Clipping:The NL-AA war opens; prospects in Washington; the notorious Phillips
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| Date | Sunday, December 18, 1881 |
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| Text | [from a letter from J. A. Williams to H. D. McKnight dated 12/16/1881] The war is at last opened. I have this day received a letter from Simmons, manager of the Athletics, stating that John Troy informs him that he has signed with the Detroits after having signed and received advance money from him. He wanted to know what redress he had. I referred him to second 4 of Act VI of our Constitution, which seems to require his expulsion by the Athletics, and under section 12 of the same article no Club of this Association could play any Club that would employ him, or any Club that did play such Club. This would seem to me to cut off all intercourse with the League at once, and this, in my opinion, is just what the League has meant to do by this action, and I further believe it to be a put up job. They found that we were not disposed to hire any of their expelled players and thus lay ourselves open to attack under their rules, so they thought to force us into this action under our own. I did not advise Simmons to take any action, but simply referred him to the law in the case, and told him that I would refer the matter to the President of the Association, who would advise him what course to pursue. He applies.… The question, is, should we allow it to continue, or would it not be better to make an example of Troy by expelling him at once. He may play in the League awhile, but if he should get out of an engagement with them his occupation would be gone, as no American Club could employ him. The League has declared war on us and already opened hostilities. Shall we submit or fight them? If we submit we have nothing to gain, as they have declared they will have nothing to do with our Clubs, and as an instance of their intentions are already endeavoring to get up a League Alliance Club in Philadelphia under the notorious Phillips, whom they claimed they would have nothing to do with. They already have a League Alliance Club in the Metropolitans of New York, and are endeavoring to provide one for Newark, N.J., thus doing all in their power to kill our Eastern Clubs. They have declared war against us for no reason whatever. We have done nothing to injure their organizations or the game. We don't interfere with them in any way. The theater managers of their cities might as well declare war against the managers of our cities. There would be just as much reason in it. We did dare to adopt a mode for doing our business that was not exactly in accordance with their policy, and hence we must be attacked through the press as though we were a lot of disreputable people, who were banded together to break down the game. In support of the theory of retaliation, I would say that I am in receipt of a letter from Mr. M. J. Scanlan, of Washington, D.C., one of the best-posted base-ball men in the country, and one who has been at the head of the Club in that city for several years, in answer to a letter asking him to get up a Club for our Association in the coming season. He says that the only way we can succeed is to fight the League from the word go; that they are bound to injure us all they can. He also claims that we can get along without them, and that if we do this Washington will raise a Club for us in 1883. He further urges that we ought to have their expelled men—such as Jones, Houck, Baker and Crowley, who were not expelled for any crookedness—claiming that we would be more successful by making our Clubs as strong as possible. He 6thinks the public will uphold us in hiring such men. Players who only drink ought not to be put in the same list with the rascals and thieves who sell games. Of course, these are matters for differences of opinion, and I give them the opinion of one of the shrewdest base-ball men in the country. Cincinnati Enquirer December 18, 1881 [commenting on Williams' letter] The spirit of Mr. Williams' letter is highly commendatory, although certain parts of it, in which recommendations are made, are equally as foolish. That the League is bound to antagonize the American Association there is now no doubt. At the same time, if hostilities must be declared, it is highly improper for the latter organization to take such steps a would surely lead to its ruin. The League is the stronger in that it has the confidence of the people. Therefore, if the American wishes to secure that which its older rival has such a hold on, it should not undo the work by which the latter has obtained this strength. Mr. Scanlan may be a shrewd base-ball man, but he certainly errs when he asserts that it is for the best interests of the American to take up the expelled players of the League. The same gentleman, to begin with, has a spite against the later, for the reason that it refused to admit the Nationals, of Washington, as a member in 1881. Therefore, many of his utterances can be accounted for. When he states that players addicted to drink should not be placed on the same list with thieves and rascals, he exhibits a lack of knowledge, inasmuch as they are not classed—nevertheless, there is no dodging the fact that these players can not drink whisky and play ball, and Clubs can not afford to make inebriate asylums out of themselves. Messrs. Crowley and Houck are well-known topers. Both have been released on that account, nad are of no use to the Clubs in the new Association. It would be highly ridiculous to reinstate Baker, who was expelled by the League for the same reason that the Secretary recommends the expulsion of Troy. If the black-listed men are hired then the object for which they were practically suspended will fail. Provided players know that if, when placed on this list by the League, they will be received with open arms by the American, then will all efforts to week out the whisky suckers prove fruitless. Therefore it is sincerely to be hoped that the new organization will not make such a suicidal move as to remove the disability of the League's black sheep. As far as Troy is concern, he should be promplty xpelled. This if he recognizes his contract with the Detroit, well and good; it will be placed in a true light before the people. Troy having beenn expelled by the American is equally as much ostracised as Baker, expelled by the League, for signing two contracts—one with an outside Club. If the latter body refused to recognize this action of the American it settles all thoughts of amity between the two Associations, and debars the younger from playing with the older. It is much better for the latter to have taken this step than for the former. The people can then see whether or not the League is true to its announced principle of being interested only in the advancement of the pastime. … Troy should be expelled at once, but Mr. Scanlon's insane idea about Houck, Crowley and Baker should not for a moment be entertained. Cincinnati Enquirer December 18, 1881 |
| Source | Cincinnati Enquirer |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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