Clipping:Dolan claims he was expelled, jumps to the UA; the sanctity of a contract
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| Date | Monday, August 25, 1884 |
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| Text | ...there was great astonishment as Tom Dolan was seen to walk into the field with Sweeny, and it became known that he was to catch in the game for St. Louis. Tom received a perfect ovation and it was evident that he was a favorite of the crowd. President Lucas who was seated near a Post-Dispatch reporter, gave the following explanation of the surprise as they both watched the game: “Dolan came to me this morning and said he was likely to have trouble with the management of the Browns and wanted to know if he could play ball with me. I asked him if he had been expelled or released, and he said he had not. I then told him that I would have nothing to do with a player who is under contract with another club. He went away, and came back again this afternoon . He said he had been expelled from the Browns and wanted to play ball. I told him in case he had been expelled, I had a place for him, and he came in here to catch. I would not have touched him, if he had not told me that he had been expelled or released.” After the game Tom Dolan made a statement in which he differs, as will be seen, from that which he made to President Lucas. Tom talked as follows: “I have been catching for the St. Louis Browns just as faithfully and as well as Tom Deasley, I think, although he received double the salary I did. Yet he was shown all the favors. If he did not feel like catching, I was ordered in. Often, when I had been ordered to catch, Tom Deasly would make his mind again, that he wanted to do the work, and I would be set aside in his favor. On the last trip, I think that the record will show that I did as good, if not better work, than he did. To keep in proper practice, a man should catch at least every other game, and I had long demanded this privilege and had been laughed at by the management for so doing. On my return from this trip, I saw my friends, told them what was the matter, and they advised me to leave the club if the matter was not remedied. This morning, I asked Von der Ahe whom he would catch in the game to-day. He said, Deasley. I told him it was my turn and that he must let me catch every other game. I told him, I would no longer remain with his club.” Tom said that at 3 o’clock in the afternoon he again went out to Sportsman’s Park and asked Von der Ahe if he would allow him to catch. The latter said no. “Then,” said Tom, “I’ll go down and catch for the Unions.” “If you do,” said Von der Ahe, “I’ll put you through for it.” Dolan told Von der Ahe to go to ----, and came down to Union Park, as related. Mr. Lucas stated that he had not signed Dolan. He left for Pittsburg with his club Saturday night. Dolan remained here and Lucas told him he would sign him on Thursday next, if he still desired to make a contract. At Sportsman’s Park quite a different story was told. Mr. Von der Ahe said that, lately, Dolan has been much off his work, that his throwing to bases had been execrable and that, as a consequence, Deasley had been forced to do most of the work. Saturday, he wanted to catch, but it was thought wise to take no risks, and Deasley was put in. Tom Dolan demanded that he be allowed to catch, and Mr. Von der Ahe paid no attention to such a foolish break. Then Tom declared that he was done with the club, and that he was going to catch for the Unions. He undeniably did so, and in his hurry ran across lots, not waiting for a car to get down, and President Von der Ahe says he has neither been released nor expelled, and that, in fact, the only action taken was by Dolan himself, when he declared unexpectedly that he would catch no more, and started on the run for the Union grounds after using some very ungentlemanly language. Mr. Von der Ahe said he could well get along without Dolan, that he did not need him and that he was as much surprised as anybody at the action Dolan had taken. No action of any kind has been yet taken in Dolan’s case. It will be seen that Dolan’s statement as given to Mr. Lucas, and Dolan’s statement as given for publication, differ very materially. In the one he stated, according to Mr. Lucas, that he had been expelled. In his other story, he shows that he had not been. In the latter, he corroborates Mr. Von der Ahe. As Mr. Lucas stated that he would not touch Dolan, unless he were expelled or released from the other club, it is probable that he will not sign him on Thursday when he learns the real facts. At least that is the logical conclusion to be drawn from his remarks given above. Dolan, however, is reported as saying that he had been signed, and that he gets $400 a month. St. Louis Post-Dispatch August 25, 1884 Mr. Von der Ahe positively asserts that he has neither expelled, released, nor suspended Tom Dolan, and has as much as said that he does not intend doing so, and said repeatedly that Tom should never play again on his grounds. Dolan says that when playing with the club he was subjected to all manner of humiliations, and things that, as Mr. Von der Ahe will not play him, that gentleman should either release him or expel him so that he can join some other club which will play him and appreciate his services. The action of Mr. Von der Ahe in holding back his release and refusing to expel him, in order to prevent his joining another club, Dolan characterizes as a piece of despotism. Dolan has not yet been signed by any other club. The absence of Dolan from the Browns is apt to crowd Deasley for a while, but another catcher will soon be secured to fill the void. (St. Louis) Missouri Republican August 28, 1884 While not an expelled or released member of the St. Louis club Tom Dolan has been secured by the St. Louis Unions, notwithstanding the protestations of the latter club, and he played with them in Boston yesterday. It is a very bad piece of business and will only serve to widen the breach between the local clubs. St. Louis Post-Dispatch September 2, 1884 |
| Source | St. Louis Post-Dispatch |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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