Clipping:The dissolution of the Baltimore club; the effect on the pennant race

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Date Sunday, October 11, 1874
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The Baltimore club, as a distinct organization, ceases to exist, but the nine keeps together on the co-operative system, and will play all the games they can. The Boston and Mutual clubs have been assuring them their expenses and a share of gate money, and thus increasing their scores of games won. Wouldn't it be wisdom for the Athletic club to play a little of this dodge? They can afford it, with the surplus in the treasury that they have and the probable good receipts of the present month. Philadelphia Sunday Republic October 11, 1874

To day we are to play our last game with the Baltimores. Everything is in confusion with them and they say this will be their last game. White and Bieleski have left them, and to night others go, Houck having told them the best thing they could do was to go home. It is provoking to think that we should have had to come here at all. Yesterday, our receipts after paying the umpire was $5. To day they will be – nix. It is very cold here and I am afraid it will be uncomfortable for the spectators this afternoon. Yesterday we had about 70. It was 4 Oclock before we [began] playing, Snyder refusing to play unless he was paid some $5 due him. Houck refused to pay him, but a purse of $5.50 was made up for him by some persons–sports–who wished to bet on the game or runs, and he then dressed. [from a letter from Harry Wright to Frederick Long writing from Baltimore, dated October 14, 1874]

On Wednesday afternoon last the Baltimore club disbanded. For over a month the players had no club behind them, but kept together and went to Boston and played, receiving their expenses and one-third of the receipts, and did a similar thing in New York. The Athletic refused, hence the disbandment. This opens a very important question, on which two sides are taken. From our reading of the rather ambiguous rule, we believe that all games won from them by other clubs must be deducted from the lists of victories of the different club, as the Baltimore had played but four games with the Athletic, and the rules provide that no games between two clubs count unless each of said clubs play at least five games with every other club in the arena. Some believe this to mean that only the games between such clubs as fail to play the required number shall not be counted, but this would be unfair, and we cannot take that view of it. It is a matter that will have to be settled by the Judiciary Committee. Our views are generally supported, we find, and if they are right, then the deduction brings both the Mutual and Boston clubs down nearer to the Athletic; and had the latter a good nine, they would yet have a fair chance for the championship. But they have not, and all it can do from the present appearances is to leave them a much more respectable third. The deduction hurts both the Philadelphia and Chicago clubs, and throws them further behind the Athletic. Philadelphia Sunday Republic October 18, 1874

The Bostons, last week, went to Baltimore, and defeated the Baltimores of that city three successive games by the respective scores of 7 to 4, 14 to 7, and 15 to 2. The Baltimores disbanded immediately afterwards, and the Bostons, after keeping them in existence for a couple of weeks, at a considerable expense, are much chagrined to find that none of their victories over the Baltimores will count as legal. Philadelphia Sunday Mercury October 18, 1874

Source Philadelphia Sunday Republic
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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