Clipping:Louisville Club on strike; Davidson loses it
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| Date | Wednesday, June 19, 1889 |
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| Text | There is a crisis in the affairs of the Louisville Club. If Manager Davidson is not an insane man his actions would indicate it. He fined Shannon, Cook and Raymond $25 each for errors made in Thursday's game. Each one of these men played an earnest game to win. In addition, Davidson gave the team notice that if they did not win Friday's game every man of them would receive a find of $25 more. Very naturally the men protested, but owing to the excited talk and frantic actions of Davidson, did it in a neat and novel manner, and in such a way that he could not distinguish the order of signing the document, which was the regular form of a sailor's “round robin,” signed by the entire team of ten men. This mild and respectful protest only served to agitate Davidson all the more, and he became furious, threatening to fine each player $100. This brought matters to a climax, and the players absolutely are on a strike. In the game started yesterday only six Louisville players appeared, and Gaul, Fisher and John Traffley, three Baltimore semi-professionals, played the outfield for Louisville until rain ended the farce at the close of the second inning. Davidson left town with the avowed intention of attending the Association meeting in New York. The Louisville players telegraphed President Wikoff for advice, but had not received a reply last night [6/14] … [a supplement later the same day] The strike of the Louisville players continues. Two games are to be played this afternoon, and one of them is now in progress with but six of the Louisville players, viz:--Wolf, Weaver, Stratton, Gleason, Vaughn and Ramsey. Three amateurs make up the nine. President Wikoff and Mr. Waltz were to-day closeted with the strikers, but they refused to be moved from the stand which they have taken unless the fines already imposed are remitted and the threats withdrawn. Manager Davidson refuses to do either. President Wikoff says he is powerless to do more than advise, and leaves for his home in Columbus to-morrow. The Sporting Life June 19, 1889 [reporting the AA special meeting of 6/14/1889] The purpose for which the meeting was called was well known, to wit: to ascertain the exact status of the Louisville Club, a member of the Association, the poor work of the club, and its straitened financial condition warranting the other clubs in taking steps to protect their mutual interests. … ...Mr. Davidson, on behalf of the Louisville Club, had made some propositions to the Association, admitting he was in trouble, which were not favorably entertained, and that, therefore, he was placed in a position where he must carry out his games as scheduled or suffer the consequences. … It appears that Mr. Davidson owns, on behalf of himself and others, whom he represents, merely a controlling interest of the Louisville Club stock, and he being desirous of holding on to his stock urged the Association, while admitting to his inability perhaps to pull through to protect him financially to enable him to meet his obligations. This he stated openly to all with whom he talked at the hotel. The other clubs of the Association, it leaked out, were willing to advance a liberal amount of money, enough to work out the season, providing some security was given or good faith was shown in the matter of carrying out all obligations. No positive assurance could be given, and the only alternative left was to insist on the Louisville Club fulfilling its obligations. It was reported subsequently that Mr. Davidson was asked to name a figure at which he would dispose of the controlling interest in the club to the Association, the latter to accept the same as an option, and to make efforts to sell the club to Louisville parties who had expressed a willingness to purchase, run the club, and spend money to put new life and vigor into the organization. No terms could be agreed upon and Mr. Davidson determined that he could better protect his interests after he reached home. The desire to keep Louisville a member of the Association was unanimous, and such it will remain if thre are any enterprising men in that city to assume a reasonable risk. No player will be released or sold until ample time has been given for property national for sale of the club, and in the event of the club not fulfilling all its obligations its disbandment naturally follows, and the players revert to the Association. If this emergency arises, it is safe to assume from newspaper reports and telegrams sent to a number of the prominent men in the Association little difficulty will be experienced in placing the club in responsible hands and on a substantial basis. The Sporting Life June 19, 1889 [from the Louisville correspondent] If Manager Charley Byrne and his Brooklyn team were to appear on the Louisville grounds this afternoon they would receive a royal welcome. Mr. Bryne has made himself a perpetual favorite in Louisville by the emphatic manner in which he informed Mr. Davidson that he could not sell off the team piece-meal. That he would do so was the result eared by all enthusiasts here, notwithstanding his frequent assertions to the contrary. The Sporting Life June 26, 1889 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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