it have done so in a humorous strain. The highest pay a professional cricket or foot ball player gets is less than $75 a month, and the fact that fellows in the States who have received from $2500 to $4000 a season should be striking for more money is, to the English people, irresistibly funny.

Marshal Brown, who conducted the defence of Charles W. Bennett when the Allegheny Club sought to enjoin him...in 1882, declares that the old League has no case against the Players for damages or against the stockholders for conspiracy. He says the two cases are very similar, as in many respects the agreement entered into between Bennett and the Allegheny Club is similar to the reserve agreement, in the League contract, in that they are both merely preliminary agreements anticipating the signing of a regular contract.

[editorial matter] Judge O'Brien based his refusal of a preliminary injunction against Ward on the construction of the contract itself, which he considered unconscionable, lacking in mutuality, indefinite and uncertain. Judge Thayer reached virtually the same conclusion. Judge O'Brien, however, was so ambiguous in his references to the famous eighteen paragraph relating to reservation or option—on which paragraph the League rested its entire case—as to lead the League people to consider it a sort of judicial recognition of the reserve rule, and to hope for favorable results in other courts. But in jumping to this conclusion they simply deluded themselves, as was pointed out in The Sporting Life of Feb. 4, in which Judge O'Brien's decision was so exhaustively reviewed, the results of it so clearly pointed out, and Judge Thayer's decision really so fully anticipated, as to make extended further comment here unnecessary.

Judge Thayer in his thorough analysis of the contract, and the sparing language with which he lays bare its many flaws, shows the League people conclusively not only that they have really no contract that will hold good in law anywhere, but that they need not hope for any legal recognition of the reserve rule as it has been practiced in the past. The decisions of Judges O'Brien and Thayer show that a sort of reservation agreed to in an equitable contract could probably be enforced, but to make such enforcement possible, the terms of reservation would have to be so explici8t, so certain, as to make a one-year contract virtually a two-year contract, and so equitable as to defeat and render useless the reserve rule, whose purpose is to simply hold the player to a club from season to season, in order to keep it intact, without entailing enforceable legal obligations upon the club owners.

[a lawsuit by York to enjoin Frank Grant from playing for Harrisburg] Continuing Judge Simonton said:--”There is no distinct allegation in the bill that complainant will be injured by the playing of defendant Grant for the co-defendant, except as such playing involves his loss as a player to complainant. Therefore an injunction restraining Grant from playing for the other defendant would not, in any degree, lessen the injury and damage to the complainant, unless it should have the effect of compelling him to play for plaintiff. This it would not, and could not, do directly, and it is concede by the counsel for the plaintiff that the court could not compel him, by its decree, to do this directly, and, therefore, according to the principle laid down by Justice Sharswood, which is undoubtedly correct, ought not to attempt to do it indirectly.”

The Court holds as another reason why the injunction should not be granted in this case that the contract between Grant and the complainant is not mutual. The agreement set out in the bill contains this clause:

“It is further agreed between the parties hereto that the party of the second part (the plaintiff), reserves the right to abrogate this agreement at any time when it appears that the said party of the first part is not fulfilling his agreement to the best of his ability.” Judge Simonton says, under this clause it would be in the power of the plaintiff, at any moment, to dismiss the defendant from its service, and that the contract is therefore not mutual.

[quoting the Boston regarding Arlie Latham] He has an inexhaustible fund of wit, and is known among the fraternity as a 'big card.' How well he sustains this reputation can be seen by the large number of spectators who crowd the bleachers near third base and shout themselves horse when he is in particularly high spirits. He is rarely guilty of repetition, which is most remarkable when his volubility is considered. Every phase of the play suggests a new idea. His legs are no less active than his brain, and, when covering his position, he personifies what the boys call a 'dancing jack.' He frequently gives expression to his feelings when an exceptionally fine play is made by his side, in throwing as clean a flipflap as was ever seen in a circus tent. He turns the most trivial incidents into mirth-provoking characterizations. He at all times preserves a remarkable equipoise, and was never known to insult a player or spectator, no matter what the provocation might be. His remarks to the umpire, from anyone else, would bring down upon him the stern reprimand of the autocrat of the diamond, but the cleverness with which he serves out his comments is never followed by a reprimand. If there is any of life in his club he will bring it out and make it show for all it is worth. He is an excellent third baseman, and a ball coming into his territory invariably means that the batsman must retire to the benches.

[from a column by George Edward Andrews] The batting order ought always to be made out with a good waiter leading off. He should be a good batter also to take advantage of any good ball itched, and a cool, level-headed fellow how knows, and will work every point known, to get his base. Once we have a runner on first base we have let on the first steam. Taking it for granted that our men in the batting order thoroughly understand each other, we are ready to begin. The base-runner and batsman following him have it understood that the second ball pitched is to be hit at. This understanding is either had before he goes to bat or is arrived at afterwards by preconcerted signals. This second ball is to be hit at—not blindly, but with method—to punch the ball slowly toward right field, and at the movement of delivery our runner is off for second base. In a successful attempt the second baseman of the side in the field is drawn to cover his base by the man on first starting to run down, thus leaving about seventy-five feet or more of room for the batsman to hit the ball through. In ninety-nine times out of a hundred the second baseman cannot recover himself to field the ball, no matter how slowly hit, and the first baseman cannot go for it except in very rare cases, when he fields the ball to the pitcher, who covers the base. It is very seldom, however, that the first baseman can made this play, being obliged to be right on top of his base to hold the base-runner from getting a start. Here we are now—a man on first and second and no one out, simply by a stroke of “team work.

Nobody that ever handled a base ball need be told anything about Reach's American Association ball, which is simply the acme of perfection in ball making, and which can never in its general superiority be excelled. But perfect as this Reach ball was, the manufacturer has actually discovered an improvement which, while it does not make the ball any better—that would be impossible—adds greatly to its durability. This improvement consists of a double stitch, which makes the ball doubly strong, so that a thread or stitch, upon which the greatest strain always falls, can be cut or broken without affecting the ball at all and without rendering it unfit to continue in a game. The advantages from an economic point of view alone are so great as to make a further comment or praise superfluous. Every practical player can at a glance conceive how vastly this new double stitch improves the Reach ball.

[Boston vs. New York (NL) 5/9/1890] [byline O. P. Caylor] Rusie, the indomitable, pitched again. And what a game of ball he did “put up!” Several times when the batter had three balls and no strikes he settled down to straight pitching and put the next three balls over the plate.

[relating Bug Holliday's favorite bat] This particular bat has a history. It has been used longer than Bug has been in the business as a professional. When Orator George Shaefer was a member of the St. Louis Unions, in 1884, he selected a piece of second growth ash and took it to a planing mill. He stood by while the wood-turner worked the wood into a stock to suit his fancy. He then oiled the bat and used it for two years. In 1886, when he visited ST. Joe, Mo., he gave the bat to Holliday. Bug has had it ever since. It is his prize stick, and has assisted him not a little in making his great batting record at St. Joseph, Topeka, Des Moines, and last season with the Cincinnatis.

Brunell's paper, the Cleveland Sportsman, says:--”The 'famous' official scorer of the Chicago League Club, who has kept old Anson in base ball for years, is a woman, the daughter of Secretary Brown, of the club.

[Brooklyn vs. New York (PL) 6/6/1890] Brotherhood Park was in bad condition for good playing. For ten or twenty feet back of the sod in the diamond the clay had been raked and the ground was soft and muggy. But the worst part was in short right field. There a small lake of water stood upon a surface about thirty feet square, running across the foul line. The mud had been scraped away and lay in a hge ridge extending out toward centre field. The right fielder at times played just back of the dirt ridge and again in the much in front of it, according to the batter’s ability. A ground rule was made to the effect that a hit into this territory should give the batter and base runners only a single base each. The New York men sent five of their base hits into this dismal swamp, and the Brooklyns dropped two in the same territory.

[reporting on the oral argument in Philadelphia Ball Club v. Hallman 3/7/1890] The court was crowded with people, and when Judge Thayer, during Col .Vanderslice's argument [for Hallman], remarked:-- “How is this? Do these people claim the right to a man's services indefinitely? I see by this brief that they can release him on ten days' notice,” and Col. Vanderslice replied “Yes” and the Judge said “That's a bond of slavery,” those in the room nodded to each other, as each believed it meant that the defendant would surely win his case. The Sporting Life March 12, 1890

[from Judge Thayer's opinion, which is given in full] It is not said anywhere in the agreement that the terms upon which he is to be 'reserved' are to be the same as those upon which he was employed in 1889. The failure to designate the terms and conditions of the new engagement under which he is to be 'reserved' renders the contract of reservation wholly uncertain, and therefore incapable of enforcement, especially by a proceeding which is a substitute for a decree for specific performance, for specific performance is never decreed of a contract the terms of which are uncertain. If they made an incomplete, or uncertain or an ineffectual agreement to retain the defendant for another season it is their fault, for the agreement was evidently drawn up wholly in their interest, but the defendant's rights cannot be affected thereby.

Now if, on the contrary, it be said, as was assumed by the plaintiff's counsel on the argument that the fair meaning of Art. 18 is that Hallman should enter into another contract for the season of 1890, precisely similar in all respects to the contract executed in 1888, and embracing all its provision, then it follows, of course, that he must hereby bind himself afresh by Art. 18 to renew the contract for 1891, and again in 1891 for 1892, and in 1892 for 1893, and so on from year to year, so long as it may suit the pleasure of the plaintiffs to insist upon the reservation clause and its annual renewal; for there is no more reason and no more warrant for dropping out Art. 18 from the new contract, if the new contract is required to be the same in all respects as the old, than for dropping out of it any other of the original nineteen articles.

…

The only demand which the plaintiffs have made upon Hallman was that contained in the written notice served on him on Oct. 21, 1889. That notice required him to sign a new contract of similar tenor, form and term as the old contract. Such a contract must necessarily embrace Art. 18. If they intend to leave out Art. 18 they should have said so. They had no right to require him to renew the old contract upon the terms mentioned in their notice of Oct. 21, 1889. He is in no default, therefore, for refusing to comply with the demand contained in that notice, and it is too late now for them to give him a fresh notice. It is their own fault, not his, if they demanded more than they had a right to demand. The Sporting Life March 26, 1890

[from the ruling of Judge Wallace in the Ewing case] In a legal sense it is merely to make a contract if the parties can agree. It follows that the act of the defendant in refusing to negotiate with the club for an engagement for the season of 1890, while a breach of contract, is not the breach of one which the plaintiff can enforce.

Henry V. Lucas, the old St. Louis manager, is now located in Chicago, where he has charge of the passenger department of the Baltimore and Ohio Road. He does quite a business with ball clubs, and always looks out for the comfort of the boys.

[describing Jack O'Brien, signed by the Athletics] ...Jack is a very strong batsman... As a first baseman he has in the previous years demonstrated first-class ability, and with practice he will doubtless rank with the best in that position. As a base-runner, though, he will not shine, being too heavy for that. O'Brien could also be utilized as a catcher or outfielder in case of emergency, but weakness in throwing would render him ineligible for a permanent place in any position but first base, where he will be quite at home.

When the ball was thrown out for the first time, Centre-fielder Cake, of the Rivertons, followed a usual custom of his, called to McFedtridge to throw him the ball. Upon examination Cake at once saw that the ball was smaller than the regulation size and made objection to its use. His protest availed nothing, however, and the game was started. The first ball struck developed another new characteristic in the ball. It was dead as lead. It was soft on the outside and hard on the inside, and consequently lack3d the elasticity of the League or Association ball, falling dead from the bat instead of going out. The duplicity was further carried out by the trade make, “a. J. Rease, Extra League,” that was stamped on the ball. What is the advantage of using a “queer” ball! Only to put the opposing pitcher under a disadvantage. The home talent suffer none because they are used to the ball, but the visitors are totally unprepared for such a ball, and consequently the home club has the best of it all around. Besides this, it is not in accordance with the spirit that should govern amateur contests. Bristol has a fairly good team, but if it desires to meet respectable amateur clubs I mus at once stop all such underhand business and give the visitors fair treatment.

“Fred Carroll and Billy Kuehne,” says the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, “have invented a very curious yet simple means for training the eye to judge swiftly pitched and erratically curved balls. The machine, or whatever it may be called, has been erected in the extensive back yard of an Allegheny residence, and the boys expect to do business with it daily. At the upper end of the yard the machine is set up. It is a powerful spring securely fastened to a piece of heavy timber. On the top of the spring is a cup-like arrangement in which the regulation base ball snugly fits. This is pulled down and fastened to an ingeniously made catch, or series of catches rather, for it can be set at any curve or angle to suit the operator. The spring is on a line with a home plate at the lower end of the yard. One of the players manipulates the machine, while the others take turns with the bat. A ball is placed in the cup, the operator fastens the spring down to any catch he chooses, the combinations of curves and straight balls being almost innumerable while at the same time it is an utter impossibility for the batsman to anticipate how it is going to come. When ready, the operator relieves the catch and the ball is thrown with the force of a bullet. It requires a mighty quick eye to get on to it, and furnishes not only excellent practice but a great deal of amusement. The balls go over the plate much swifter than is possible for the strongest pitcher in the country to send them, and by becoming proficient in sizing them up a batsman will have no difficulty in hitting the most skillful twirler, as the hardest-pitched ball would look slow and easy in comparison with those thrown with the spring. The inventors will probably apply for a patent.

A machine has just been invented for training the eyes to judge swiftly pitched and erratically curved balls. The machine is a powerful spring securely fastened to a piece of heavy timber. On the top of the spring is a cap-like arrangement into which the regulation base ball snugly fits. This is pulled down and fastened to an ingeniously made catch, or series of catches rather, for it can be set at any curve or angle to suit the operator. The spring is on a line with a home-plate at the lower end of the yard. One of the players manipulates the machine while the others take turns with the bat. A ball is placed in the cup, the operator fastens the spring down to any catch he chooses, the combinations of curves and straight balls being almost innumerable, while at the same time it is an utter impossibility for the batsman to anticipate how it is going to come. When ready the operator relieves the catch and the ball is thrown with the force of a bullet., quoting the New York Press

Latham was ordered off the field in the eighth inning of last Saturday's Cincinnati-Pittsburg game. The dude was on the bench and was helping Manager Loftus in coaching the Cincinnati players. Every once in a while Lath would let out a wild whoop, and he was constantly chiding the Pittsburgs. Captain Hecker insisted on his being ordered from the field, and Umpire Strief was forced to enforce the rules. Undismayed Arlie took refuge in President Stern's private box under the grand stand and continued to coach the team.

[See TSL 5/10/1890 p. 5 for a long article on American Association Base Ball Club of Kansas City v. Pickett, Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, in which Kansas City obtained an injunction preventing Pickett from playing with the Philadelphia PL Club.]

[from Edwin Ewing, the Scranton correspondent] Paddy Gillespie, the New Yorks' old left fielder, is now working in the coal mines at Carbondale, sixteen miles from this city. Poor Paddy! What a tumble he took! Had he followed the precepts as laid down by Francis Murphy he would now be a Brotherhood Giant under “Buck” Ewing. Last Summer the poor fellow, as if realizing how great had been his downfall, braced up a little and was given a trial at short stop by the Carbondale Club. His fielding was all that could be desired and he batted in his old-time form. Club managers heard of it and hopes were entertained that Gillespie would recover his lost laurels. Even then his weakness would have been forgotten, but that everlasting, mysterious craving for alcoholic stimulants returned with redoubled intensity, and, alas! Paddy fell once more. So firm a hold has the accursed wine cup got on him that to-day he is a wreck of his former self, forsaken by those who honored him when he played left field for the Giants and made the “only” Clarkson “shiver in this boots.

When Indianapolis agreed to transfer its players to New York at the recent League meeting Paul Hines was included. He failed to reach an agreement with President Day and was released.

Supposing he was free to sign anywhere, Hines had almost concluded arrangements to play with the Washingtons this season, and was considerably surprised when he was notified to-night [4/1] that Pittsburg accepted his services. He declares he will not go there, but as he gave Nimick his terms he cannot well avoid it.

The loaning of [Gil] Hatfield by the New York (P.L.) Club to the Bostons for the purpose, it is claimed, of taking the place of Irwin at short until the latter recovers is quite likely to make trouble in the Players' League. Hatfield left on Wednesday night for Boston. Ward, of the Brooklyn Club, protests against the action of the New Yorks, claiming that it is illegal, and every game that Hatfield plays with Boston Ward says he will protest, and he is satisfied he can have the games thrown out. If Hatfield should be regularly released and signed by the Bostons, then it would be all right. The Sporting Life July 12, 1890

[reporting the PL special meeting of 7/17/1890] Ward's protest against counting the Boston-Pittsburg games of July 10, 11, 12, in which Hatfield—a New York player “loaned” to Boston—participated was then 6taken up, and after thorough consideration the games were declared illegal, thrown out of the record, and ordered to be played over again. It was found that the constitution positively prohibited the “loaning” of players by clubs, or the playing of such players unless regularly transferred and released. It is the intention of the League to stamp out everything that may open the door to irregularities or anything suggestive of hippodroming. The Sporting Life July 19, 1890

[Philadelphia vs. Brooklyn (NL) 4/28/1890] Corkhill carried off the fielding honors for his club by two great catches. One of them was a running catch of a hard hit by Thompson, which, had it got past the outfield, would have been a homer.

The crowd compelled John to acknowledge their appreciation of his work. He did it by raising his cap just about half an inch.

Charley Collins, the well-known second baseman, now umpire, gave out a novel and feasible idea at the recent International League meeting. It is to redeem a tail-ender. Chub would divide the season into two parts, one ending July 31 and the other Sept. 31. A schedule would be made out for the first portion,w hen the champions would be declared. Then all clubs start out on even terms for the second schedule, which gives tail-enders a chance to brace up and every club a try for the second pennant. Finally, the two champions play off. It is a great idea and shows that Collins is a meditative fellow.

[from a circular by the Amateur Athletic Union] The A.A.U. Of the United States invites your attention to the organizaiton of a series of open amateur base ball contests, in which to decide the Eastern and Western amateur base ball championship of the united States. .. ...a schedule of base ball games will be played on Wednesday and Saturdays... composed of teams in and about New York City, in and about Philadelphia and in and about Washington, in and about Boston, in and about Chicago and in and about St. Louis. The winners of the scheduled series of games at New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington...will play a series of three (or five) games for the Eastern base ball championships...so, likewise, will the Western amateur base ball championship be decided by winners of the Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis series of games. … Teams winning the Eastern and Western amateur base ball championships will be called upon to compete for the amateur base ball championship of the United States... [A. G. Mills one of the signatories]

“There is one piece of base ball legislation that I would like to see rushed through at the next meeting,” said Manager Tom Loftus the other day. “The sooner they give managers the right to go on the field and actively coach the men in their charge the better the game will be off. It is a big handicap to be compelled to sit on the bench and have plays made contrary to what you would order were you in a place where you could make your wants known. A manager is always blamed for his team's misplays. Why not give him a chance to run his team. Then, if anything goes wrong, he can be held responsible. If hope the day will soon come when a manager can go on the coaching liens and there issue his orders. There will then be no chance for mistakes. The game is bound to come to it some day. The League should take the initiative in the matter.

[Galesburg tries to join the Illinois-Iowa League] The officials of the latter League were only too glad to get such a club and endeavored to get the Sterling (Ill.) club to withdraw. The latter was not willing to step out for the ridiculously low price offered by Galesburg, whereupon the League directors held a special meeting at Monmouth, Ill, without any notice to the Sterling Club, and voted Sterling out and Galesburg in and adopted a new schedule. The ground on which this summary action was taken was Sterling's alleged failure to put up the guarantee bond or pay legal assessments.

Sterling, however, was equal to the emergency. An agent of the League who came to Sterling to select some of the Sterling team for the Galesburgs was promptly sent about his business and on the following day legal proceedings began before Judge Crabtree, of the Whiteside County Circuit court. The club recited the facts of the case and showed that it put up its bond April 11 and had receipts for the League dues up to June 25. Judge Crabtree therefore issued an injunction restraining the Illinois-Iowa League from interfering with or ousting the Sterling Club and notice was at once served upon the League officials. The latter held another meeting at Galesburg on the 6th inst. After a full consideration of the situation the League came to the conclusion that Sterling's position was impregnable and that it was best to make no legal opposition to the injunction. The Sterling Club was then notified that the League clubs would play at Sterling according to the original schedule if Sterling would discontinue the legal proceedings, to which Sterling gladly agreed. This seems to have ended the battle, with Sterling victorious and happy in the knowledge that individual clubs have some rights which fellow clubs must respect.

[from an overview of Wright & Ditson] “Harry” Ditson, as he is familiarly called, began his successful business career as partner of George Wright in the Fall of 1879, and though very young then, he possessed great forethought and judgment in the growth of athletic sports. Having witnessed a game of lawn tennis, he at once saw that the American public would make it a popular sport, and he devoted much of his time to building up a reputation on the game in this country, and his firm has control of nearly all lawn tennis appurtenances of any note in the United States and Canada.

This most useful piece of base ball paraphernalia had a hard time getting a foothold. The catchers were slow in adopting it, and the spectators at first guyed it as baby-play. Clements, the great catcher of the Philadelphia League team, was the first to wear a catcher's protector in a game before a Cincinnati crowd. He was then back-stopping Jersey Bakely [sic] with the Keystone Unions, of Philadelphia, in 1884. Considerable fun was made of the protector, and the writer distinctly remembers that it was made the subject of adverse newspaper comment by one of the best base ball authorities in America. Now it is different. A catcher's protector is of as much importance to a back stop as are his mask and gloves. In other days a visitor to the dressing room of a ball team when the players were getting ready for a game did not need to ask who were the catchers. He could tell them by the black and blue spots that appeared on various parts of their anatomy, the result of hard thumps from unruly foul tips. The protector, mask and padded gloves have made the life of a catcher a bed of roses to what it used to be. The Sporting Life November 1, 1890, quoting the Cincinnati Enquirer. [N.B. No comment appears in the game accounts in the Enquirer or Commercial.]

[St. Louis vs. Louisville 4/20/1890] The Louisville-St. Louis game ended in a row... An enthusiastic crowd of 10,000 filled all the seats and poured into the grounds, necessitating the making of ground rules. It was agreed that any hit should entitle the batter to all the bases he could make, except a hit along the foul line, which would go into foul ground. In the third inning Ryan took first on balls, and, Wolf hitting hard to left for two bases, Ryan scored. McCarthy objected to the run, claiming that Ryan should go back to third. A wrangle ensued, and Connell, after giving the customary time for the visitors to resume the game, and McCarthy still refusing, declared the game forfeited to the home nine by the score of 9 to 0. The crowd was hard to handle, threatening to pour into the field and do the players violence. To keep them quiet an exhibition game was arranged immediately afterward. The Philadelphia Time April 21, 1890

[St. Louis vs. Louisville 4/20/1890] Before the game was called Umpire Connell had Capts. Raymond and McCarthy agree upon ground rules, owing to the vast crowd. It was decided that any ball which hit fair and rolled in the crowd to the left of the foul line or was hit into the crowd in center field should entitle the batsman to only two bases. It was also agreed that any ball hitting the left field seats was fair and the batsman could have as many bases as it was possible for him to make. The ball that Wolf knocked struck the railing in front of the seats and bounded back. No one interfered with Gittinger in fielding it, but it was not returned to the diamond before Wolf was anchored safely on second. Louisville Courier-Journal April 21, 1890

[St. Louis vs. Louisville 4/20/1890] In the third inning a row occurred over the ground rules. It had been agreed that hits into the crowd should count for two bases only, but that a hit into the left field fence should count a home run. Wolff knocked a ball into the left field seats and McCarthy insisted that he should only be allowed two bases on it and that Ryan who had scored from the first should be sent back to that bag. Umpire Connell permitted the run to score, and gave McCarthy two minutes to play ball. The St. Louis captain refused to return with his men to the field and the game was forfeited to Louisville by a score of 9 to 0. At the end of the third inning the score stood 6 to 3 in favor of the Colonels. The crowd was angered over McCarthy's action, and he consented to play out the game as an exhibition contest. The final score was 13 to 13. St. Louis Post-Dispatch April 21, 1890

The Players' League has a bomb under the National League the fuse is already attached and nothing remains but to apply the torch. The fireworks will go off promptly at the close of the present championship season.

From what can be learned the National league must be prepared for treachery within its won ranks, and all signs point to Cincinnati and Brooklyn as the clubs which will give their associates the knife. After the recent conference of the Players' magnates in New York it was given out that only routine business was transacted, and that the meeting had unanimously decided to take no steps looking to an amalgamation with the American Association. Of course not. The amalgamation scheme was only a blind to throw the reporters off the real scent.

…

Now, the question is, will Byrne jump? It makes no difference about Cincinnati. Stern would be forced to follow Byrne's lead. While the brainy little Brooklyn president has fought the Brotherhood movement hard this year, it doesn't follow that he is going to stand in his own light next season. Business is business, and Mr. Byrne is essentially business. He recently declared that he made more money in ten St. Louis games last year than he had made all this season to date, and as losing money is a novelty with him, he certainly does not relish the prospect., quoting the Philadelphia North American

John B. Day states that there is not one word of truth in the story that John T. Brush owns an interest in the New York Club. He has disposed of his players outright. He retains his franchise in the League and that is all. It is evident that Mr. Brush is trying to let himself down easy with the people of Indianapolis.

The many rumors about the League's endeavors to induce Players' League men to desert culminated last Saturday in something more positive than mere surmise. Word came from Boston that Ewing and Kelly were the men referred to in The Sporting Life despatch a couple of weeks ago as being tampered with, and that since then both had gain been positively approached, and that there was reason to suspect Ewing's loyalty. As may be imagined this news created a decided sensation, and was the sole topic of discussion in base ball circles.

The Boston despatch which gave the first inkling of the affair put Ewing in a rather doubtful light. The substance of it was as follows:

“John B. Day went to the Hub Thursday night and held a long conference with the New York captain. They sent out a messenger to find mike Kelly, but the king sent word back that he had no use for the League magnates. But Ewing yielded to the arguments of the magnates and promised to use his influence in converting other members of the club. At any rate, Ewing has now approached Danny Richardson, Roger Connor and Tim Keefe with League offers, but from none of them did he obtain any encouragement. Charged with his defection by a newspaper man, Ewing indignantly denied it and swore that he intended to stick by the Brotherhood. His fellow-players, however, tell a different story. An argument held out is that the Brotherhood contracts are of no legal force and can be broken with impunity. While the New York Club is now playing the best of ball and its members appreciate the fact that Ewing is putting up a great game, they cannot now help regarding their captain with doubt and suspicion.” The Sporting Life August 16, 1890

[editorial matter] A great deal of excitement was created the past week owing to the Ewing episode, in which, we believe, Ewing was misrepresented and unjustly berated. But even had the report concerning Ewing been true, and that player shown to be really contemplating desertion from the Players' League to the National League, the excitement over the matter evinced by both factions in the present war would have been needless and uncalled for. Suppose Mr. Ewing or any other prominent player of the new League does desert? The existence of the Players' League doesn't depend upon any one player, or a dozen players—not by a long shot; not near so much, in fact, as it does upon the sand of the capitalists behind it. The loss of twenty Ewings would not be so serious as, for instance, the withdrawal of one McAlpin. Experience in the past years has proven conclusively that players can be replaced in great or small numbers, but capitalists are not so easy to find, or hold when found. The Sporting Life August 16, 1890

One of the sensations of the week was a Cleveland special to the Boston , which intimated very plainly that a certain National League team had decided Players' League leanings, and that a jump to the new League next fall was more than likely...

...

It doesn't need much guessing as to which club is aimed at here since Comiskey not very long ago stated that President Stern of the Cincinnati Club had plainly expressed himself as very much disgusted with the way things had turned out in the National League, and hinted at the possibility of a change.

[from the Toledo correspondent] There is a firm belief in the West that the boys who wear the Ridgewood uniform, or the men who back them, have seized upon a larger morsel than they can with comfort masticate. With the League and Brotherhood clubs in the city of churches the Association team has not been [/able to draw enough people to make the games financially interesting. This fact has set the gossips to work figuring out a successor, and Detroit jumps to the conclusion that the Association will look to that city to fill any gap that may occur. Up to the present writing there is no gap to fill, but if any such an emergency arises Detroit should be the last city on the globe to be considered, even if her geographical position made her a potentiality. The record made by Detroit as a “quitter” and a “wrecker” should be a warning to the American Association. The very fact that Detroit stands willing to desert the International should be argument against any claim she may advance.