Clipping:Politicking about the Detroit big four, status of the Providence Club; Washington's prospects
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| Date | Wednesday, November 25, 1885 |
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| Text | [reporting on the NL meeting 11/18-11/19] … a very important meeting it proved to be, characterized by great excitement and considerable dissension and ill-feeling, which led to a number of important questions being left open for future settlement. … The situation was greatly complicated through the Detroit “big four” deal and the effort to oust Providence. Detroit held Buffalo's vote, and thus Detroit, Buffalo and providence held together for mutual protection, and a deadlock ensued, these three preventing a two-thirds vote on all questions affecting the interests of either. … ...The Providence Club could not be ousted owing to the assistance it received from Detroit and Buffalo and refused to resign. It also refused to make known its intentions for next season,unless a number of conditions were complied with and certain guarantees given. This the majority refused to do and a deadlock ensued. It is believed that all sorts of inducements were offered to Brooklyn to leave the American Association and take Providence's place, as with Brooklyn in the League there was no doubt that Pittsburg would drop into Buffalo's place. Both clubs had representatives present watching events. The matter could not be made satisfactory to Brooklyn, however, as that club could not be guaranteed a team able to cope with its rival in New York. It is also said that the deal could have been made to transfer the best of the Providence team to Brooklyn, but Boston objected unless guaranteed Radbourn and Daily. This again blocked the scheme and the Brooklyn Club then positively refused to negotiate further. The Pittsburg Club followed suit and the League was left just where it was when the meeting opened. The buffalo deal also complicated matters. Several of the clubs, particularly New York, Philadelphia and Boston were in favor of taking the big four from Detroit and placing them on the market. Philadelphia was dead set for Richardson and for him offered to help Detroit to the other three, but Detroit refused all overtures, insisting upon all or none, as they knew well that the players would not go to Detroit unless in a body. All sorts of propositions were made, Chicago and New York pledging themselves not to touch any of the four, and the upshot of the matter was that Messers. Young, Spalding and Day were appointed a committee to consider the matter and devise some satisfactory settlement. This committee was in session until long after midnight, and had a warm fight. It was clear to Spalding and Nick Young that any report made by the committee depriving Detroit of its men would be defeated in convention, as the Detroit-Buffalo men, in addition to having the support of Providence, had evidently secured the co-operation of Philadelphia, which club had changed its tactics, presumably with an eye on a renewal of the 25-cent privilege. St. Louis, too, turned over to Detroit, and this was sufficient to give the late minority the majority. The jig was up for New York, Boston and Chicago, but Mr. Day held out for a long time, and was bent on making a fight or postponing the matter, as he still had hopes of securing Brooklyn's consent to enter the League in Providence's place, and thus help the three big cities in the fight. Late in the evening the Detroit people came to Byrne of Brooklyn, and informed him that they had secured the upper hand and could guarantee Brooklyn the players they wanted, provided the club would enter the League, but Byrne positively refused all overtures, informing them that it was then too late; that the time for such action had passed; that Brooklyn had been willing to purchase the Providence franchise at one time, but that now the matter had been decided and they had resolved to stand by the American Association. Spalding subsequently went to Byrne and added his persuasive powers to Detroit's wooing, and invited Byrne into the meeting to discuss the matter. But the latter finally and irrevocably refused, and as this refusal also voiced the sentiment of Pittsburgh the committee was fain to give up the fight, knuckle down to the late minority, and make their report accordingly to the meeting the next day. When the League again met on Thursday morning, all was plain sailing and business was rushed through. The special committee made their report, awarding the “big four” to Detroit, and the report was accepted. The weaker clubs then took the bit into their teeth and ran matters to suit themselves. The question of filling the vacancies was next considered, and it was determined to hold the question in abeyance. Buffalo and Providence were held as still being members of the League until the spring meeting. The application of Washington for the first vacancy was given precedent over all others, and they were assured admission if they secured the franchise of either Buffalo or Providence. It was said that Washington would buy out Buffalo's franchise and be entered as a Western city, but it is more likely that the Nationals will purchase the Providence franchise and that Detroit will sell Buffalo's franchise to some Western city. |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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