Clipping:The Athletics' version of negotiations for the return match with the Atlantics
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| Date | Sunday, October 28, 1866 |
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| Text | The Athletic Club immediately proposed playing the game on the following morning, on the grounds of the Olympic B.B.C. at Twenty-fifth and Jefferson streets, without public notice, which proposition was rejected. Finally, a committee of five was appointed to confer with an equal number from the Atlantic Club. On meeting, the chairman of the Athletic committee, on behalf of his colleagues and the club, proposed that their “nine” should proceed to Brooklyn, and play them (the Atlantic) on their own ground, on the 15th of October, and also that they (the Athletic Club) would pay the expenses of the Atlantic “nine,” to substitutes, and the scorer of the club, if they would play the return match on their grounds in this city, on the following Monday, the 22d of October. The first proposition was accepted, the second they rejected, unless they were guaranteed a fair field and half of the receipts, AFTER THE EXPENSES WERE DEDUCTED. So anxious were the Athletic Club to play them and so confident were they of an easy victory, that the committee acceded to even such a demand, and matters were again settled. On the 15 th of October, the Athletics put in an appearance on the Capitoline grounds, at Brooklyn, at their own expense, even for a conveyance to and from the grounds at Bedford. The result of the game there, and its causes, are well known to all who witnessed it. The first base was seriously disabled, the catcher had scarcely one hand, and the left field, besides being slightly injured by a “hot ball,” was insulted and intimidated while playing, by a gang of rowdies near whom it was his misfortune to be necessarily stationed. On Monday last, according to the programme, the Atlantic “nine” made their appearance, but (unlike the Athletic “nine,” who were nearly an hour ahead of time a Brooklyn) did non reach the ground for more than an hour after the appointed time, for which various reasons have been assigned, but which, for various reasons, we will not here recount. They found, however, on arrival, that every preparation had been made for them and their friends. A board fence nine feet high enclosed the grounds, seats were provided for their friends, appropriate and comfortable places found for the reporters, and a large body of police to enforce order. In order to “made assurance doubly sure,” the number of tickets was limited to four thousand, and the price of each ticket put at one dollar. Only nineteen hundred dollars were realized. After the game, and before the amount of the receipts was actually known, the probable number of dollars and cents accruing to the Atlantics was freely and openly discussed–not, we are pleased to say, by the “nine” who were to receive it, whether large or small–but by officious outsiders of very little character, and, if possible, less influence. On Tuesday last, the respective committees again met for a settlement, when the Atlantic committee refused to submit to a reduction of expenses, as per agreement, but insisted that the expenses incurred to insure them a fair field should be borne by the Athletic Club alone. The Athletic committee insisted upon a faithful adherence to the letter and spirit of the bond, and thus the matter stands. The public, however, can judge of the merits of the case as stated, but we do not think they will decide that all the expenses should be borne by the Athletic Club, out of their half of the receipts. It is now rumored that the Atlantic Club will not play the third game, unless it be arranged to play it on their grounds at Brooklyn, which the Athletic Club will not do. The rule is to play it on neutral ground, and the Athletic Club will play according to the rules whenever their opponents are ready, this season. |
| Source | Philadelphia Sunday Mercury |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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