Semantic search

[a letter to the editor from John J. Rooney, Captain R. F. Downing & Co. B.B. Club.] … Every one who attends professional games, when the crowds are large and noisy, and the umpire is not blessed with a strong voice, understands this difficulty. Frequently three-fourths of the spectators in distant parts of the field, and even the more fortunate holders and grand-stand tickets, do not know until the close of the inning, or at least after a provoking delay, whether a man is “safe” or “out,” or whether a strike or a ball has been called on the batter. …

…I would respectfully suggest a simple expedient—a code of bell signals. Place a man or boy in charge of a pleasantly sounding gong within plain hearing of the umpire's decision. It is evident, first, that the code should be extremely simple; a second, that all professional and crack amateur teams should adopt the same code; otherwise the plan would be worse than useless. May I again presume to make a few suggestions that have privately met the approval of base ball experts and lovers of the game?

First—For all “strikes, “actual or called, one bell. No bell after a pitched ball necessarily means a “ball,” unless otherwise announced.

Second--”Safe” in running bases, one ball: “out,” two bells.

No more is needed. The “one” bell for a strike and the “one” bell for “safe” need not conflict, as the two points of play covered cannot be made at the same time. A quick bell would meet any possible objection.

These signals I offer merely as a suggestion, but I feel certain that many ball players and devotees of the national sport will support me in the claim that in view of the great and fast increasing crowds attending ball games, and the extent of many of the grounds, there is an urgent necessity for a change that will bring every one, even in the remotest back seat, within immediate and distinct reach of the umpire's decision. Let the managers try it, and the base ball public will gratefully respond. New York Sun April 14, 1889

[from a letter to the editor from James Sullivan of New Haven, Conn.] I think a have a little code of base ball signals superior to those advanced by Mr. Rooney in The Sun of yesterday. The use of a gong is beset with difficulties for it would have to be a loud-sounding gong to reach the ears of 10,000 excited spectators, many of whom have imperfect hearing, or the boy in charge may misunderstand the umpire or make a mistake in his excitement. Why not have the umpire himself instantly telegraph his decisions to the anxious spectators? Here is my little code:

For every strike the umpire shall raise one hand straight over his head; for a ball he shall make no significant motion.

Whenever a man is out he shall raise both hands over his head; and if a man is safe, whether at the bat or running bases, he need make no significant motion. What could be more simple? A deaf mute could almost umpire under these rules, and players and spectators would understand him. New York Sun April 16, 1889

[from an anonymous “twenty years' reader of the Sun] As suggestions seem to be in order, permit the undersigned to offer the following signals calculated to benefit the patrons of the national game: First, regulation of balls and strikes—Let each umpire provide himself with a red handkerchief, and wave same when calling a strike on the batter. Second, outs—Wave a rag when man is out between the bases. New York Sun April 17, 1889

[from the reply from John Rooney] ...First of all, the umpire has enough to do in watching a game. He would object or fail to make himself a “jack-in-the-box.” His attention must be centred on the play, and any distraction or unnecessary increase of duties weakens and burdens him. The umpire would be compelled to shout, throw up his hands, and work the hand register at the same time. Secondly, the arm signals are not sufficient emphatic to reach all spectators. The arm could be elevated only for an instant, and would not compel an knowledge of the decision, such as a sharp bell would. The spectators don't want to watch the umpire all the time. A bell would reach them whether they watched or not. Moreover, the signal proposed is not sufficiently distinctive,and would consequently soon fall into disuse. It is not strong enough. A bell demands attention, speaks unmistakably, and at once stamps the decision with authority. Admirers of the game are admitting the necessity for some code of signals, although they may differ on the form. Let the managers give the scheme a trial. New York Sun April 18, 1889

[from W. I. Harris's column] Whether there will be an alliance between the two organizations [AA and PL] is an entirely different question. What the Association has to gain by such an alliance is not perfectly plain. If the object of it is to get protection from raids on their players, an alliance would be simply jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. They would stop forays by the Players' League, but expose themselves to the sallies of the National League. This would not be a gain, because the League would probably take more players away from them than the Brotherhood. The Sporting Life August 23, 1889

[editorial matter] The problem that confronts the Association is not that of amalgamation, but of alliance, and here the Association is between the devil and the deep sea, because, no matter with which side it cats its fortunes, the other will be sure to war upon it. There is, however, a good deal more concern expressed over this phase of the situation than is called for. The only way in which either of the two big leagues can make war upon the Association is by raiding it for players, since it has no cities left which would prove advantageous additions to either of the big leagues, and there is, besides, no city whose loss could not be made good at short notice, provided neither of the big leagues increase their circuits, which, it can be taken for granted, neither will be foolish enough to do.

But if the desertions shall stop there the existence of the Association is by no means endangered from outward agencies, as least, because Washington, New Haven and Newark are open to it in the East, and Milwaukee or Minneapolis, with good teams ready to hand, in the West. So there is no reason to altogether despair of the future of the Association with so many possibilities before it, if it can but regulate its internal affairs, and shape its circuit satisfactorily, and especially cut the base ball coat according to the financial cloth, always keeping in view the limited capacity of its small cities to successfully compete with the wealth and resources of the National League and Players' League.

So, about the only effective method of reprisal left for any warring power is to help itself to such of the players of the Association as it may want, and that is not such a dreadful thing, after all. The number of men either the League or Players' League could take from the Association would be limited; because comparatively few of them would be up to the playing standard of the major leagues, to say nothing of exceeding it, which alone would warrant the big clubs in making changes, as they are pretty well loaded up now with good playing material. And for every man captured from the Association another player, perhaps almost as good, would be available because of release from the big clubs, which after all, cannot afford to carry more men than they can find use for.

So any raid upon the Association would, perhaps, amount, in effect, to nothing more than an exchange of players with this marked advantage to the Association: The men whom the big clubs would take would swell their salary lists and relieve the Association of higher priced material than it can really afford to carry, while the released major league players it can get in return for its stolen stars would cost it far less in the aggregate, and thus expenses would be materially reduced. So good would come out of fancied evil, and none of the Association clubs be affected by the change of players, except, perhaps, the Athletic Club, which being the only club which is brought into direct competition with the big major leagues would probably suffer, with a weakened team, by contrast.

So with the fact assured that no matter which side the Association allies itself with it must expect to receive no quarter from the other, and with all the possible damage discounted in advance, it only remains for the Association to consider the advantages and disadvantages of alliance with one party or the other, since there can be no neutrality so long as the battle between the National League and Players League [illegible]

Now this is an important matter for the Association because of the bearing it will have upon its own future, and deserves very careful consideration. A conclusion should not be hastily arrived at. There is still more than a month left before active hostilities can be begun, which will give the Association ample time to size up the situation in all its bearings and shape its course accordingly. The first and most important thing would doubtless be to learn just what advantages and conditions an alliance with the Players' League would confer and what the intentions of that League are toward itself, and for this purpose a conference would be in order. The relations of the League with and sentiment towards its old ally are too well known to need any particular attention, and it only remains to discover just what advantages would accrue from alliance with the Players' League.

A crisis for the Association is approaching and it will require skillful handling. In the disposition of the problems confronting the organization sentiment should form no factor. This is important. The Sporting Life August 23, 1890

[from the Melbourne correspondent] I have received several letters from players in the United States who want to come out here and play. They offer to sign for sums varying from $250 to $400 per month. Now, the people here are purely amateur, and I want to tell the boys, through your paper, that they are better off where they are. There is no money yet in playing the game here, and I would not advise any of them to come here on the chance of getting a place to work.

[editorial matter] According to latest reports, the League will, in addition to its trouble with its players, have a threatened breach in its circuit to repair, as the reports from Washington are anything but reassuring, and it is becoming a question whether the Capital will be represented in the National League next season. Ordinarily this would cause the League little concern, as the American Association always affords a fair field for spoliation and the League, true to its instincts and traditions, would have little hesitation in helping itself to whatever it wanted. But with the controversy with its players unsettled and a possible revolt staring it in the face, the League would, of course, consider long and consider well before invoking the open or secret hostility of the Association, whose moral influence, at least, will be needed if the threatened rupture with the Brotherhood should come. …

For the Association the situation is also made precarious by the uncertain attitude of two of its principal clubs, Cincinnati and Brooklyn. Otherwise it is, however, in much better shape than the League, by reason of the absence of any entangling and irritating legislation, such as the classification, rule, the non-existence within its ranks of an exacting and threatening players' organization, and the exemption from a repressive contract like the Brotherhood contract; and if it had but the wisdom, craft, business sense and, above all, the faculty of sinking personal animosities for the common good in a pinch, that the League possesses, and had withal a forceful executive, like Mr. Krauthoff, for instance, it could, from the present situation of the League and the Brotherhood, and the base ball profession generally, evolve such a system and wring such concessions as to make it the chief factor in base ball, and, in time, the leading organization.

At the conclusion of to-day's [7/21] game President Stern wired President Von der Ahe of the Browns, offering $10,000 for Comiskey. It is the intention, if secured, to make him manager of the Cincinnati team, playing him occasionally. Comiskey said he would be glad to come. Several members of the club say they have good reason to believe that Von der Ahe will accept Stern's offer. St. Louis Republic July 22, 1889

President Von der Ahe says that he received no telegram from President Stern of the Cincinnati club, making him an offer of $10,000 for Comiskey's release. He also states that he would not accept the offer if made. St. Louis Republic July 22, 1889

“Is it true, Mr. Byrne, that you offered and St. Louis refused $12,000 for Comiskey?” The St. Louis Republic reported asked the president of the Brooklyn base ball club to-day [8/3]

“Not quite true. The price we finally offered was $15,000 for Comiskey and Mr. Von der Ahe refused that.”

“Is that not the biggest price ever offered for a ball player?”

“Yes, far the biggest.”

“What makes Comiskey so mighty valuable?”

“Oh, everybody knows why Comiskey is valuable. It is his ability to handle men and make them play ball. If a man has got base ball in him at all Comiskey gets it out of him. He handles his men as a good officer handles a body of soldiers. He is a wonderfully good judge of the capabilities of players, and he has them playing up to the top not every time. Milligan was rejected by Philadelphia, and Comiskey took him and made him a magnificent catcher. Boyle was an unknown when Comiskey picked him up and put him in Bushong's place. His phenomenal record last year shows how good the judgment of the St. Louis captain is. Duffee, the centre fielder, is a boy who did not cost the club a cent. see what a player Comiskey has made of him. McCarthy is another man whom Comiskey has made in the same way, and his spirit is the motive power of the team. He is worth $15,000 to us. You see he is not only a captain, he is also the finest kind of a manager on and off the field.” St. Louis Republic August 4, 1889

W.H. Voltz of Philadelphia is still in town. He is not here for the purpose of hustling votes for the association presidency. He is here on a bigger mission. He is after Capt. Comiskey for the Philadelphias. He made an offer of $15,000 to President Von der Ahe for Comiskey's release. His offer was refused and Voltz was informed that under no circumstances would Comiskey be released from the St. Louis club. This is the biggest sum ever offered for a player in the history of the national game. Pittsburg made a big bluff to “borrow” Anson for a season for $15,000 several years ago, but when it came to a show down the Pittsburg club wilted. The Philadelphia club wanted the Browns' famous general to captain the team and play first base. Harry Wright would still be manager, but Comiskey would have supreme control over the players. St. Louis Republic October 3, 1889[John Rogers admitted to trying to buy Comiskey, but not for that much. SLR 10/8/1889]

[from Chadwick's column] I notice that in the American Association Guide, on pate 139, the “official construction of the playing rules” is given, and on referring to Rule 18 the clause reads: – “No quick delivery will be allowed.” Where did President Wikoff find authority for this construction of the rule? A quick delivery of the ball is a very strong point in strategic pitching, and in no portion of Rule 18 is it prohibited.

Work on the ground secured by the Brooklyn Players' Club is to be pushed at once. According to General Jourdan, president of the Kings County Elevated Railroad, work will also be immediately commenced on the construction of the branch extension of the upper part of the road in the Twenty-sixth ward, Brooklyn, to the Van Sicklen avenue grounds of the new club. The extension will run direct to the grand stand, and every effort will be made to have it completed by the beginning of the base ball season next year, when it is expected the new Brotherhood League will do a rushing business.

[from an interview of Reach] “There is not a man with any common sense, outside of the Brotherhood, who will say that the players are underpaid, or not being well treated by club owners. They have absolutely no grievances, and are being led by a number of old players who have seen their best days, and, knowing that they will very soon have to retire and make room for younger men, are endeavoring to get up a scheme like this for self-protection and to keep them in the service.

[from the Pittsburgh correspondent] Al Scandrett isn't through smiling yet over the way he captured young Beam. … ...there weren't so many clubs after Beam, but the base ball people of the town brought a terrible pressure to bear on the young man with side whiskers. Al, however, after winning over his father by asserting that Billy Sunday was an Evangelist, and would take good care of his boy, gave his terms and left. The next day he gave it out that he wanted Milbee, of Scottdale, a better man than Beam, and had it printed afar and wide that he had gone to Scottdale for this phenomenon. Beam was in town the next day and attached his John Hancock to the contract. The bluff worked.

The testimony of minor league managers everywhere is that many players are singing for from 15 to 25 per cent. less than they signed for last season. This is a most satisfactory and encouraging sign, showing, as it does, that there is really a disposition to live up to salary limit rules.

[reporting the NL meeting of 11/13-15/1889] ...Mr. Spalding introduced resolutions calculated to make the minor league people very tired, as it upset their schemes of quick sales and liberal profits. The purport of these resolutions is for the League not to sign players other than their reserved men prior to Feb. 1, and not then, except through President Young, which will stop all competition:

Resolved, That no League club shall from this day enter into negotiations or contract with players not under League reservation, or enter into negotiations with any club for the transfer of any of its players until February 1, 1890.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, to be designated as the Negotiation Committee, of which the president of the League shall be chairman, to which shall be referred all applications from players desiring position on League teams, as well as applications from club members of the National Agreement wishing to dispose of the release of their players.

Resolved, That the chairman of the committee shall be the exclusive channel through which such applications and negotiations can be conducted by the National League or any of its clubs, and said committee shall ascertain the terms upon which any such release can be procured or such contracts executed.

Resolved, That all League clubs, in order to secure the services of such players, will indicate to the chairman the positions to be filled and the names of the players wanted, and, upon the unanimous vote of said committee, a contract may be executed between a club and any player so approved and promulgated in the usual manner.

Resolved, that the committee, by its unanimous vote, be authorized to draw from the guarantee fund of the League such funds as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this resolution, to be repaid to said fund by the clubs benefitted thereby.

These resolutions were adopted and Messrs. Young, Byrne and Reach were appointed as members of the negotiations committee.

... Mr. Frank R. Dean, sporting editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and correspondent of The Sporting Times. Mr. Dean succeeded Mr. Brunell on the Plain Dealer and was a hard worker.

Harry Palmer, The Sporting Life's Chicago correspondent and special commissioner upon the recent Spalding tour of the world, has accepted the position of base ball editor of the Chicago Tribune. Tom Gallagher, who, as sporting editor of the paper, has looked after base ball as well as the other branches of sport in the Tribune's columns, will in future look after the turf column of the paper exclusively, while Mr. Palmer will handle the base ball news exclusively. He will accompany the Chicago team upon its trips to other League cities and will in fact write up every championship game played by Anson's gentlemen from this time forth.

Tim Murnane, of the Boston Globe, and Edward Stevens, of the Herald, are with the Boston club, and will make the tour through the West.

[from Waller Wallace's column] It is a matter of profound regret to me, and so I am sure it is to the several managers, that there are so many players in the above list [of California League teams] under the reserve rule of Eastern organizations, but the rivalry existing between the four cities is so intense and bitter that each manager has been forced to sign the very best material available, with which to cope successfully against opposing teams. Quite a number of these men were at hand within the confines of our State, and once in California they have found it impossible to “break away” from its genial climate and people. Result--”they've come to stay.

There will be no Sunday games at the Queens County ball grounds to-morrow, not even at Ridgewood, and to-day’s games with the Kansas City team will be the last appearance of that well managed team in Brooklyn this season. At the close of yesterday’s game Sheriff Goldner, of Queens County, had an interview with Messrs. Byrne and Doyle and informed them that the law against Sunday ball playing in that county would hereafter be strictly enforced, beginning with to-morrow, and he suggested the withdrawal of the Brooklyn Club’s games, which Mr. Byrne promptly acceded to. There has been no desire on the part of the Brooklyn Club’s management to work in opposition to the proper enforcement of the law against all the clubs in Queens County: but as long as other grounds were allowed to be used they wanted to play at Ridgewood. This sudden change of base obliged the hurried arrangement of two games at Washington Park to-day, the first beginning at 2 P.M. promptly and the second within ten minutes after the close of the first contest, to allow time to remark the position lines. Only one admission will be charged for the two games.

It is well known that Jimmy Williams is doing the heavy work on revising the constitution. He finds in President Wikoff and Manager Schmelz assistants of no mean type, and between the three, the new constitution will come up for adoption with no technical points to bother the delegates. There will be no errors, either, it might be well to add, and it is probable, that for the first time, the constitution of the American Association will go to the market with no excuses of aggravating mistakes.

[editorial matter] There can be but little doubt that the movement of the Ball Players' Brotherhood to form an organization independent of and rival to the National League has assumed practical form and has been definitely decided upon, and the National League may as well prepare itself to reap the fruits of the miserable coddling policy it has pursued for years towards its stars, for whom it has sacrificed much in money, comfort, and sometimes principle, with the usual return of ever-increasing exaction, coupled with base ingratitude, and prepare itself for the greatest battle for supremacy, nay, for existence, base ball has ever witnessed.

…

...The fact, however, is that all the stated grievances of the Brotherhood are summarized in alleged breach of faith by the League, the adoption of the classification rule, and the perpetuation of the sales system. These are all the weighty causes for such supreme universal dissatisfaction as is stated to exist in the Brotherhood ranks. Now, why not be frank and admit that the chief basis for the revolt is in plain, unvarnished words—greed; a desire to absorb the supposed enormous profits of the business along with the salaries. There can be no other more potent ground for the rebellion, as the given reasons are not sufficiently weighty to induce such a radical step as the Brotherhood contemplates. First—the alleged breach of faith consists simply in a failure to write the full amount of salary in the contract, and that failure has been explained time and again. Second—The classification rule, which had become necessary for the preservation of the League, inflicted no hardships and did not conflict with the Brotherhood contracts, inasmuch as every star player was taken care of, not a single salary was shaved down except in the case of Sutcliffe, which case would have been, or will be, righted upon appeal, and the law was only designed for the future to put a check on the exactions of incoming new players. Surely this rule cannot be so very bad when the Brotherhood proposes to pay its players under their present classification figures, for the first season, at least, under the new order. Third—The sales “evil,” of which the players complain is no evil at all, but is a necessary part of the business which cannot be eliminated.... A club's chief assets are its players; outside of these it has really nothing to represent the money invested and the risks assumed except a ground and a lot of useless lumber. Under the sales system that club which has or secures the best players has the best assets, and is therefore strong financially, as it can show something of market value. The sales system is a necessary concomitant of the reserve rule and both are essential to the professional game. They add stability to the business and give clubs a financial standing and value that it was impossible to attain under the old wild-cat system, when at the end of a season a club not only had nothing to show in the way of assets except a lot of expired contracts and a grand stand, but had no certainty that it would be able to put any sort of team in the field in the following season. … take it as you will, the sales system is not an unmitigated evil (except inasmuch as it leads clubs into extravagance in purchasing and remunerating players), and the Brotherhood recognizes this fact in that it does not demand the abolition of the system, but simply a share in the proceeds of it; it merely insist upon a slice of the purchase money, thus showing conclusively that it is not a question of principle so much as a matter of personal gain.

[from W. I. Harris's column] Chris Von der Ahe is said to be the luckiest man in base ball, and in some respects he is, but there are others quite as lucky, if not more so, so far as money-making is concerned, than the German magnate of the St. Louis Club. Among them may be counted four young men in this locality. They are William W. Wallace, W. A. Mayer, H. F. Rueger and J. G. O'Keefe, respectively, president, treasurer, secretary and stockholders in the Ridgewood Park Exhibition Company. These gentlemen way back in '85 conceived the idea that a ball park at Ridgewood would prove a paying investment. Wallace was a ball crank, and so was O'Keefe, and they talked the other two into the scheme, and the company was formed. Wallace was the prime mover. None of them had over $300 apiece when they leased some building lots at Ridgewood, just across the Kings county line. The grounds were small, but they did a good business, and when the first season was over it was found to have amounted to something like $25,000. The company then increased its capital stock to $15,000, two-thirds of it being retained by the originators of the scheme. The excess of profits and additional stock was used to buy land and to build proper stands and bleachers. Up to this time the Brooklyn Club had not used the Ridgewood grounds, although other professional and semi-professional clubs were playing there and drawing good crowds, particularly on Sunday, no matter what the attraction was. The privileges of the grounds also brought a handsome return. Little by little the company added to its holding, and finally when the Kings county officials stopped Sunday base ball at Washington Park the Brooklyns went to Ridgewood. At first they did not play at the Ridgewood Park, but finally made an arrangement with Wallace and his partner, which has proved a bonanza for all parties. The exhibition company is now endeavoring to purchase that part of the property they hold by lease. They already own three-fifths of the park, and good judges say that the entire property is worth at least $100,000. If this is true, the men who commenced four years ago on less than $1200, have now $60,000 worth of property that is paying them handsome dividends. There are games at Ridgewood nearly every day, and on Sundays always. The Ridgewood people have made a contract by which the Newark Club is the home club on all Sundays, on which the Brooklyns are away from home. The Newarks are paid $200 a game, and play against whatever club the management produces. There is seldom less than 2500 people at these Sunday games, and generally more. President Wallace is a hard working compositor in the office of the Press, and Mr. O'Keefe is in the same line. Mr. Mayer is a Brooklyn baker, and Mr. Rueger is an engraver.

[reporting a meeting of the Sunday Observance Association of Kings County] Very careful attention has been given to the subject of Sunday base ball games. No regular games of base ball are played in Kings County on Sunday, but at Ridgewood Park, just over the line, in Queens County, games are played regularly. However, all the demoralizing effects and influences of this fact are visited upon our people as well. The law and order societies of Queens county and the New York Sabbath Committee joined forces with this association and visited the law officers of that county. Some redress was promised but none has as yet come. Sunday, in the neighborhood of Ridgewood Park, has become a day of riot and revelry. The persistence with which the local base ball club managers continue to defy the laws of the State, public sentiment and the moral and religious rights of the people, and interests of the community, reflects great discredit upon them. The neglect of the officials of Queens County to arrest these law breakers and punish them ought to be sufficient to rouse the law and order elements of that county to support only such candidates for district attorney and sheriff as will stamp out this defiance of law. Efforts will be made to rouse such public sentiment in that direction. Public meetings will be held throughout that county on this subject. ... While expressing no opinion upon base ball as a sport, we desire in all candor to ask the patrons of this sport in this city whether they should continue their patronage of a club the managers of which so wantonly and openly continue to knowingly violate the laws of the commonwealth. Your patronage of the sport on week days the managers doubtless consider an indorsement of the general management of club interests. Those who believe in maintaining Sunday and have respect for law should refuse their patronage to the local club until the management rectify this public abuse. Brooklyn Eagle May 20, 1889

By the way, the Mail and Express recently stated that “Sunday in the neighborhood of Ridgewood Park has become a day of riot and revelry.” There never was a greater falsehood uttered by that paper. During the past two seasons the immense base ball gatherings at Ridgewood Park have been as orderly as any seen either at the Polo Grounds or Washington Park. The patrons of Ridgewood know well enough that any disorder there by the crowd would cause the Brooklyn Club to stop their games there, and in self protection and to insure the continuance of their Sunday recreation in watching these contests they form themselves into a sort of committee of the whole on police and keep excellent order. Not even under the exciting conditions of the Athletic row last month at the park was there either rioting or disorder, the vast assemblage being a model one in the good humor they preserved under the circumstances. ... In its rabid partisanship the Mail and Express goes beyond the bounds of truth. Whatever may be the opinion of Sunday ball playing in general, there is neither truth nor justice in the Mail’s charge about riot and disorder, as the Brooklyn Club would not countenance it for a moment. Brooklyn Eagle June 1, 1889

As a sample of the expenses of a ball team it may be stated that Cleveland's 1883, in which were McCormick, Dunlap, Glasscock, Bushong, Daily, and other stars, cost for salaries less than $16,000, and the present team, in which there are no stars, costs $31,000. With the same men under contract this season as played in Cleveland during 1883, the salary list would be $50,000. And yet the tendency is to increase still more, because the pace for $50,000 towns is set by $150,000 towns., quoting the Boston Globe

[from R. M. Larner's column] Almost every League player, whose contract has been promulgated by the genial N. E. Young, is to receive a substantial increase in salary for next season's work. Some of the amounts paid to second and third-rate players for the season of 1890 are enormous. Wilmot's contract calls for $2,500, but I am informed upon unquestionable authority that he is to receive something in excess of that amount.

[quoting John Rogers] We hope to win the case, and in my mind it is quite probable that we shall. Everything, however, hinges on the interpretation of the word “reserve.” If the court takes our definitions one of intent, we have the case. Should it take that the word is only binding on the different clubs of the League and not on outside clubs, then the Brotherhood will win.

The Baltimore base ball club will open the season with a roster of 15 men. The pitchers are Matthew Kilroy, Edward Cunningham, Frank Foreman and William Whittaker. The catchers are Chris. Fulmer, Edward Tate, Joseph Quinn and Bart Cantz. The first baseman is Thomas Tucker; second baseman, Joseph Mack; third baseman, William Shindle; short stop, Jack Farrell, left fielder, Joseph Hornung; centre fielder, Michael Griffin; right fielders, Joseph Sommer. The captain of the club has not yet been determined upon. It will probably be Mack or Farrell. St.

[discussing the meeting of the rules committee 11/12] Rules 12, section 2...was changed to “The moment the umpire delivers a new or alternate ball to the pitcher it comes into play, and shall not at any time be intentionally discolored with the soil or otherwise.” This change was made to prevent the prevailing habit of throwing a new ball around the field so as to make it have the appearance of an old ball.

The changes in the playing rules have operated so as to increase the batting, and heavy batting and brilliant fielding have been the rule in a very large majority of the games. With the abolition of the foul tip, and the reduction of the number of balls allowable, the pitcher has not had the batsman so completely at his mercy, and the hitting, which is, after all, the most enjoyable feature of the game, has been by far the best seen in any season since the curve ball came into use.

A special meeting of the American Association of Ball Clubs has been called for Friday in New York to consider the status of the Louisville Club, which is reported to be in a bad way. The charge is being made that President Davidson is trying to dispose of his best players and then let the club shift for itself. To prevent the team from going to pieces and thereby losing the eighth club in the Association it is proposed to put a stop to the sale and President Wickoff has been requested not to ratify the sales of any players until after the meeting of the Association.

Von der Ahe, the president of the St. Louis Club, was the first to have his suspicions aroused and after consultation with Manager Barnie and some wiring to Eastern managers it was decided to settle the business in a special meeting. President Stern is now said to be negotiating for the release of Hecker, Stratton and Shannon. It is claimed that with these players out the Louisville will be only an amateur club, certainly not better. Davidson has lost heavily right along, and it is thought he wants to get out of the hole as best he can.

The News had another base-ball rumor yesterday afternoon. It was to the effect that the Indianapolis League club was to be transferred to New York. Mr. J. T. Brush was asked what, if any, foundation there was for such a fairy tale. “None whatever,” was his answer. “No one here ever dreamed of such a thing, and I cannot be responsible nor answer for every insane rumor set afloat.” Indianapolis Journal December 4, 1889

There has been a good deal of talk hereabouts of late about a possible transfer of the players of the Indianapolis Base-ball Club to New York to fill up the gaps in the local league team. It is all bosh—that is, if the positive statements of the gentlemen most interested in any such transfer are to be accepted as true. President Brush, of the Indianapolis club, says without qualification that he is in the League to stay, and that means that he proposes to hold on to each and every one of his players. President Day, of the New York club, says that he does not contemplate securing the Hoosier hard-hitters and all-round performers on the green diamond, and that ought to settle it. Indianapolis Journal February 16, 1890, quoting the New York Herald

Some one telegraphed from Boston last night that there was a great row among the members of the Indianapolis ball team because they had not been paid off in that city on the 15th. President Brush was seen by a reporter and asked regarding the matter. He said there was no trouble whatever, and if any member of the club wanted money all he had to do was to ask Manager Bancroft for it. “It has been our custom this season,” he continued, “to pay our men on the 1 st and 15th of each month, no matter whether they are at home or abroad. There is probably not another club in the League that does this, as it is not required, and we only did it to accommodate the players. The contracts of the men specify that they are to be paid on the dates named when they are at home, but not while they are away on their trips. We intended to pay off in Boston on the 15th, as usual, but as the club is to be at home on the 25th we concluded to wait until that time. We telegraphed this to Manager Bancroft with instructions to advance the men any amounts they might want. I think no one can complain of this and it is probable that the report is simply the work of some sensational idiot who wants to get into the papers.” Indianapolis Journal July 17, 1889

a ground rule for a puddle

[Indianapolis vs. New York 7/20/1889] The final ball game of the New York-Indianapolis series was played under very discouraging circumstances at the Polo grounds this afternoon. There was a heavy rain-fall last night, and the ball field was in a very bad condition in consequence. There was a small lake in left field, and on that account a ground rule was made, under which a hit to that territory, no matter how long, could only yield two bases. Boys, with trousers rolled up, were engaged to fish the ball out when it went into the miniature lake. In trying to get a fly ball, Sullivan went into the water once nearly up to his knees. Indianapolis Journal July 21, 1889

Secretary Douglass, of the Young Men's Christian Association, thinks the solution of the Sunday base-ball question can be found in the athletic park it is proposed to open within a few weeks. But to make the enterprise a success in that respect, he says a half-holiday will be necessary. If all the time of young men is used in business during the week days they cannot get the full benefit of the park, and, therefore, he urges a half holiday for the summer months. He has already a list of 600 young men who will make use of the grounds, provided their employers give them the time for recreation desired. More than one thousand, he says, can be induced to go to the park, and forgo Sunday ball-playing if the half holiday is obtained. Beginning to-day Saturday afternoon, recreation is to be given to the employees of W. B. Burford.

[New York vs. Pittsburgh 7/5/1889] Dunlap's hitting was of the scientific kind, because every time he went to bat there were men on bases, and Fred just placed hits in nice comfortable localities.

Eddie Von der Ahe's score card was composed of sixteen pages last season—reading material and “ads.” combined. He now contemplates enlarging it to twenty-four pages and increasing the reading matter. An interesting score card is a good thing to glance over “between the innings, “ and young Von der Ahe says that his score card will be “one of the finest.

[New York vs. Boston 5/8/1889] For nine innings the champions swung their bats and strained their eyes trying to see the home plate around the remaining three corners of the diamond, but they were doomed to disappointment, and saw the scorer hang up goose eggs until he had nine of them on the string.

The Sporting Life's Columbus correspondent, Frank W. Arnold, has resigned the official scoreship of the Columbus Club and the sporting editorship of the Columbus Dispatch. President Wikoff's brother, Charles, is his success on the paper.

[from Chadwick's column] There are two amendments required in the scoring rules to the national code to make the averages what they are not now, viz., reliable data on which to base an opinion of a player's ability as a batsman; and one of these is to introduce a special record, giving the figures of the runs each player bats in from base hits. Another is the elimination of fielding and base-running figures from the data on which earned runs are based. The record of earned runs is useless except as giving figures on which a criterion of a pitcher's skill can be arrived at, and the only reliable data for this is the record of safe hits made off the pitching. As it is now a pitcher is charged with runs earned off the fielding and by base-running as well as from base hits, and in nearly every instance the estimate is unjust to the pitcher, as it brings into the calculation the plays of the fielders as well as the work of the pitchers. The only proper data for earned runs is the record of base hits made off the pitching, a pitcher's battery errors—called balls and wild pitches—not being included.

[from Ren Mulford's column] That idea of the Wilkes-barre official scorer in summarizing the hits that net runs is a good one. I have accepted Manager Hart's “reached base” column for the Times-Star's individual score... Tebeau has not been making many hits, but he reaches first base pretty often on balls and errors, and is the best waiter in the club.

[from Chadwick's column] I notice that President Young decides that a base-runner should be credited with a stolen base under the following circumstances:--For instance, Quinn was on first base and Ganzel at bat with two strikes and three balls called. As the next ball is pitched, Quinn makes a dive for second without knowing whether the umpire would call a ball or a strike. It turned out that the umpire called four balls, but Quinn gets credit for a stolen base. This is a correct decision. In estimating stolen bases, there cannot well be any arbitrary rule to govern every case, as circumstances so frequently alter cases. The effort to steal must go into the calculation largely. For intsance, the moment the runner at first sees the pitcher's arm move to pitch, and he starts for second, he has attempted a steal without regard to the action of the catcher or the batsman; and if he reaches the base safely, he is entitled to the credit of the steal, irrespective of a wide throw, a muffed ball, a passed ball, a called ball or a wild pitch; as the very effort to steal may help to cause either the wild throw or the passed ball, as also the muff at second. There are ordinary steals and clean steals, and the latter comprise the minority. But no base can be justly credited as stolen, where the runner at first is induced to start for second after seeing the error made by the pitcher or catcher. To limit the credit of a stolen base to clean steals, would be discouraging to base stealing. A runner will not take the risks under such circumstances that he will when he is given credit for his effort to steal irrespective of the fielding errors the effort may have led to. In order to encourage base-running, I think, a latitude should be allowed, which may justly be reduced hereafter.

[from an article on the new rules by Chadwick] In the case of a fair ball to the outer field when a runner is on third base and only one run is required to win the game the new rules now forbid the umpire from calling “game” until the play following the long hit is completed. Last year in such a case the moment the runner reached home and the winning run was scored the game ended then and there, thereby cutting off the credit of the three-bagger or home-run hit which brought in the winning run. Now the game cannot end until the fair hit ball has been fielded in to the pitcher, thereby giving the batsman full credit on the score for his hit.

[from Questions Answered] According to rules, yes, but in this respect we do not go by the rules in scoring. If the third strike is a wild pitch it would be manifestly unjust to give the catcher a missed third strike on it. In all such cases we give the error to the pitcher and not credit him with a strike-out.

The score of Saturday’s game sent from St. Louis was made out in violation of the new scoring rules, which throw out all assistances for strikes from the assistance column, which can now only contain the record of fielding assistances. Terry is credited with ten assistances, eight of which were on strikes, and Chamberlain with seven, of which five were from strikes.

[Cleveland vs. Indianapolis 4/26/1889] Glasscock's error was excusable, as the ball made a very ugly bound just in front of him.

[from Chadwick's column] Ren Mulford...says: “Don't give a fielder an error for a muffed foul fly unless the batsman reaches first base after such misplay has been made. Under the strict interpretation of the rules an error 'is a misplay which allows the striker or base-runner to make one or more bases when perfect play would have insured his being put out.'” This is a mistake. A fielder who drops a foul fly commits an error just as much as when he drops a fair fly ball, inasmuch as he thereby gives the batsman a life.

[from Frank Brunell's column] There is a clear necessity for some agreement among League scorers as to the scoring of a foul fly error. I have always set it down as an error if the man subsequently reached first, but taken no notice of it if he is subsequently retired. Other scorers oppose this plan and some of the reasons for the opposition are good. But if the error is scored why not score an error against a man who misses a ball subsequently handled by another fielder before the runner reaches first? This isn't done. Let us agree on a plan at once. I am not wedded to my plan. But I am stuck on the idea of uniformity.

[from Chadwick's column] I...append...the score of a game, the figures of which were taken from my old score book of 1859—thirty years ago—from which it will be seen that I then kept score according to nearly the same data as now. Here is the score in question: [a box score follows, Star v. Excelsior, scoring R., B. O. A. E.] I could not get any of the clubs to recognize base hits until nearly a dozen years afterwards. Indeed, all the reforms I introduced were brought into operation only after years of efforts to get the players out of old ruts.

[Philadelphia vs. Chicago 6/20/1889] Under the present system of scoring Van has no errors charged to his account on the score. If errors of judgment could be scored, however, Van's name would be supplemented with two black marks in the fifth column.

[editorial matter] Scorers everywhere are neglecting to record sacrifice hits. The rules call for the scoring of such hits and the rules should be followed, despite individual opinion as to their value. Only self-opinionated or incompetent scorers will furnish incomplete scores, as without sacrifice hits, which go to make up official records, no score is complete. Eliminate the particularization of the errors and such other nonsense and score the sacrifice hits, and the scores will be just as compact and far more valuable for analysis and reference.

Here is a proposition that ought to receive some attention:--A rule should be adopted before the season's averages are officially compiled that a sacrifice hit should count something in compiling the batting averages. A man who makes a sacrifice deliberately throws away his chance of making a hit, and it at least should not be credited against him as a time at bat.

President Young decides that a base-runner should be credited with a stolen base under the following circumstances: For instance, Quinn was on first base and Ganzel at bat with two strikes and three balls called. As the next ball is pitched Quinn makes a dive for second, without knowing whether the umpire would call a ball or a strike. He took the chances and should be rewarded accordingly. As it turned out, the umpire called four balls, but Quinn gets a stolen base all the same.

[from F. W. Arnold's column] [reporting on the meeting of the Columbus Club] It was also agreed by the stockholders that one hundred additional season tickets should be offered to the public at $25 each.

The local base-ball people hope to sell a large number of season tickets for 1889, and the work of canvassing the city will be commenced as soon as other matters of importance are arranged. The cou0pon books for gentlemen will be sold, as they were last season, at $25, and an effort to dispose of 500 will be made. A ladies' book will also be put on sale, but what the price of that will be is not yet known, though it will probably be placed at $16. The attendance of ladies is to be encouraged as much as possible, and hopes are entertained that this class of patronage can be greatly increased over what it was last season.