Clipping:A different account of the sale of the Providence franchise; a precis of the off-season
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| Date | Wednesday, February 3, 1886 |
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| Text | At the annual League meeting, when it became evident that Providence could or would give no guarantee of finishing the coming season, it was determined to let that club out as easy and whole as possible, and for this purpose four clubs—Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and New York each contributed $1,650 to buy Providence's franchise and to hold the players in the League. Philadelphia and Boston were each entitled to two Providence players for their share of the money, while New York and Chicago, already strong enough, were pledged not to touch any of these players, in order to permit the other clubs to strengthen themselves. They were to be reimbursed for their outlay from the sale of the players. The St. Louis Club was then given the next pick, and Washington was promised its choice from the rest, provided it was admitted to membership, which latter hinged upon the securing of a Western club in place of Buffalo, whose franchise had been surrendered to the League by Detroit. This much agreed upon, Mr. Soden, of Boston, was appointed on behalf of the four clubs a committee of one to purchase the franchise and to arrange the details of the transfer of the players, and it so happened that these four clubs being now most interested were appointed the committee on vacancies, about which our readers have heard so much of late. For her $1,650 Boston was allotted Radbourn and Dailey, Philadelphia got Farrell and one other player yet to be selected, and Shaw, Gilligan, Carroll and Hines fell to Washington. With the subsequent course of events our readers are familiar. Spalding's failure to secure Pittsburg, and his determination to oppose any increase in membership owing to the unpromising prospect of securing a paying Western city; Washington's despair and leap into the American Association arms; all are fresh in mind. At that time it seemed certain that the League would have but six clubs, and Mr. Soden presuming upon this boldly signed Paul Hines for the Boston Club. Now this was a clear breach of trust. He had gotten all he was entitled to, and for the rest was acting for his fellow members of the committee, while the Philadelphia Club had still the option of one more man and had a prior right to Hines, as had St. Louis. A strong kick would have been made, even if the eight-club scheme had not finally succeeded, and Hines would, in all probability, have been taken from Boston in any event. Soden's excuse for his tart action was that he considered that there would certainly be but six clubs and that Hines preferred Boston to all the other League cities. Now, however, that Washington is a League member, the original allotment holds good and Hines is Washington's man unless that club voluntarily relinquishes him, an event altogether unlikely we understand. And even if Washington relinquishes him it is by no means certain that the Philadelphia Club will not make a fight against Boston's retention of Hines. |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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