Clipping:The formation of the Boston Unions
Add a Clipping |
Date | Sunday, March 9, 1884 |
---|---|
Text | Important events have transpired in Boston during the past week, which render it more than probable that a new professional base ball club will be established in this city the coming season, and that, moreover, the new club will be a member of the Union association. For several months a gentleman named Furniss has been actively engaged in endeavoring to secure the necessary funds for the establishment of a general athletic association in Boston, to which the sport of base ball was to be appended as a prominent feature, and a club organized for the purpose of joining the Union association. This movement professed so slowly that it was finally decided that if matters were not brought to a focus by Mr. Furniss by lat Thursday evening the would be dropped. Mr. Furniss did not come to time, and consequently the movement engineered by him is dead. In the mean time, another factor appeared on the scene in the person of President Lucas of the Union association. Mr. Lucas was in Boston on Tuesday last, and called upon several gentlemen who have been prominently identified with the national game in this vicinity in years past, and received their consent to cooperate with him in the establishment of a Union association club in Boston. He drove out to the proposed grounds on the Back bay, and expressed himself as well satisfied with their location and surroundings. He then offered to contribute liberally toward the enterprise, and did subscribe a large sum, the exact amount not being stated, but it is rumored his subscription was $1500. Then, in company with a gentleman well known in sporting circles, he called upon a number of gentlemen who are lovers of general athletic sports, and succeeded in getting some of them interested in the scheme to the extent of liberal subscriptions, till he closed his labors, when he had secured about $7500. Tim Murnan, who has six or seven players already signed to himself personally for the coming season, was seen, and he virtually agreed to allow them to be the nucleus of a professional club. Mr. Lucas aroused considerable enthusiasm during his stay, and, after he had departed, his lieutenants in this city kept up the work. Mr. Lucas informed the gentlemen in this city, that if Boston desired to join the Union association this season, such determination must be made known as soon as Saturday, the 13 th inst., or by Monday, the 17 th, at the very latest, as the schedule meeting of the association is to be held on that day, and Boston must be represented in arranging the schedule. Interviews yesterday with the leading promoters of this new enterprise found them very sanguine, amounting almost to a certainty that the project would be put through to the end. On Friday last the lease of the Back bay grounds was signed by the parties interested, the lease being for three years, with the privilege of extending the time to five years. Work on the grounds will be commenced at the first favorable opportunity that presents itself. It is proposed to organize a stock company, with $10,000 capital. The new enterprise, if the plans of its projectors are carried out, will not be confined exclusively to the interests and development of base ball, but will include the exhibition of all the prominent sports of the day. It is not regarded as among the possibilities that a ball club can be organized at this late day that will be as strong as desired, but the foundation will be laid for a far better one for the season of 1885. Those who are engineering the matter are confident that there will be no clashing of the interests representing the various sports, but that all will move along happily and harmoniously. Boston will be represented at the next meeting of the Union association, and during the coming week it is expected that the plans of the Boston enterprise will be fully matured and given to the public. |
Source | Boston Herald |
Tags | |
Warning | |
Comment | Edit with form to add a comment |
Query | Edit with form to add a query |
Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
Comments
<comments voting="Plus" />