Clipping:Talk of the American Association expanding to twelve clubs

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Date Wednesday, January 8, 1890
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[reporting the AA meeting of

A dispatch from Louisville during the week made the announcement for the first time that a twelve-club circuit for the Association was among the probabilities. The dispatch stated:

“It is positively stated that the American Association will have twelve clubs next year. The finance committee of the American Association, of which Mr. Whitaker, of the Athletic Club, is chairman, have written President Phelps a letter in which they pictured for the Association a bright future. The financial backing of the numerous applicants was carefully inquired into and the result was so satisfactory that the committee could not distinguish between them. A twelve-club league was then proposed, and a letter was accordingly written President Phelps apprising him of the scheme.”

President Phelps is reported as favoring the twelve-club scheme. Syracuse, he says, is anxious to re-enter. Washington wants to come, and Providence, Toronto, Baltimore, Newark, New Haven and Detroit are among the applicants for membership. Treasurer Whitaker, of the Athletic Club, who, by the way, has become the real leader of the Association, is not particularly in love with the twelve-club idea unless each of the clubs will give heavy bonds to play out the season. He thinks that a twelve-club circuit may be forced upon the Association by circumstances. Says he:

“If Washington and Indianapolis are dropped by the National League we might want to take Indianapolis into our Western circuit, and then we would have to have another club. This we could secure in Detroit. What a glorious circuit that would make in the West. Columbus, Louisville, St. Louis, Toledo, Detroit and Indianapolis. We can easily secure six good clubs in the East. I was in Washington on Tuesday of this week, and the outlook there for us is very encouraging. The Baltimore Club is pretty sure to be with us also, notwithstanding all talk to the contrary. Mr. Barnie is in rather a peculiar situation just at present, because of this negotiations with the Atlantic Association and the National League men, but I think he is for the American Association heart and hand.”

Manager Sharsig is unqualifiedly opposed to having more than eight clubs, and points to the season of 1884 to show the foolishness of organizing with twelve clubs, when, he says, the five tail-enders did not draw enough people in Philadelphia to pay expenses.

Source Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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