Clipping:Umpire carries extra balls
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| Date | Wednesday, July 15, 1885 |
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| Text | In Chicago the umpire starts into the game with a couple of extra balls in his pockets and when a foul tip sends the sheepskin over the fence he merely rolls one of the “extras” to the pitcher and goes right on with the game. The Sporting Life July 15, 1885 Buffalo rumored to disband; Pud Galvin sold to Pittsburgh; Buffalo players refuse to commit to sales It is now stated authoritatively that the Buffalo Club in the National Base Ball League will disband before to-morrow night. The president of the buffalo has notified the other league presidents of the intention, and has asked for bids for the release of his best men. He offers to release his best players to any other club upon payment of a gross bonus of not less than $5,000. St. Louis Post-Dispatch July 17, 1885 The attempt of the Buffalo club to sell the services of several of its best players, in order to relieve itself of debt, has resulted in the outbreak of more or less ill feeling between the players and the management, and the point has been reached where such men as Brouthers, Richardson and Rowe are said to have determined that they will not bind themselves to go to any club that purchases their release, but when released they will accept the best offers made to them. It is well known that in several instances—notably in the case of the recent Cleveland league club, and latterly of the Indianapolis club—where a club finding itself playing a losing game, and unable to draw a paying patronage at home, or for some other reason, has replenished its treasury by asking for bids for the services of certain players, and the latter, with rare exceptions, have acquiesced in the “deal.” The Buffalo club, finding itself in a precarious financial condition, attempted to avail itself of the same practice. Galvin was sold to the Pittsburg club for a good round sum, and an attempt was made ti dispose of some of the other players in the same manner. Brouthers, Rowe and Richardson were the men most eagerly sought after, and the management was ready to receive offers for their services. It is said that a representative of the Philadelphia club went to buffalo and sought an interview with the players named, but when the terms upon which the directors would release them became known they were so fabulous that the Philadelphia agent would not agree to them. It is represented by Buffalo parties that, on learning of the large sum which the management demanded for their release, Brouthers, Richardson and Rowe determined to command their own services, make their own terms, and do nothing beyond playing an honest game of ball that would enrich the club treasury. It is further reported, on Buffalo authority, that the club management, finding itself blocked in its efforts to fill its depleted treasury by the sturdy independence of its three best players, has determined to resort to retaliatory measures, which means that a decision has been reached to carry on the club to the end, and at the close of the present season reserve the players mentioned, and keep them on the reserve list till just prior to the opening of next season, when the club will collapse, and the players be thrown upon the market after the principal clubs of the country have engaged their men for the season. If this report is true, and the Buffalo management is up to any such scheme, it will avail nothing detrimental to the interests of the players mentioned. At the very hour that either Brouthers, Gore or Richardson are at liberty to engage with any club outside of Buffalo, and at whatever stage of the season, they will not have to wait long for most tempting offers from the principal clubs in the country. Individually or collectively, they would prove a tower of strength to any organization. Boston Herald July 17, 1885 The sensation of the week was the release by the Buffalo Club of James Galvin, our best pitcher, who has been with the club for years, and who is generally regarded as one of the best pitchers in the League. He was released to Pittsburg for a consideration, variously estimated from $600 to $1,500, and will be eligible to play with that club July 22. the release caused the greatest surprise and rumors were rife that the club would dispose of the rest of its players and disband before the second Eastern trip became due. The directors of the club denied this, however, and gave as a reason for Galvin's release that his work, as well as that of nearly the entire team, had not been satisfactory, and that it was thought best to let Galvin go and such others as could be advantageously disposed of, and finish the season with such material as could be picked up. … Let the directors say what they may, there can be no reason to doubt that disbandment was intended, and that the plan was only defeated through circumstances. In the first the attempted sale of the players was bunglingly managed, and in the second place the players upset all calculations by refusing to become a party to any deal. From all that can be gleaned the directors of the club sent out notices to the other League club presidents that the best part of the team was open for bids, and accordingly Messrs. Reach, of the Philadelphia Club, and Messrs. Soden and Billings, of the Boston Club, together with some other base ball notables, were early on hand to make a dicker, and telegrams poured in from other clubs. Richardson was the man wanted by the Philadelphia Club, Myers was wanted by the Pittsburgs to catch Galvin, and the Boston Club wanted Rowe, Brouthers and probably one or two others. However, these three players were most in demand. The home club only wanted the earth for the release of the men; in fact, would name no figures, but preferred to let the other clubs bid, hoping by this means to run up the bids to the very highest figures obtainable. Just at this point, however, an unforeseen and insurmountable obstacle arose and the Buffalo management found that their scheme for replenishing their treasury would have to fall through because they could not deliver the goods. The men refused to be sold off to the highest bidders. They said in effect that rather than be the source of any such income to the Buffalo Club they would play the season out there, even as a loss to themselves. They would give no pledges to any one, and when the managers found themselves thus balked in their plans their only recourse was to proclaim a directly opposite policy and say that they never meant to disband; that they were simply satisfied that certain of their men were not doing their best and would be released for a good sum, and that they certainly could do no worse, and perhaps better, with those whom they would hire to take their places. So the directors from abroad departed with their cash still in their pockets and the directors at home remained at home with their hoped-for cash still out of their pockets. The Sporting Life July 22, 1885 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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