Clipping:A botched attempt to trade Indianapolis players to Detroit
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| Date | Wednesday, June 24, 1885 |
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| Text | This city [Detroit] was thrown into a flutter of excitement over the wholesale transfer of the Indianapolis team to Detroit. The soothing pill administered to the Indianapolis directors by the Detroit management was too agreeable to let pass, and the result was that $5,000 of Detroit's money captured the prize. It was a well-known fact that Buffalo, Chicago and St. Louis were dickering for players from this nine, but they were left in the shade to cool off from this unexpected move of the Detroits. The team, comprising ten men and Manager Watkins, started with Messrs. Moloney and Stearns, Detroit directors, for Detroit, from when they go pleasuring through Canada, up the St. Lawrence, until the ten days limit expires, when they will be eligible to sign.; their signatures will then be secured, and they will then return to participate in the July series. The Sporting Life June 24, 1885 From the reports of our correspondents and from other sources we learn that Indianapolis will have considerable trouble to deliver its team to Detroit, and the famous Brooklyn-Cleveland deal will not be so successfully emulated, as the matter was not so well managed. When the agreement between Indianapolis and Detroit was made the latter paid over part of the purchase money, $2,000, the balance, $3,000, to be paid when the men were signed. Secretary Young was then communicated with, who informed the Detroit management that the Indianapolis team could not be signed until the expiration of the ten days' limit. All the men except Casey then signed temporary contracts and notice of their release was promulgated, which made them eligible to contract June 24. In order to prevent any tampering with the team they were sent to Mt. Clemens, Mich., there to remain and practice until the legal limit had expired. Keenan and McKeon, however refused to go notwithstanding all entreaties, threats and blandishments. McKeon and Keenan each were offered a three years' contract, the former's being for $500 a month for the remainder of this season, and $4,000 a season for the next two years, making him one of the highest priced ball players in the country. Keenan's contract was for $3,400 a year. The pair, really the most important of the purchased team to Detroit, however, held off and remained in Indianapolis until Wednesday, when they left for Cincinnati, where offers from other clubs at once poured in upon them. Cincinnati made a dead set for them, and Mr. Herancourt is said upon good authority to have offered McKeon $1,000 a month for the balance of this season, as well as for next year, Keenan to receive $600 a month for the same time. The Chicago and St. Louis clubs also made them great offers, and Detroit informed them that if there was nothing in the way to prevent but the difference in salaries offered, they had as much money as any one else and would pay as much for them. They manifested no disposition to accept any of these offers, but from the fact that they went to Cincinnati to consult with Mr. Herancourt, and from statements made by the latter, it may be inferred that Cincinnati has bagged the prize. The Detroit people are mad and threaten legal proceedings and an injunction. Of course, under base ball rules the players cannot be blacklisted. Detroit will also refuse to pay the balance of $3,000 due Indianapolis on the deal. Meantime the club will conclude to hang on to its old players, although they expected to retain only Bennett, Hanlon, Wood and Weldman, and had sent out requests for bids for the release of Scott, Phillips, Ringo, Getzein, Morton and Dorgan. It is also reported that San Crane will not sign with Detroit, but will come back to his old love the Mets. The Sporting Life June 24, 1885 At exactly twenty-five minutes past twelve o'clock last Tuesday night the celebrated and much desired Indianapolis battery—McKeon and Keenan—affixed their respective signatures to contracts to play in Cincinnati the rest of the season. The officials of the Cincinnati Club were not worrying themselves sick in regard to signing these men, as they had the matter all satisfactory arranged before they completed negotiations. Last week President Herancourt telegraphed to every club in the American Association asking if they (Cincinnati Club) could open negotiations, and received an immediate and favorable reply from all of them. He did this in order to give the men assurance that they would incur no risk in signing with the Cincinnati Club. The Sporting Life July 1, 1885 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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