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[Harvard vs. Cincinnati 7/18/1870] At length he [George Wright] was suited, and striking a “fair foul” past third base took second for himself, and gave home to three men.

[Eckford vs. Athletic 9/25/1871] [Shelly] going to second on a fair-foul hit to left field.

[Atlantic vs. Athletic 10/25/1869] Reach made two bases by ...

The silly story going the rounds to the effect that Williamson had been offered $10,000 to sign a three years’ contract with Mr. Lucas is said to owe its birth to a little trick played by the big third baseman. He and Gore were the last men to sign with Chicago, and Williamson, in order to get the salary and advance money he wanted, had one of his friends in St. Louis posted to send him a telegram at the right moment making him a fabulous offer to go to St. Louis. Williamson opened the ‘wild cat’ telegram in the presence of several of the Chicago team, and in a moment they hurried off to hunt Spalding and tell him the news. The president lost no time in finding Williamson, the latter stated his terms, and Spalding signed him without further ado. It was not the salary as much as the amount of advance money that was bothering Williamson, and wanted $1,000 in advance to square up and live through the winter on., quoting an unidentified Cincinnati paper

Jack Remsen, of the Ft. Wayne club, is engaged in a very small piece of business. He came down here last Saturday with what purported to be the Ft. Wayne Club, to play the Kentons, in Covington. The game came off, and to everybody’s surprise resulted in the crushing defeat of the visitors. The announcement was then made that believing they had an easy thing of it, the Ft. Waynes had brought their change battery only, but had telegraphed after the game for their regular pitcher and catcher to be here on time of the game yesterday. Luckily the rain prevented a continuance of the fraud.

In short, there were but two of the Fort Wayne team in the city Saturday, Remsen and Yot. The rest were a lot of non-descripts picked up by Remsen and brought here merely to get money, none of whom knew the first principles of ball playing. Yet the management of it all had the impudence to go further and publish the game, with the names of the regular Fort Wayne team in the report. The Fort Wayne team–mark you, gentle reader–were in Indianapolis all day Saturday up to 11 o’clock Saturday night, and the Fort Wayne Club got seventy-five dollars guarantee from the Indianapolis club for a game, which the rain prevented. If the game with the Kentons yesterday [Sunday] had come off, it would have been as great a deception on the public as that of Saturday.

The Kentons are between the horns of a very bad dilemma. They have either willfully deceived their patrons, or were most woefully imposed upon. If the Kentons can not distinguish between professional players and a lot of rag-tag and bob-tail, they are most verdant indeed. But if they “stood in” with Remsen in this deception upon their patrons, no condemnation of their action can be too strong. We should be most happy to publish any explanation that will let either the Kentons or Mr. Remsen out of this bad box.

[from Frank Brunell's column] ...straight balls—and when “in a hole” a pitcher can use none other unless he is a wonderful wonder...

[Boston vs. New York (NL) 5/9/1890] [byline O. P. Caylor] Rusie, the indomitable, pitched again. And what a game of ball he did “put up!” Several times when the batter had three balls and no strikes he settled down to straight pitching and put the next three balls over the plate.

[relating Bug Holliday's favorite bat] This particular bat has a history. It has been used longer than Bug has been in the business as a professional. When Orator George Shaefer was a member of the St. Louis Unions, in 1884, he selected a piece of second growth ash and took it to a planing mill. He stood by while the wood-turner worked the wood into a stock to suit his fancy. He then oiled the bat and used it for two years. In 1886, when he visited ST. Joe, Mo., he gave the bat to Holliday. Bug has had it ever since. It is his prize stick, and has assisted him not a little in making his great batting record at St. Joseph, Topeka, Des Moines, and last season with the Cincinnatis.

[Athletic vs. Mutual 9/18/1873] [bases loaded with one out] In the third inning Fisler [sic: should be Fisher] made a double-play, which was marked by a new strategical point, once played in 1867 by George Wright. ... Hatfield hit a high ball towards Fisher [right fielder], and, as it looked safe, each man left his bas. Fisher, however, got under the ball, seeing which the base-runners returned to bases; but Holdsworth [at third] seeing Fisher, as he though, drop the ball, ran for home again, before touching third after the ball was held, Fisher’s point of play consisting of his allowing the ball to rebound from his hands so as to deceive the base runners, which he did, for Holdsworth was captured at third on the double play. All who saw it thought it was an accident catch, but it appears Fisher had been practicing for just such a piece of strategic play.

The Harvard base ball men have hatched up a trick which they claim will catch nearly every opponent who is lucky enough to steal second base. It is played between the pitcher, third baseman, and short stop, and its object is to confuse the player who may stealing from second to third base. It is, as nearly as can be descried, as follows: The player who has succeeded in reaching second base, on seeing that baseman step back to his usual position, about ten feet back of the base line, steals several feet down the path toward third. When he is about in front of short stop that player makes a dash toward second base, which causes the runner to dart in that direction also; but the short stop's run is only a feint, and the runner, on seeing the short stop stop, also stops before reaching second, and the pitcher throws the ball to the second baseman, who is on base, and whom the runner has entirely forgotten, and the runner is out.

The catcher of the New York female base-ball team wears a mask with a patent extension.

[Union v. Resolute 9/20/1864] In the fifth inning, the Resolutes obtained five runs, partly by the honorable action of Hudson... Wilson had run to third base, and the ball being passed to Hudson there the umpire had given Wilson out; whereupon Wilson, instead of quietly leaving his base, as every ball-player ought to do under such circumstances, no matter how rough the decision may be, loudly out that he was not touched, and Hudson very honestly remarked that he had not touched him. Whereupon, the umpire very properly reversed his decision, as the testimony in this instance was conclusive; but had Hudson “played points”, as it is , and kept silent, the umpire would no doubt have adhered to his decision, as an umpire has no right to decide a point except according to the impression the play makes upon him, no statement of players being admissible. This instance was a very rare and peculiar one–far too rare, as far as Hudson’s action was concerned, for the welfare of the game. All present applauded Hudson’s manly conduct, except those who would rather win a game at any cost than lose it, even at the sacrifice of manly and honorable conduct. Abrams similarly acted a creditable part, in this respect, when he last played on the same ground in the Eckford match.

I saw Arthur Irwin [Providence shortstop] yesterday. He was in George Wright's getting a padded glove so that he can go to playing. His finger is well knit together, but stiff and sore. He thinks he shall join his team next week.

In a match in Columbus last week, a new “point” was played which merits attention; it was that of playing the ninth man as “right short” instead of “right fielder.” The Captain of the nine, who made the change in his field, had noticed that but few balls had been hit high to right field from his pitcher’s swift delivery; and also that several base hits were scored, owing to the unguarded position at second base when the second base player stood at “right short” to stop right field balls which went short of right field’s position. So he placed his centre fielder more to the right, brought up the right fielder almost to “right short,” and allowed the second baseman to cover his own position. The result was that the “right short” assisted three times, and not a chance for a catch was missed at right field, as no high balls were sent there off the swift pitching. For a swift pitcher, delivering on the third base side of his position, thereby lessening the chances for right field hits, this is undoubtedly a good point to play.

[Cincinnati vs. Union of St. Louis 9/15/1869] The attendance was estimated at three thousand, mostly of the male persuasion although probably a dozen ladies were in carriages upon the grounds. The price of admission was fifty cents.

[Cincinnati vs. Buckeye 5/23/1868] ...a close and exciting contest was anticipated, and, notwithstanding the admission fee to the grounds was raised to fifty cents, some six or seven thousand spectators were present, the ladies wearing the colors of their favorites, and taking a decided interest in the play throughout.

[Athletic vs. Mutual 8/29/1870] The proprietor of the Union Grounds tested the popularity of the game of base ball yesterday by charging fifty cents for the privilege of witnessing a contest between the Mutual Club, of New York, and the famous Athletic Club, of Philadelphia. The experiment was a great success, as four or five thousand people were present—the interest felt in the result of a game between these two clubs being extraordinary.

The Resolute Baseball Club, of Elizabeth, played the Princeton nine yesterday afternoon on the grounds back of the College at Princeton. The Resolutes were paid $50 to come there and play.

The Detroit Base Ball Club is out of debt, and has a cash balance in its treasury of $18,000, the earnings of the past two seasons. There are two classes of stockholders in the club. The small fry want a dividend, while the capitalists favor the accumulation of a surplus, to provide for an unsuccessful season. The last-mentioned faction propose that they only distribution of the proceeds shall be the giving to each stockholder of a season ticket. The small shareholders say they were overruled last year, and now threaten to apply for the appointment of a Receiver, unless there is a dividend declared forthwith. A fight is imminent.

[Cincinnati vs. Mutual 6/6/1876] Prior to the commencement of the game a match gook place on the grounds which was not “set down in the bills.” the occasion was a dispute between a man well known as one of the most prominent of the betting fraternity of the City of Churches, and Craver of the Mutuals. The Mutuals were passing the ball around near the buildings, as usual before the game, when a man approached Craver, and suddenly the two were engaged in what looked like a sparring bout; but the earnestness of the man was soon plain to be seen, as he struck at Craver right from the shoulder. Suddenly a crowd surrounded the combatants, or rather one of them, for the fighting was all on one side, and the sergeant of the police present arrested the man and would have locked him up—so he told us—only no one would make a charge against him. Craver, from some cause or other, refused to do so, and the proprietor of the grounds did not, though the assault was in direct violation of the League Association ground rules. It was a singular affair all round, especially so from the significant fact that the man was allowed to act as he did with such impunity. The inference of a large portion of those present was that he knew too much of the inside business of professionalism to be interfered with in his special recreation of assaulting a player. This little opening to the contest gave it a variety and spice never before connected with a game on the Union Grounds, we believe.

[see NYC 1/24/1880 for a letter from Wm. W. Kelly relating a loss of $9,000 sending the Cincinnati and Chicago clubs to California.]

McLean was up to his old tricks the other day in Troy, and fined Whitney $10 for questioning one of his decisions on balls and strikes.

Williams of the Chicagos was fined $10 yesterday for calling Capt. Anson a d.f., and Kelly was fined $5 for not running to second base in a proper manner., quoting the Troy Times

By next Saturday, when the Clevelands will open the professional season in Cincinnati, the old-time banner system at Fourth and Vine street will be revived, to give notice at noon of every day whether a game will be played. This year the medium will be a twenty-foot flag, run out on a cable across Vine street, from over Hawleys to the telegraph building. On the banner will be the letters, “Base Ball Park–Game To-day at 3 P.M.”

Anybody down town can then satisfy himself at the noon hour whether or not a game is to be played. Whenever rain interferes during the forenoon so as to postpone a game, the banner will not be there. This system will be commenced next Saturday. The club will try to arrange several other information stations in different parts of this city and Covington, where information on doubtful days can be obtained at the noon hour.

The white flag with the red ball will wave from the Weddell house dome to-day, announcing the opening of the League season. If the flag remains there until 3 o'clock, patrons of the park may rest assured that a game will take place; if, however, the flag is hauled down before that hour no game will be played. No bunting, no game.

If a ball is struck by a bat, and knocked against a house, and is caught before it touches the ground, is it out, or not out? Please answer and oblige

THE MEMBERS OF THE AURORA CLUB

The striker, in such a case, is out, without any kind of doubt. Whether it may be regarded as a fly catch, or a bound ball, is a matter concerning which there may be a difference of opinion; but, if the ball has not touched the ground, there can be no question about the striker being out–and, we should say, on the bound, although we have known it to be differently decided; or rather, we have seen a striker decided out when the ball was caught after striking a house and touching the ground.

The American Foot Ball Association met Sept. 5 at Newark, N.J. New York, Trenton, Paterson and all the local clubs were represented. It was decided that the drawing for the cup ties should take place on the evening of Sept. 26. All clubs wishing to contest for the cup must register their players on or before that day, and any club wishing to joint the association should address the secretary, J. Walden, Orange, N.J.

[Mutual vs. Eckford 6/12/1867] Another error [by the umpire] was the deciding a player out at second, who was running his base when three balls were called, no player being allowed to be put out under such circumstances if forced to vacate a base by the call of three balls.

[Boston vs. Philadelphia 8/26/1889] [bottom of the 12th inning, tie score, Boston at bat, two outs, Kelly at second and Brouthers on first] Johnston followed with a solid crack to centre and ran leisurely to first, bat in hand. When within ten feet of the base, seeing that Kelly had scored, he turned towards the right and ran over towards the stand. Fogarty made a wild throw in, the ball getting away from Farrar. It was finally secured by one of the Boston players, who passed it to Kelly. Farrar, Delahanty and Sanders ran after Kelly and tried to wrest the ball from him, but he would not give it up. The crowd then surged into the field and several passes were made at the “only,” but none of them landed. Finally, with the aid of the officers, he was hustled into the dressing-room. Johnston did not touch first base. In fact, he stopped within ten feet of it; but even if Farrar had secured the ball and made the claim it would not have been allowed, as neither [umpires] Curry nor McQuade saw the play.

Kelly when seen said that he supposed Farrar wanted to substitute an old ball for a new one, as he did not tell him that he wanted the ball to make a play. Farrar admitted that in the excitement he did not tell Kelly what he wanted the ball for, but supposed that Kelly knew. The excitement was intense for a half hour, a great crowd being assembled on the outside of the grounds. The Philadelphia Item August 27, 1889

President Young yesterday [9/16] telegraphed Director Soden that the Boston-Philadelphia game had been declared by the League directors a victory for the Bostons. Three out of four members of the Board of Directors of the League voted for Boston, and it was not necessary for President Young, as chairman ex-officio, to cast his vote. President John B. Day stated in his communication to President Young

“To all practical intents and purposes the game in dispute was won for Boston on Johnston’s hit, which, having passed the centrefielder, permitted Kelly to score the winning run.” Mr. Hewett when the case was presented to him concurred in the opinion of Mr. Day and cast his vote accordingly. His opinion was not given, however, until yesterday and was a verbal reply to President Young’s message. For the Indianapolis Club President Brush decided: “The umpire is sole judge of the game, and if he did not declare Johnston out for not running to first it must be presumed that he did reach there safely, in which case the run counted.”

Messrs. Day, Brush and Hewett, it will be seen favored the award of the game to the Bostons, while President Nimick, of Pittsburg, was the only director opposed to the leaders. This effectually disposed of the story that Mr. Day is inimical to the Bostons, and speaks well for the fair minded New Yorker. The Philadelphia Item September 27, 1889

[Haymaker vs. Keystone 9/7/1869] the Haymakers and Keystone of this city played a social game this afternoon [9/7/69] on the grounds, Seventeenth-st. and Columbia-ave. The terms of the original challenge stated that they should play a series of match games, the first of which was played in Troy, the Haymakers winning by 22 runs. The second game of the series should have been played here to-day [9/7/1869], but the Keystones, wishing to play Cope, who was not entitled to play until Sept. 3 [sic], and the Haymakers not consenting to play with him, the Keystones presented the Haymakers with a ball, which gives them the second game of the series.

The Stars went to Waverly on Thursday, to play the Amateurs, of Newark. Circumstances forcing them to play Hicks in their nine, they presented a ball to the Jerseymen, and afterward played an exhibition game, when they polished off the Jerseyites to the tune of 42 to 13.

[The rules adopted by the NABBP convention:] It I decided that the pitcher must not throw the ball or delay the game in any manner; and supplementary to the old penalty of called balls, if three men are sent to their bases in one inning on thrown or wildly pitched balls, when it is apparently the pitcher's intention to delay the game, the game shall be called by the umpire, and the victory given to the club that is at the bat at such a time, by a score of nine to nothing.

The Mutuals appointed July 2 to play their third game with the Resolute Club at Waverley. The New Yorkers met at the train to go; but finding themselves short two or three of their players, they chose rather to forfeit the game than go, and so they went over to the Union Grounds to see the Washingtons and Atlantics play instead. This gives the Resolutes a game by 9 to 0.

The umpire forfeited the Tuesday game between the Buffaloes and Alleghenies, to the Allegheny club, on account of three foul balks by Dailey, the Buffaloes pitcher.

[Philadelphia vs. Athletic 7/11/1874] York sent up a foul ball, that Sutton immediately took. There was a peculiarity about this. The ball went up foul, and was so declared, but a wind carried it fair, and Sutton missed it on the fly and took on a bound two feet inside the foul line. It was, however, declared a foul bound.

[Empire vs. Social 8/30/1869] The ball had been hit foul by Dr. Bell, and popped up in the air pretty high; Higham gauged it nicely for a high bound, and it fell on the scorers’ table, bounded very high, and was caught by Higham. The catch was a good one, and was loudly cheered for; but Mr. Thorne, as the crowd prevented him seeing it, decided the striker “not out”. It would not have been out any way, as the table is considered in the same light as a fence, a house, or a tree in such cases. See Section 4 of Rule 3.

A wire screen should be erected in front of the reporters quarters on the grand stand at Oakdale Park. There is entirely too much dodging fouls for comfort.

[Athletic vs. Atlantic 9/16/1867] The feature of the foul catching was a beautiful one taken by Ferguson [third baseman] on the bound considerably behind the scorers' stand [implying the stand was in foul territory between home and third].

[Providence vs. Chicago 7/4/1878] The batsman hit a sharp tip to Harbridge [catcher[, and it struck that plucky little player in the breast and fell to the ground, but he made a quick recovery and caught it on the first bound. Mr. Egan -umpires--did not see the catcher, and, in his attempt to take the testimony of bystanders (as he has a right to do under the rules), he was met with anything but the polite treatment to which every umpire is entitled.

[Haymaker vs. Baltimore 5/11/1872] some comments were made upon a foul bound catch of Craver, which was beautifully made from the side of an earth bank, a few claiming that a bound from a bank was parallel to a bound from a fence, and that therefore Zettlein, the striker was not out. The umpire [Theodore Bomeisler] ruled otherwise and both clubs acquiesced to his decision.

[Athletic vs. Baltimore 5/28/1889] ...Stovey was on the coaching line at third base when Larkin cracked out what appeared to be a hit directly over third base, but the ball bounded foul just beyond the flag. Gaffney did not give any sign of life until Larkin was near second. Stovey was so intensely disgusted that he that he turned toward the umpire and with face turned away expressed his feelings by turning the palms of his hands towards Gaffney and waving him off. This was too much for the umpire. “Ten dollars for that,” he called out.

[Baltic vs. Mystic 9/21/1863] Another circumstance worthy of remark was that of the umpire calling a foul ball when the ball glanced from the striker’s bat without any effort being made to strike. The rule makes a ball foul when from “a stroke of the bat” it hits the ground behind the line of the bases. Now when a player hits the ball with the bat in an effort to avoid it, it is just as much a stroke of the bat as if he had struck at it as far as foul balls are concerned, and we therefore think the decision made, in this case, a correct one. We comment thus on these points, for the instruction of young players mainly.

[St. Louis vs. Toledo 8/30/1884] Quinn, the umpire, had acted most outrageously in the mroning and in the afternoon began his dirty work again, evidence in every way, shape and manner, that he intended to visit upon the St. Louis club the dislike he has all along evidenced toward Charlie Comiskey (whom he had fined in the morning) and other members of the team. How far he carried out this project can be determined upon his decision declaring Bill Gleason out after he had made a fine two-base hit, giving as a pretext that he had made a “foul strike.” It was a deliberate outrage and, although many may blame Captain Comiskey for refusing to continue the game, the provocation was very deep and Mr. Quinn showed his hand so plainly that he should be disqualified for all time to come from acting as an umpire of the American Association. St.

[Chicago vs. Detroit 7/19/1888] Getzein was a greatly surprised man when, after he had been sent to base on five balls in the sixth, Farrell took Campau's foul tip and sent the ball to Anson before Get could get back to first. It was a quick throw. Farrell received slight applause.

[Brooklyn vs. St. Louis 7/12/1885] While Sullivan was at the bat a foul tip hit Hayes [catcher] in the lower portion of the abdomen and he had to retire... (St. Louis)

[Union of Morrisania v. Harlem Club in Morrisania, 7/18/1862] The seventh inning, on the Harlem side, was marked by a peculiar strategy on the part of Liscomb, which happened to prove very successful. He resolved to trust to luck, made three feint strikes at the ball, and ran. The third ball passed the catcher, and Liscomb was well on his way to the second base before Abrams secured the ball, when he threw wildly to the second Liscomb keeping on the run, and a wild throw to the third allowed him to carry his point, and get home safe in his stocking feet.

...

In the ninth inning, however, with the game so certain, the Union side slackened up in their endeavors, and Abrams, the catcher, who was somewhat tired from exertion, and whose hands were much swollen, seemed to play carelessly, and let eight balls pass him, on which bases were made, before the inning was closed on the Harlem side. The inning was commenced by Liscomb, who attempted to again carry out the role in which he had been so successful in the seventh. He struck three times and ran, and as luck would have it, the ball passed the catcher and he made the first base. By a wild throw to the second he made the third, and was only put out on the home base by [pitcher] Hannegan.

In the Union and Eckford match, Friday, Goldie, the crack first-baseman of the Unions, was obliged to go into the field on account of a disabled hand. The accident by which he was laid up was rather peculiar. In the last Union and Mutual match, a swift ball was struck to George Wright at short-stop. On its way the ball picked up a splinter; and, when Wright threw the ball to Goldie at first-base, the splinter went through his hand just below the base of the thumb. Nevertheless “Old Reliable” caught the ball, and put out his man; but since then he has been in no fit condition for play, as his hand is swelled badly, and he is threatened with lockjaw.

On Monday last the Mutuals visited Newburgh, for the purpose of playing with the Hudson River Club. We say friendly game, because, as Pike played the contest does not come under the head of regular match games, Pike not having been a member of the nine thirty days. Before making arrangements for leaving the city, the Mutuals telegraphed to Newburgh, and requested the privilege of playing Pike in the nine, and consequently , to which the Newburgh nine returned their cordial assent.

A nine composed of one-armed men and known as the “Snorkys,” will on May 23, at Pastime Park, contend with a nine made up of one-legged men, under the club name of the “Hoppers.” Tickets are out and selling rapidly. The two nines have been practicing for some time past.

The South Weymouth Park was thronged yesterday to witness various sports, among others a game of base ball between the famous Mutuals of New York and the Red Stockings of Boston, a purse of $300 being offered by the managers of the park.

A slim and disgusted crowd saw the game at Birmingham a week ago yesterday. A squabble arose in the sixth inning, Smith and Esterquest were the pitchers. The management have been compelled to use other than regular Southern League balls for the past few days and that is what precipitated the muddle. The balls became torn and, no more being on hand, the club was reduced to the alternative of suing them or stopping the game. Memphis was three runs behind at the end of the sixth inning and positively refused to play unless news balls were furnished. Manager McCarthy explained the situation to the visiting manager and captain, but they would listen to no excuse, and, after a general jowl all around, Umpire Curran decided the game in favor of the Birminghams by a score of 9 to 0.

[Athletic vs. Baltimore 5/20/1872][Anson on second, McGeary on first] Mack was given his base on called balls, thus filling the bases. Before Mack, however, had his base given him by the Umpire Craver threw the ball to Fisher to head off Anson, who was trying to steal third. Fisher put the ball on him, and here arose a discussion as to whether Anson was out, pending which Pike got the ball and secreted it. Time was not called, and the Umpire decided that Anson was not out. As Cuthbert went to the bat Pike watched his opportunity, and when McGeary, who was on second, left his base, he, Pike, immediately touched him, and the Umpire decided him out and he came in. McBride, however, sent McGeary back to his base in spite of the decision of the Umpire. The striker was then called and Cuthbert refused to go to the bat. Matthews pitched three balls, no striker responding. McBride then attempted to take the ball from Matthews, but Craver was too quick for him and pocketed it himself. The crowd here broke into the field and surrounded the players, and much feeling was manifested, though no violence was attempted. The Athletics then left the ground, a few hisses greeting them as they moved towards their conveyance. The Umpire decided the game in favor of the Baltimore Club as the score stood in the seventh inning. Baltimore American May 21, 1872

[Athletic vs. Baltimore 5/20/1872][Anson on second, McGeary on first] Mack was given by the umpire a base on called balls and Anson was consequently entitled to his third and McGeary to his second, but Craver, throwing the ball to second, Anson was first decided out and then McGeary. The Athletics, of course, would not submit to such a bare-faced swindle, and naturally objected to such an unfair decision, and all of the Baltimore nine, with the exception of Craver, told the umpire that he was wrong in so deciding, and the umpire finally allowed both men to go back to their bases, but as Craver refused to play unless these two men were given out, a long argument ensued, which was terminated by the crowd breaking in upon the field, and the police had to escort the Athletics off the ground to protect them from violence at the hands of the hooting crowd of ruffians. Evening City Item May 21, 1872

[Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh 7/17/1882] What promised to be a wretched exhibition of ball playing between the Cicinnatis and Alleghenys was fortunately terminated in the third inning by a small cyclone. .. [in the bottom of] the third inning a furious storm swept up, and there was a panic among the spectators and players to reach the Exposition Building. The grounds had scarcely been cleared when the Directors’ stand was raised from its foundation and thrown several feet forward. The backstop was blown down, and lumber scattered in all directions.

President Soden says that the game of six innings played between Boston and Indianapolis would go on record and be counted. “Why,” said he, “it is a common occurrence for teams to stop games to catch trains.” “I don't think a team that is breaking the rules every day, as they do in New York by selling beer on the grounds, will make much of a kick in a case of this kind,” said Director Billings.

It will be remembered that at the time the Mutual and Eckford Clubs played at Hoboken, the latter winning, that it was rumored, and pretty strongly, too, that the game had been sold. All lovers of our national game were loth to believe such a report, and none more so than the Mutuals themselves. Even the newspaper writers, with one exception, refrained from commenting on the fact until the evidence should become so strong as to brook of no denial. The matter was referred to a committee of the Mutual Club to investigate, consisting of Messrs. Wildey, Burns, Lindsay, Brady and others, and the two first-named gentlemen have been assiduous in their efforts to ferret out the truth of the matter. It was hard to believe that any man, or set of men, could be so base as, for a paltry consideration, to entail infamy upon themselves, and discredit on the game.

The Committee set to work in good earnest, wisely keeping secret their deliberations, during the investigation, until the charge should be proven true or false to a certainty, and not until now has the result become known. It has at last been learned that not a single member of the nine was the “seller out,” but three players received money to throw the game. The Committee learned all sorts of facts and fictions before arriving at the truth, and finally amid the cloud of rumor and talk, they found the clear sky of truth. How link after link was found, until the chain of evidence is complete against these men, it would not be proper to divulge. The truth is known, however, beyond possibility of doubt, and “out of their own mouth have they been judged.” The truth is secured from admission on the part of the man who paid the money, giving time, and place, and amount, as well as by one of the parties making a “clean breast of the affair.” The arrangements were that these players were to receive $100, to be divided between them, and half of all the money won. The party making this proposition, claimed that he had won only $200, and had given them half. It is said that won much more, but the price of selling an important game, according to the evidence before the Committee, is $33.33 1/3 cents per man—rather a small price for honor and manhood.

Admission by one of the nine was made to the truth of the matter a few evenings since, under the following circumstances: The Committee after seeing the party who laid this scheme, visited a certain saloon in this city, and called out one of the parties accused. They there accused him of the whole matter, which at first he denied. They then told him that one of his “pals” had divulged, also telling how much each received, when the bargain was made, and that the odd dollar of the $100 was spent at the foot of Grand street for supper. So sudden was this avalanche of evidence, that this man then made a confession of the whole affair. The Mutuals intend publishing the entire affair, with resolutions, and after expulsion, they will send the resolutions broadcast through the press, and by mail, to every Base Ball Club in the country. This prompt and judicious action of the Mutuals, deserves praise, and it behooves ever lover of the game to give them their sanction and support.

[a letter dated June 22d from Thomas Severn:] I, being the umpire in the game between the Atlantic club, of Philadelphia [sic: should be ‘between the Atlantic club, of Brooklyn, and the Athletic club, of Philadelphia’] at Philadelphia, May 30th, 1870, do consider the game to be null and void, according to the rules of the National Association, it having rained for one hour or more steadily during the game. The game was only played to oblige the Athletic Club, there being a large crowd present on the ground.

At Shenandoah, Pa., was played Dec. 29th, in presence of about 1,500 people. … the ice a was in excellent condition and the base lines were painted with dark red paint, which gave it a beautiful ball field.

At Prospect Park yesterday quite an interesting game was played upon the ice.

The match, as announced, came off the day after the carnival on the Nassau pond, the club kindly allowing the ball players the use of their pond, promising to keep the ice field clear during the contest. The game was called at about two-o'clock—an hour later than intended, owing to the non-arrival of some of the players. A game of four innings was played, the playing at this juncture being interrupted and stopped by the interference of three or four of the members who wishing to bring themselves into notice, and not possessing the ability to do so as superior skaters, they very rudely skated arm in arm with the females accompanying them through the field, between the bases, and even before the bat. This placed the ball players in a very awkward position, each fearing he was intruding upon the club, and disconcerted them very much in their playing, they being afraid to bat the ball and skate swiftly to the bases, lest they might come in contact with the ladies who were so rude as to interrupt them, and finally this being the case the game was closed at the end of the fourth inning...

The Rochester and Binghamton clubs had Aug. 4 at the Pioneer Rink, Binghampton, N.Y. Five innings were played, and the score at the finish stood 3 to 0 in favor of the Binghamptons. The running of bases was where the fun came in, and, as the runners tumbled rather than skated around the bases, falling in their wild career and knocking the feet out from under all near them, the spectators shrieked.

Excelsior Club of Jersey City v Pavonia Club of Jersey City on 6 September 1855  [non-New York game]  The match was to be 2 1-2 hours, equal innings.

A telegram was yesterday morning received from Mr. E. Hicks Hayhurst, manager of the Athletic club of Philadelphia, stating that three of his nine–McBride, Clapp and Fisler–were in such disabled condition that it would be impossible for the Athletics to play the Baltimores according to announcement, and placards announcing the postponement of the game were gotten out as soon as possible.

[Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland 6/8/1889] The Pittsburghs did not want to play the second game. They had had enough. The local management couldn't see it in that light. Many people had come late, only to see the one game. Finally it was decided to play five innings and the game began.

[Chicago vs. Philadelphia 10/14/1875] Before the game was called, there were spread and accredited wild rumors that certain players had been fixed on both sides, and that the opposing gambling cliques were in battle array, and that there would be fun ahead. The pool room was extraordinarily lively, and one man, and he a prominent director of the club, was the most conspicuous at the pool box, buying up pools against his own club, wiling to take nay odds that were offered, until he had nearly $2000 in the pool box, and all against his own club.

Why should we look then to the players, under circumstances like these, for honesty or integrity? What right have the management to complain, when they themselves set the example?

That the game was “crooked” on both sides, there can be no doubt. Both club tried to give the victory to the other, and Chicago, despite the fact that it had accumulated the most errors, was forced to succumb and wear the trophy of victory.

[Chicago vs. Athletic 9/28/1874] The game was well contested up to the close of the 8th inning, when the score showed 7 to 7. On the 9th inning the Athletics went to the bat determined to “do or die.”

McGeary made first on drop by Glenn. Anson hit a two-gbaser to right field. McBride brought both in by a magnificent two-base hit to left field, and came in himself on Hines’ slow handling of Reach’s ball. Sutton was missed on an easy foul fly by Glenn, and it now became apparent that the visitors had determined to prolong the game so as to have it called by the umpire on account of the darkness, and the score to go back to the previous inning, when Reach scored, and Sutton struck three times in succession, Malone purposely mising the third and overthrowing to first. Anson, who was running for Sutton, stopped half way on the line of base, but no one would put him out. Reach got mad at him, and went to first himself, Gedney, Batten, and McMullen all got their bases on hits, aided by their opponents’ errors. No one would stop balls thrown, throw or catch them. Finally, Murnan was thrown out by Zettlein to Malone, the other three strikers scoring.

McGeary went out by Hines to Glenn, and then Zettlein, who, together with Malone, had been trying to have the umpire call the game, walked in from the pitcher’s place, and said “We might as well give up this game.” To this Malone assented, and immediately thereupon Mr. McLean, the umpire, walked over to the Athletic Pavilion, and declared the game forfeited to the Athletics by a score of 9 to 0.

[Lowells vs. Somersets on Fast Day, with two umpires H.B. Dennison and P. Sullivan, of the Lowell Club] Having two umpires seems something new in the history of the game, as we would suggest that if the duties of the position are found too arduous for one, that three umpires would be better than two, as that would avoid all possibility of a tie in opinion.

Brunell's paper, the Cleveland Sportsman, says:--”The 'famous' official scorer of the Chicago League Club, who has kept old Anson in base ball for years, is a woman, the daughter of Secretary Brown, of the club.

The Cincinnati Commercial, in commenting on the Red Stocking match in Chicago, says: “After the game last Thursday, Mr. Gassette, President of the White Stocking, offered the officers of the Red Stockings less than $1,600 as their half of the receipts, stating that only 7,000 tickets had been sold. Mr. Gassette was quite nervous in his eagerness to settle on this basis, but Messrs. Bonte and Corre refused the tender as visibly unfair, if not dishonest. The papers stated that the crowd numbered 18,000, and that the vehicles alone, by actual count, were 1,215. Messrs. Corre and Bonte subsequently measured the seating capacity of Dexter Park, and securing abundant data to prove that Thursday’s crowd could not have been less than 12,000, they laid their case before the stockholders of the White Stockings, who appeared to be equally surprised and annoyed at Mr. Gassette’s singular exhibit. Mr. Bonte remained in Chicago after the club started home, and through the aid of the stockholders, received a considerably larger amount than the anxious Gassette had offered.

An organization bearing the above title [Athletic Baseball Association], and composed of members of the Athletic Baseball Club and prominent professional and business men of Philadelphia, was recently formed, and on Christmas their club-room was formally opened at Chestnut and Eleventh streets. On the evening of Dec. 23 an election for officers was held, with the following result: D. F. Houston, president; Jos. S. Allen, vice-president; A. C. Johnson, secretary; William Warnock, treasurer; Charles Spering, Wm. Warnock and D. F. Houston, trustees.

This Association is one entirely distinct from the Athletic Baseball Club, although a large majority of its members belong to that organization, and it offers unusual inducements for their members to join. Fronting on Chestnut and Eleventh streets is the reception parlor, which is about 30 by 40 ft. The walls are finished in light pearl-colored paper, and the rooms are handsomely carpeted and furnished. Immediately in the rear of the parlor, and connected with it by two doorways, in the billiard-room. There are also dressing-rooms furnished with marble-top washstands, and everything is supplied that will tend to the comfort of the members. The cost of fitting up the rooms was about $2,500, a large portion of which was contributed specially by several of the prominent members. There was a constant stream of visitors on Xmas, who did full just to the sumptuous collation provided. Sam Arrison has been installed as superintendent. A special meeting of the Association will be held Dec. 31, when the constitution and by-laws will be submitted, and the committee on rooms will make their report.

The Mutual Club has set an example worthy of imitation, and which we hope to see generally followed.–We quote from the New York Times–“The members of the celebrated Mutual Club, on Christmas Day, presented to Mr. Charles A. Peverelly a bookcase, desk and wardrobe, all of rosewood, costing between $300 and $400. Mr. Peverelly is well known as a reporter of aquatics, base ball and cricket matches, his rowing and yachting contributions to Wilkes’ Spirit of the Times for many years past being a feature of that journal. The resolution was passed some time since, and committee, consisting of Messrs. James O’Neill, Vice-President of the Club, John M. Oaklord [sp?] and John J. Foley, was designated to carry out the intentions of the club.”

Now, let the leading clubs of New York hold a meeting, and pay a compliment to another deserving Reporter–Mr. Henry Chadwick–whose services to the National Game have been inestimable. The Athletic Club will gladly support this proposition.–At the same time, the clubs of Philadelphia ought to show their appreciation of the talent and enthusiasm of Mr. McConnell of the Press, and Mr. Cunnington of the Inquirer. Who will move in this matter?

[Constellation vs. Resolute 8/20/1859] The game...was ushered in by a very pretty incident–upon arriving upon the ground, the Constellation Club was surprised to find a splendid piece of bunting floating in the breeze which had been placed there (unknown to the members) by a committee of eleven young ladies, whose handiwork it was, and who presented it to the club with the following note:

“We, the undersigned, take great pleasure in presenting, for your acceptance, the flag now waving over your grounds, with the earnest wish that it may never be disgraced.”

This note was signed by eleven young ladies. The members of the club (we understand) are about to take measures to make a proper reciprocation to the ladies for the kindness.

DELICATE COMPLIMENT.–It is said that the White Stockings, of Chicago, recently presented Miss Ida Lewis, the famous Newport heroine, a costly pair of white stockings, fashioned curiously from a rare lace, with the emblems of the great American game elaborately worked over them. The stockings, which were imported at an expense of some five hundred dollars in gold, were accompanied by a very artistically-engrossed certificate of honorary membership in the club, and these verses:

“If these poor stockings mar thy sight,

Drawn o’er they feet so fair,

They’ll blush to find themselves less white

And turn Red Stockings there!

But if thy rosy lips they spy

As kiss them thou may’st deign,

With envy they will lose their dye–

White Stockings once again!”

The American Association meeting was practically barren of results, except for the improved umpire system adopted and the advance of admission rates to 50 cents. The latter innovation may work well or it may prove most disastrous, and, in the latter event, the Association will be in a sad plight, as few of its clubs are in a position to face such a contingency. Some of the clubs are still suffering from reversed of previous seasons. The playing strength is still very unequal, notwithstanding the recent transfers of players; the vacancy is yet unfilled, and the chances of securing a suitable successor are decidedly poor. If a club can be found it will simply add one more tail-ender to the already too long list of weak teams; if an eighth club cannot be found nothing will be left but a reduction of the number of clubs to six. To cap all, there is no confidence in each other among the Association people, as in another year a jump to the League by either Brooklyn or Cincinnati is looked for. Everything is shaping that way, and this makes the future uncertain and to a large extend hampers individual or concerted action. The Sporting Life December 21, 1887, quoting the Public Ledger [i.e. Richter]

Manager Wright has had a large gong bell placed on the grand stand. At 2:55a the gong sounds, and the men come out and take their seats. At 3:30 another stroke is given, when the game opens.

[Baltimore vs. Boston 9/25/1874] In the third inning the home club lead [sic] off with three clean hits (the only good display at the bat on their side). McVey then followed with a fair foul (?), which struck within a few inches of his feet, and taking an eccentric bound was lost under the seats to the left. A “home run” was the resulting, bringing in the three others...

[Chicago vs. Boston 9/5/1871] Gould was the next striker, and thousands of pairs of eyes were fixed upon him in almost painful expectancy. Suddenly his powerful arms made a tremendous sweep, and the ball was sent flying high over the fence well inside the foul line. Thousands of spectators sprang to their feet with yells of encouragement as the striker sped around, and when he crossed the home-plate the friends of the Reds went into ecstasies. Their extravagance was pardonable, for at one blow the bases had been cleared and four runs scored, putting their favorites well in the van, and giving the game a decidedly new turn., quoting the Boston Advertiser

[Chicago vs. Boston 5/30/1876] The crowd was so great that it was found impossible to field long hits to right or left, in consequence of which it was agreed that when a ball was batted into the crowd it should be considered only a base-hit.

[Cincinnati vs. Chicago 5/21/1878] [Hallinan] led off with a two-baser over right-field fence... Pike got a two-baser over the fence... Chicago Tribune May 22, 1878

[from Questions Answered] If a man is on first base when a batter hits a ball over the fence, can he run all the way home? Answer-- No; only to third base on the Chicago ground. Chicago Tribune June 23, 1878

[National vs. Cleveland 4/26/1880] Dunlap led off for the Clevelands with a two-base hit over the fence...

[Indianapolis vs. New York 7/20/1889] The final ball game of the New York-Indianapolis series was played under very discouraging circumstances at the Polo grounds this afternoon. There was a heavy rain-fall last night, and the ball field was in a very bad condition in consequence. There was a small lake in left field, and on that account a ground rule was made, under which a hit to that territory, no matter how long, could only yield two bases. Boys, with trousers rolled up, were engaged to fish the ball out when it went into the miniature lake. In trying to get a fly ball, Sullivan went into the water once nearly up to his knees.

[Brooklyn vs. New York (PL) 6/6/1890] Brotherhood Park was in bad condition for good playing. For ten or twenty feet back of the sod in the diamond the clay had been raked and the ground was soft and muggy. But the worst part was in short right field. There a small lake of water stood upon a surface about thirty feet square, running across the foul line. The mud had been scraped away and lay in a hge ridge extending out toward centre field. The right fielder at times played just back of the dirt ridge and again in the much in front of it, according to the batter’s ability. A ground rule was made to the effect that a hit into this territory should give the batter and base runners only a single base each. The New York men sent five of their base hits into this dismal swamp, and the Brooklyns dropped two in the same territory.

[Albany vs. National 5/22/1879] ...an immense assemblage, that complete encircled the ground and even encroached upon the playing field, so that it was found necessary to make an agreement that all balls hit to the fence should be only two-base hits.

[Eckford vs. Maryland 10/6/1869] Pinkham made the only run, and that should not have been allowed him by the Umpire, as the ball was batted over the fence, a standing rule on the grounds allowing but one base on such a hit.

[from the Louisville correspondent] The only item of interest that has happened since I sent in my last effort, is the resignation of Billy Houston, our ground keeper. He goes to Detroit in a few days to accept a more lucrative position from the management of that club. We certainly lose a good man in Houston as he understands his business perfectly, and has at all times, kept the Park in excellent condition. His successor will be appointed in a few days.

[from the Harry Weldon's column] ...Elmer smith has this Winter acquired a new motion, which he uses effectually in watching bases. Elmer has a side step when a runner is on first almost equal to Jimmie Galvin's half-balk motion, which is known and spoken about the base ball world over. No one has ever yet succeeded in getting gentle James' exact motion, but Smith has a clever counterfeit. He used it effectively against the Pittsburgs the past week. If Elmer does not lose the art before the season opens the St. Louis Browns, Baltimores, Kansas Citys and other clubs who have daring a quick starters will come to grief by reason of this motion.

[Philadelphia vs. Athletic 9/22/1873] Wood accomplished a hard, two-base , fair-foul...

A special meeting of the Enterprise B.B.C., of this city, was held yesterday evening, and the club decided to attend in a body the funeral of their late member, Peter Rice, Esq.

Resolutions were passed expressive of the sorrow at his loss, and condoling with his family.

The Enterprise will play no match games for thirty day. Members of the club will assemble at Montague Hall to-morrow morning at 9 ½ o'clock, for the purpose of attending the funeral. Brooklyn Eagle July 24, 1866

the short field behind home at the Athletics ground

[Irvington vs. Athletic 7/17/1866] The Irvingtons were unfortunate in being obliged in the third inning to change Bailey for Walters as pitchers, but it was rendered necessary by reason of the irregularity of his pitching, and the consequent number of passed balls, occasioned, partly, by the shortness of the field in rear of the home base. Wilkes Spirit of the Times July 28, 1868

Buffalo's big Brouthers played an old but successful trick on Taylor, Cleveland's “fresh” left-fielder. Taylor overran first base, and while returning saw Brouthers apparently throw the ball to Galvin, the pitcher. Galvin faced the batsman, as if to pitch the ball, and Taylor innocently touched first base and stepped off a pace again. Brouther, sho had the ball under his armpit, quietly reached out and touched Taylor. The umpire said “out,” Taylor hung his head and walked home, nine Buffalos “snickered,” and seven hundred Cleveland people said something which doesn't look well in print., quoting the Cleveland Voice

[Boston vs. Chicago 5/20/1881] Some sharp work prevented the Bostons tieing the game in the ninth inning. Burdock led off with a two-baser, and the ball was fielded to Williamson at third. He hid the ball, and, when Burdock led off from second, Williamson threw the ball to Quest, and Burdock was put out. He would have scored on Whitney's base hit.

Buffalo's big Brouthers played an old but successful trick on Taylor, Cleveland's “fresh” left-fielder. Taylor overran first base, and while returning saw Brouthers apparently throw the ball to Galvin, the pitcher. Galvin faced the batsman, as if to pitch the ball, and Taylor innocently touched first base and stepped off a pace again. Brouthe4rs, who had the ball under his armpit, quietly reached out and touched Taylor. The umpire said “out,” Taylor hung his head and walked home, nine Buffalos “snickered,” and 700 Cleveland people said something which doesn't look well in print., quoting the Cleveland Voice

In the New York-National game last Saturday Baker neatly worked an old “chestnut trick” on O'Rourke. O'Rourke struck a ball through Gladman, and White, picking it up, fielded it to Baker at first, who held it. O'Rourke complained of lameness and desired a man substituted to run for him. Baker refused, and Barr made ready to deliver a ball to Connor, the next batsman. O'Rourke stepped off the base to run to second when Baker pounced upon him, and the great manipulator of balls was out, amid the jeers of the vast audience.

[Worcester vs. Yale 4/7/1880] Stovey opened play on the Worcester side, and he endeavored in vain to hit Lamb's rather swiftly and widely-thrown balls, the umpire allowing Lamb to deliver almost “straight from the shoulder.” this high delivery is, of course, illegal, and every umpire who strictly interprets the rule will call all such balls foul balks. We point out this defect of Mr. Lamb's pitching now so that he may reform it before playing in the college-championship games.

[Beacon vs. Boston 4/7/1881] Every one was anxious to see how Whitney, the new pitcher, who had already won an enviable reputation in California, would carry himself, and at the conclusion of the first game all were loud in his praises. He showed himself to be a wonderful manipulator of the sphere. He has a lightning rapidity to his delivery, coupled with a remarkable command of the ball. His curve pitching is about the finest ever seen on the Boston grounds. He raises his arm well up to his shoulder, but, considering that in the past the league has not pretended to live up to the rule as to what shall be termed a legally pitched ball, and has allowed anything and everything to be brought into the game and be termed pitching, this will probably not be objected to. Boston Herald April 8, 1881

[from the Providence correspondent] Some surprise has been manifested here (Providence), during the past five or six days, at the statement circulated broadcast throughout the West and published in nearly all of the base ball papers, to the effect that the Providence management had decided to “kick” because of Whitney's alleged irregular method of pitching. The story, to put it in the plainest language possible, Every one was anxious to see how Whitney, the new pitcher, who had already won an enviable reputation in California, would carry himself, and at the conclusion of the first game all were loud in his praises. He showed himself to be a wonderful manipulator of the sphere. He has a lightning rapidity to his delivery, coupled with a remarkable command of the ball. His curve pitching is about the finest ever seen on the Boston grounds. He raises his arm well up to his shoulder, but, considering that in the past the league has not pretended to live up to the rule as to what shall be termed a legally pitched ball, and has allowed anything and everything to be brought into the game and be termed pitching, this will probably not be objected to. Boston Herald April 8, 1881 is made up of whole cloth. Not the first whisper of an objection to Whitney's delivery has been heard. On the contrary, President Root informed the Herald correspondent that the item was false in every particular. He believed Whitney was a good pitcher, and would be a hard man to hit. Instead of objecting to Whitney, he thought that his presence between the “points” would make the games between Providence and Boston far more interesting than in the past, for the two nines would be more evenly matched, and the question of superiority, instead of being settled in the first two or three games, remain a fact to be brought out later on in the season. The rivalry between Providence and Boston has always been of the very pleasantest nature, and at this late day it will take considerably more than the frivolous scribblings of the would-be base ball authorities of the West to break up the harmonious feelings existing between the base ball associations of Providence and Boston. Boston Herald May 1, 1881

The delivery of Jones, the Yale pitcher, is said to have been so unfair in the Metropolitan games as to provoke considerable comment, and it is said that, unless he makes some change in his delivery, the college teams will kick. In view of the futile efforts of the league to enforce legislation on this point, the action of the collegians will be watched with interest.

[Harvard vs. Chelsea of Brooklyn 7/3/1876] We saw Ernst [of the Harvards] pitch for for the first time on this occasion, and we have to state that his delivery half the time was illegal, his hand, in passing his hip, being frequently level with it and sometimes clearly above, when the rules require that the hand must clearly pass below the line of the hip. … The lower the delivery the more effective the pitching, and we are surprised to see pitchers lose sight of this fact, so many of them delivering from the hip, thereby giving the batsman a good sight of the ball from the hand, and losing to the pitcher the advantage of the rising ball which made Creighton's pitching so difficult to judge, he delivering the ball from within six inches of the ground.

The Brooklyn base ball management put up the fence around their ball ground so high that it is impossible for any wagons to drive up in the street and hire out standing room to the ten-cent class to look over and see the game. The fact is the fence is so high that the boys have great difficulty in seeing the game from the tops of the trees in the streets surrounding the ground. The Sporting Life May 27, 1883

thirteen man roster

Before the game was called all of the Athletic players, thirteen in number, were photographed in groups by an enterprising photographer, and the men all looked their sweetest, as they faced the camera. The Philadelphia Item May 27, 1883

[Baltimore vs. Mutual 10/2/1874] [The Mutuals] found Manning’s rather high underhand-throw delivery hard to punish.

“Baby” Von der Ahe should be given a good spanking and taught to know his place.

John Ward's forthcoming book will have at least the merit of originality. The president of the Brotherhood needed no assistance except such as his talented wife could give him.

...Now, as a fact, there is but little possibility that the club will leave the city, say, this season, because it is strong enough to make a great fight and draw the crowds, which will pay a gratifying percentage on the investment; but, it will go, beyond a question unless his is done. This support is all it wants, but, in case there is no support, the franchise goes, and New York will be the city. Mr. Von der Horst, at the last meeting of the Association in Cincinnati, was one of the prime movers in the scheme to retain the Metropolitan franchise in New York, and advocated the establishment of an office here. On last Thursday one week, Mr. Von der Horst quietly crossed the Jersey City ferry to New York, saw several of his colleagues, with whom he had brief talks, and the result was the office was rented and established on Park Place, in New York, and directly opposite the Post office. Mr. Von der Horst, as chairman of the American Association, and also of the committee which had in charge the disposition of the Metropolitan franchise, had full power to rent the office. This action has some significance. The franchise in New York is held by the Association, and any club can be transferred to that place. There is one thing, however. The patrons of the game here can rest assured that if they support their own club, whether it falls by the roadside or not, they will have representation. It is a matter of business with the management. Business men do not purchase goods worth fifty cents and retail them at twenty-five cents.

[from a column by Caylor] A player who can make a batting average of 250 per cent. and knows how to steal second base and always attempts it, is worth two of the 350 per cent. “sluggers” who need several other sluggers to help them make a run. Let the committee on the revision of rules work out a plan of scoring that will give full credit to meritorious base running and they will do the cause of professional ball playing a benefit that will bear immediate fruits. If such a system had been in vogue last year there would be no wondering by the laymen how St. Louis and Chicago won the championship from the “sluggers.

[Mutual vs. Eckford 10/6/1863] As long as swift pitching remains in vogue just so long may we expect to see dull, tedious and uninteresting games, where two or three of the nine are worked to excess, while the remainder have not half enough to do, and where opportunities for a display of skill in fielding are so rare as is good humor in such contests. There is one thing certain, and that is, if this custom of pitching swift balls at the striker instead of for him is to be the rule, both the strikers and catchers will have to pad themselves up like cricketers do. At present the striker is just as much engaged in efforts to avoid the balls pitched at him to intimidate him as he is to select those he can hit well, and between the two he has hard work to hit at all. We sincerely trust that at the next Convention something will be done to remedy the growing evil, and the rule in reference to the delivery of the ball so worded as to fore pitchers to pitch a ball solely for the striker. If this be done, we shall once more see lively and well played games, and contests in which more dependence fo success is placed on the skill of the fielders in general than on the swift balls of the pitcher.

[from Chadwick’s column] “You know how it is, well enough, Mr. Chadwick,” said Bob [Ferguson’. “Of course, I’ve nothing to say about the club’s affairs. They are treating me very well and I am doing what they want me to do.”

“‘Nuf said, Bob,” I replied. “ A nod is as good as a wing, you know,” and Bob laughed significantly. I needed no more to be thoroughly posted to as “how the old thing worked” with the Mets.

It is an old, old story of a competent man being placed in the position of manager of a team, while the team is really controlled by some self-opinionated official, who has all the say in the running of the team, while the nominal manager is left to act as a mere figure-head.

[from an interview of Ward] ...there is plenty of money at our disposal to organize any association or league. We know of any amount of capitalists who want to invest their money in base ball. I will go further and say that we will be recognized as an organization and we will all play next year whether the League people like it or not. The people now managing the business are powerful, and have plenty of money to back them up, but we believe that we will have the support of the masses in the stand we have taken. It is claimed that a new League could not be formed, because it would have no grounds and the other necessaries to begin with, and that it would meet the same fate as the old Union Association. Now, as to the first argument, how long would it take to get new grounds and erect new stands? Before the season was half over they would be paid for. As for the old Union Association, it would never have died had it had the Brotherhood to draw from. It lacked the proper attractions to make it a success.

[editorial matter] ...if the Australian party should return home by way of England next spring, as is not unlikely, our British cousins may get an inkling of the sport...

Force, Craver, Nelson and Nicholls all played finely as far as pitching ability was concerned. They can all play ball in tip-top style when they want to; but, unluckily for the teams they played with, they did not always feel in proper trim. They had too many “off days” as well as “too many telegrams.” Nicholls was short-stop of the Louisville nine when they were defeated by the Rochesters 9 to 1. It is a painful fact that less than honest service was rendered in the short-stop’s position in 1877 than in of any previous season since 1864.

While every professional club–now outside of the League–can join the International Association at trifling expense, of course none of these can enter the International championship arena unless they can bind themselves to carry out the engagements of the championship series of games. In considering this question the Championship Committee will, of course, be guided by the number of clubs entering and their locality. It will be desirable to limit the entries to such clubs as are located on good paying circuits, for it will not pay a club this season to go out of its way to a city simply to play a championship match. It, of course, will happen that a club located in a small town between two large cities, or on a regular traveling route between two baseball centres, will be a more desirable club to have enter the lists than a stronger playing club would be if located in some city or town off the route of regular travel. This season professional clubs will have to consider traveling expenses more than ever they have done, for the utmost economy in this respect, as well as in their salary lists, will be absolutely necessary to carry them through.

It was the intention of the financial backers of the Metropolitan Club to have procured a separate ground of their own; but the needed outlay was found to be so great that they finally decided to lease half of the Polo Grounds from the Metropolitan Exhibition Company, which they have done, and the two assiciated clubs will therefore play on adjoining fields, the Sixth-avenue ground being open to the public on match-days at twenty-five cents admission, while at the Fifth-avnue field the admission will be half a dollar.

[from an interview of Lucas] “My associates in the league during this my last visit East treated me with marked courtesy and kindness, and I am now satisfied that they all along were controlled by the best of motives and that now that they have come to look upon the situation in its real light they will deal with me and my old players in a more kind and friendly spirit than they did before. (St. Louis) Missouri Republican April 7, 1885

The meeting of the presidents of the league clubs which was to be held in this city to-morrow [New York 4/10] to consider the reinstatement of the several blacklisted players at the request of Mr. Lucas, has been postponed. It is not known when the meeting will take place now, if indeed it takes place at all. (St. Louis) Missouri Republican April 10, 1885

[See TSL April 17, 1889 p. 10 for a good history of the Spalding Company.]

[Harvard vs. Excelsior 6/1/1866] ...there was a strong partisan element, opposed to the Excelsiors, who visited the grounds purposely to do all they could to cause the defeat of the Excelsior nine, and but for the presence of a large police force their efforts would not have been confined to insulting comments and derisive jeers, but would have taken the form of over acts of assault without doubt. The facts of the case are these, and we refer to them by way of explanation before we proceed to describe the game. In fact a little wholesome plain speaking is required. We do so also in answer to several correspondents who desire to know what the position of affairs is between these clubs, an answer in our correspondent column requiring too much space. In the efforts made by the Atlantic club to retain their title of Champions, which they earned so creditably by the play of the nine of the club in many a well fought battle on the ball fields, they entered upon a course of action in strengthening their nine, when the veterans of the club one after another retired from service, which brought upon them the ill will of those clubs from whom they drew most of their strength, and naturally enough too, for the withdrawal of Chapman, Start and Crane from the Enterprise Club, after they had just achieved a noteworthy success over the Eckfords, weakened them to a degree that almost broke up this fine young club; and afterwards the withdrawal of Pratt from the Athletics, and likewise Sprague from the Eckfords, had a damaging effect on the success of those organizations for the time being. The result of this collection of strong players was the forming of a nine, which in playing strength has had no superior, as the successful career of the Atlantic Club during the past two years fully proved. Thus far things went on satisfactorily enough as far as the Atlantic Club was concerned, although some other clubs did not view it in that light. During the past winter, however, the champion nine became disorganized, from what we are not aware, but if half the stories told about “buying” and “selling,” &c., are true, the club who have been the sufferers act very unwisely in not giving the facts of the alleged corrupt bargains due publicity, and their not doing so argues very strongly in favor of the fact of their inability to substantiate the charges made. At any rate, three of the champion nine left the Atlantics and joined the Excelsiors, and another one returned to his first love. Now, this state of things was a very different one to the before mentioned condition of affairs, inasmuch as it was the Atlantic Club who were the sufferers, and the Enterprise, the Athletics, and Eckfords, or the Stars. When the poisoned chalice is placed to our own lips, we singularly enough realize the bitterness of the contents, and so it was in this case, but strange to say, a very virtuous, do doubt, but rather inconsistent indignation has been aroused by the Atlantics at the conduct of the Excelsiors in thus following an example set them by the Atlantics themselves. Now had the Atlantics and their friends entered court with clean hands as the complainants in this case of alleged base ball felony, this expression of indignation would have been just and proper, but as it is, it appears to us to be about as cheeky a thing to do, to find fault with another club for doing what they themselves have done, as we have heard of for some time past. That is just the light in which we view it, and in which hundreds of the reputable portion of the fraternity see it. The very best thing the Atlantics can do for the interests of their club is to go to work and build up a new nine and win new laurels with it, and to discountenance in every way they can just such action of their friends and followers as that which characterized the proceedings of the match at Bedford on the 1st inst. Any other course must necessarily create a reaction in favor of the club thus attacked.

[from the Columbus correspondent “Buckeye,” probably Jimmy Williams] It is claimed that the error columns is the cause of all the wrangles between players concerning the misplays of the game. I will give you a little bit of history on the error column that may have escaped some of the able writers aforesaid,, some of whom did not know a base ball from a mock orange in those days. In 1879, I think it was, the National Association abolished the error column in its scoring—that is the official scorers did not keep errors, and they were not reported to the secretary of the Association. It was done for the very reasons that are now urged in favor of it and in good faith. What was the result? While the official scorers religiously obeyed the rule the newspaper reporters just as religious reported and published the error column, so that it practically did not good and simply prevented the secretary from making his resume of the season's work in fielding what it ought to have been.

[from Chadwick's column] So it is good-bye to the Polo Grounds after all. And thereby hangs a tale. The plot of ground bounded by One Hundred and Tenth and One Hundred and Twelfth streets and Fifth and Sixth avenue in this city was enclosed by the Westchester Polo Club in 1879. This club was composed of a choice lot of wealthy representatives of the upper ten—the exclusive “four hundred” were not in existence then—who made a specialty of that very costly sport, polo. They had flourished at Jerome Park, and had created such a stir among New York's fashionable circles that they became ambitious of having a club ground of their own; and so they leased the ground above referred to and it became known as the Westchester Polo Club's grounds and eventually the Polo Grounds. The club opened the grounds in style with a band of music and a crowd of fashionables, with lots of tally-ho coaches and carriages with liveried servants, etc. all in English style, “don't yer know.” As long as the entertainment was free it was crowded by the invited guests, but when half a dollar entrance fee was charged the attendance fell off. In fact, the enterprise as an investment became a pecuniary failure and the club found the grounds an elephant on their hands. Just at this time the Metropolitan Club—a gate-money professional organization which Mr. Day established with his money in September, 1880, and made James Mutrie its manager—finding that it was not profitable to play any more on the old Union grounds, induced the Westchester Polo Club to allow them to use their field on off days, when Polo was not played, and this being agreed to—the Polo people being glad to have a part of their rent paid in this way—the Metropolitan Club began its New York season there on September 15, 1880, and they played their first regular match at the Polo Grounds, on Sept. 29, they having the Nationals as opponents, and they defeated them 4 to 2. the Mets had previously played on the old Union grounds, beginning there on Sept. 15, when they played the Union nine—a picked gate-money team. During their first fall campaign at the Polo Grounds, they played twelve games, of which they won five, including victories over the Chicago, Worcester, Troy, and Cleveland nines, two of their defeats there being at the hands of the Chicago team. [continuing on through 1882]

[Boston vs. Athletic 8/7/1871] With two men on the base, George Heubel stepped to the plate, made a desperate strike–failed to collide, and carefully examined the end of his bat. George once more missed the object of his wrath–and once more scrutinized the extremity of his ash. He then put up a foul fly for Gould, who missed it, and then picked it on the bound. Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch August 13, 1871

overworking the pitcher; early use of “relieve”

McBride has been worked very hard, and as the peculiar force of his delivery is very exhausting, he needs rest more than any man in the nine. There is no worse policy than over-working a pitcher, and we are inclined to think that Bechtel should relieve McBride whenever occasion will allow. Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch August 13, 1871

At the game at the Metropolitan Park last Thursday, Orr knocked the ball over the fence into the river, scoring a home run. St.

[Brooklyn vs. St. Louis 7/13/1884] In the fifth inning O’Neill opened up with a pretty line hit to left field. The ball bounded over into the seats along the west fence and O’Neill scored a home run. . (St. Louis)

[Union of Morrisania vs. Eureka of Newark, at the Union grounds, Brooklyn 9/10/1867] In the third inning the Eurekas succeeded in scoring two, the result of a magnificent hit of Dockney's high over the fence in left field, on which he easily made a home run. This was the first time a fair ball has been hit over the fence inclosing this ground during the season.

[Eureka vs. Union of Morrisania at Union Grounds, Williamsburgh 9/10/1867] Dockney...hit a “screecher” over the fence at left field, from which he obtained a clean home run.

[Atlantics vs. Athletics 8/31/1868] McDonald made a terrific hit to right field, which just touched the top of the fence and bounded over into Columbia avenue, and on which McDonald made a clean home run.

[Atlantic vs. Athletic 10/25/1869] Pike made a clean home run...by a splendid hit over the fence at right field.

[Union of Morrisania vs. Keystone 5/17/1870] Pabor, the first striker [in the fourth inning], led off with a tremendous hit over the right field fence, making a clean home run.

[Mutual vs. Boston 10/4/1871] Start won considerable applause in the fifth inning by sending a fair ball over the fence in the right field and making a clean home run.

[Cincinnati vs. Athletic 6/13/1876] Hall's Wonderful batting was the feature, once making a clean home-run by driving the ball over the right-field fence, and making, besides, three three-basers.

[Buffalo vs. Boston 7/24/1880] The Bostons tied the score in the fourth, when Jones lifted the ball high over the left-field fence, making a home-run and sending in James O'Rourke, who had reached first base on a force-hit.

[Chicago vs. Boston 8/6/1880] Burdock sent the second ball pitched by Corcoran flying over the left-field fence, making a home-run, and James O'Rourke followed suit with another home-run.

[Olympic vs. Athletic 10/2/1869] Meyerle...made a home run by a tremendous hit, clearing the fence at right field and across Columbia avenue.

[Boston vs. Providence 5/15/1878] Now Hines wielded the willow and with seeming ease sent the sphere whistling through the air to some two or three rods south of the foul post, where it went over the fence, and Hines was away around the bases, together with York and Brown, long before the ball was fielded home.

[Keystone vs. Atlantic 10/3/1867] A clean home run by Start, from a long hit over the pagoda, was the only run secured by the Atlantics, and the Keystones took the lead by the totals of 5 to 4.

[Athletic vs. Union of Morrisania 5/13/1870] Higham now came to the bat, and putting his “muckle” to the ash, he sent the ball flying to the seats at centre field, and sending home Gedney, scored a clean home run, amidst the wildest excitement, for this score game the Unions a lead by a score of 7 to 6.

The first ball to be knocked over the New Polo Grounds fence was returned to the batter, Connor, by a policeman. Connor presented it to De Wolf Hopper, who will have it gilded, appropriately inscribed and hung up in the club house of the Actors' Amateur Athletic Association. To what lengths will not cranks of the Hopper stripe go?

[St. Louis vs. Chicago 10/18/1886] Comiskey made a wonderful slide to second in the seventh inning. A snake-like movement of his body twisted him out of the reach of Pfeffer who had the ball but could not touch him.

[Mutual vs. Chicago 7/28/1871] Hatfield then took a hand, and hitting a fair foul red hot past third... New York Clipper August 12, 1871

the uncertainty of the game creates distrust

We have been often told that our game was dying out, that trickery and fraud had been resorted to in some of the great contests of the past. The spectacle of a leading club, composed of the most celebrated players, failing to score a single run against a club that thought themselves unable to compete for the eagerly sought for title of champion, and only a few days after defeating them by overwhelming odds, has created a feeling if distrust, which cannot be easily smoothed over. New York Clipper August 12, 1871, from a letter from an unidentified Cincinnati correspondent [His suggestion was to play fewer games, giving fewer chances for disparate outcomes.]

[Chelsea of Brooklyn vs. Flyaway of New York 9/24/1875] Ten thousand people were present at the game at the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, yesterday afternoon, to witness the return game between the Chelseas of Brooklyn, and the Flyaways, of this city. This is good proof that the interest in professional playing has faded out, and that those who like to see the game played earnestly and honestly flock to see the amateurs play, as this was the largest crowd that has assembled at any game this season. New York Herald September 25, 1875

disbanded clubs, released players and the sixty day rule

We notice that there has been a protest entered against the playing of Higham, simply on the plea of an erroneous wording of the rule governing the eligibility of players, by the accidental insertion of the word “and” instead of “or.” If a club disbands, that fact in itself releases all players and cancels their engagements. To insert a special clause, therefore, requiring a written release, would be superfluous, and it never was done for that purpose. The clause requiring a written release was advocated and introduced by Harry Wright himself to cover just such a case as that of Harry Higham, he quoting an instance wherein he might engage a player on trial for a month to fill a certain position, and he, not filling it, as required, is given a written release, as the rule requires. But for such a clause such a player would be debarred from joining another club for sixty days, a positive injustice to an honest player, who, though he might not be able to fill the one position required, might be fully competent for another. New York Clipper September 25, 1875

[see Philadelphia All-Day City Item September 26, 1875]

… It was generally anticipated that a strong effort would be brought to bear upon this committee [the Arbitration Committee] by Mr. Lucas and his supporters to the end of securing the readmission into the league clubs of the reserve-rule jumpers and of the contract-breakers as well, provided the strong feeling entertained by the clubs against the latter class could be overcome or the character of their punishment changed. On the contrary, not a word was heard from Mr. Lucas or any his representatives, and the committee transacted its business and adjourned without even so much as mentioning the names of Mr. Lucas or his players.

But one inference can be drawn from these facts—viz.: that the friends of the disqualified players have had some intimation from the league authorities that the matter would be taken out of the hands of the committee and reserved for consideration at a special meeting of the league, which must necessarily be held very soon. If such is the case, then Mr. Lucas' present attitude can not only be understood but commended as well. Such a course upon the part of the league could but reflect great credit upon the management in that it would demonstrate the fact of its having awakened to a full realization of the vital importance of the interests at stake and the necessity for prompt and determined action thereupon. There seems to be no good reason against the measure already advocated by the Tribune, viz.: that of fining the reserve-rule jumpers instead of expelling them. And if this will hold good with the reserve-rule breakers it will be just as effective and constitutional with the contract-breakers, provided the fine is proportionately heavier, in accordance with the gravity of their offense. The league can easily afford to readmit all who are willing to pay their fines, and to permit Mr. Lucas to select from among them material for as strong a team as he can get together. With the semi-professional team that now represents St. Louis in the league and the comparatively weak team at Detroit Chicago would be the one strong league team in the West, while the East would have three strong teams in Boston, Providence, and New York, and two fairly good teams at Buffalo and Philadelphia. A crack professional team at St. Louis is what is wanted to stimulate base-ball interest not only west of New York but throughout the country as well.

The report that Cincinnati would vote affirmatively in the matter of reinstatement, provided Mullane's name was also erased from the black list, is, if true, an exceedingly small piece of business. Mullane's case is in no way similar to those of the other disqualified players, as a glance at the pages of the Guide for 1885 will show, and the American Association, in acknowledging its willingness to condone the offenses of this player plainly shows that its regard for the National agreement is by no means of as high a quality as it should be. Let the league take the management of its interests in its own hands and do the right thing without considering the likes or dislikes of either rival or a present friendly organizations.

[Union of Lansingburgh vs. Mutual 8/26/1868] In the fourth innings Davis was sent in to pitch, Rus having been pretty well tired out. The Mutuals objected to Davis’ delivery, declaring it a “jerk,” and the umpire sustaining them in the appeal Davis retired and Rus resumed his position. New York Clipper September 5, 1868

[Union of Lansingburgh vs. Atlantic 8/27/1868] Davis, who was ruled out of the Mutual match because the umpire said he delivered the ball with a “jerk,” was not objected to by the Atlantics, and pitched all through the game. New York Clipper September 5, 1868

Peck's dummy has created quite an excitement on Ann street. Dressed in full base ball rig, he looks quite natty. Scofield, of the “Haymakers,” did think about bringing the figure over to the Union grounds to act as umpire in the Haymakers-Eckford game yesterday, but a young man named Monell was found who answered nearly as well.

The League and Association presidents have each appointed a committee of three with instructions to confer together in regard to making the playing rules for next year uniform. This is a very important work, and with a view that it be done well, each president has exercised unusual care in his appointments. The League committee consists of A. G. Spalding, John I. Rogers and John. B. Day; the Association committee is O. P. Caylor, Wm. Barnie and James A. Hart. These gentlemen will no doubt give the important questions which will be submitted for their consideration careful attention, and the result will not doubt be the much-to-be-desired and often-wished-for uniformity. A joint meeting will be held some time next fall.

[Unions of Laningburgh vs. Atlantics 6/6/1870 at the Capitoline Grounds] Popping a foul over to left field, Wildey [the umpire] determined that no fault should be found with him for not calling out in distinct tones, and shouted “foul” so loudly that Charley Mills, who was playing over on the other ground [the Union Grounds] and had just made a good hit over third base, ran back home and came near being put out before he discovered his mistake. The Mutuals and Eckfords were bothered all through their game by Wildey's loud shouting, and request that on the next occasion he will moderate his tones a little.

The Boston Post says that Buffalo has got the baseball fever so bad that a man can't catch a baby falling from a second-story window without yelling “Judgment!

Cincinnati brags of a man who can throw a ball around the corner of a house. In these parts almost anyone can throw a ball around the corner of the house just as well as to do it in front of the house.

[from the Louisville correspondent] The team on its present trip is under the charge of probably the youngest manager who was ever placed in such a responsible position. Rosy-faced, red-headed harry Means, who is not yet quite old enough to vote, is piloting the the Kentuckians in their rambles through Kansas City, Cincinnati and St. Louis. Harry is the base ball editor of the Courier-Journal. The present owners of the Louisville Club seem to have a partiality for newspaper men, since Brown and Means, its last two managers, are both members of the Courier-Journal staff. Young Means is himself something of a pitcher, and three seasons ago, when the Athletics came here and got very hard up for pitchers, he twirled in one game for them against the Louisville team. He was not a winner, but he did very well. He has been practicing with the Louisvilles nearly all season, and may yet joint them as a regular pitcher. The Sporting Life October 2, 1889 [N.B. The A's game was probably an exhibition]

[reporting on the oral argument in Philadelphia Ball Club v. Hallman 3/7/1890] The court was crowded with people, and when Judge Thayer, during Col .Vanderslice's argument [for Hallman], remarked:-- “How is this? Do these people claim the right to a man's services indefinitely? I see by this brief that they can release him on ten days' notice,” and Col. Vanderslice replied “Yes” and the Judge said “That's a bond of slavery,” those in the room nodded to each other, as each believed it meant that the defendant would surely win his case. The Sporting Life March 12, 1890

[from Judge Thayer's opinion, which is given in full] It is not said anywhere in the agreement that the terms upon which he is to be 'reserved' are to be the same as those upon which he was employed in 1889. The failure to designate the terms and conditions of the new engagement under which he is to be 'reserved' renders the contract of reservation wholly uncertain, and therefore incapable of enforcement, especially by a proceeding which is a substitute for a decree for specific performance, for specific performance is never decreed of a contract the terms of which are uncertain. If they made an incomplete, or uncertain or an ineffectual agreement to retain the defendant for another season it is their fault, for the agreement was evidently drawn up wholly in their interest, but the defendant's rights cannot be affected thereby.

Now if, on the contrary, it be said, as was assumed by the plaintiff's counsel on the argument that the fair meaning of Art. 18 is that Hallman should enter into another contract for the season of 1890, precisely similar in all respects to the contract executed in 1888, and embracing all its provision, then it follows, of course, that he must hereby bind himself afresh by Art. 18 to renew the contract for 1891, and again in 1891 for 1892, and in 1892 for 1893, and so on from year to year, so long as it may suit the pleasure of the plaintiffs to insist upon the reservation clause and its annual renewal; for there is no more reason and no more warrant for dropping out Art. 18 from the new contract, if the new contract is required to be the same in all respects as the old, than for dropping out of it any other of the original nineteen articles.

…

The only demand which the plaintiffs have made upon Hallman was that contained in the written notice served on him on Oct. 21, 1889. That notice required him to sign a new contract of similar tenor, form and term as the old contract. Such a contract must necessarily embrace Art. 18. If they intend to leave out Art. 18 they should have said so. They had no right to require him to renew the old contract upon the terms mentioned in their notice of Oct. 21, 1889. He is in no default, therefore, for refusing to comply with the demand contained in that notice, and it is too late now for them to give him a fresh notice. It is their own fault, not his, if they demanded more than they had a right to demand. The Sporting Life March 26, 1890

[from the ruling of Judge Wallace in the Ewing case] In a legal sense it is merely to make a contract if the parties can agree. It follows that the act of the defendant in refusing to negotiate with the club for an engagement for the season of 1890, while a breach of contract, is not the breach of one which the plaintiff can enforce.

[from the editorial column] the only privilege withheld from the minor leagues is the reserve privilege. That they should not have. If every organization in the country should have the right to hold its players indefinitely base ball would stagnate. There would be no improvement possible; no further incentive for the players, who could not advance in their profession; no club could strengthen itself; the big clubs could draw no supply of fresh blood from the minor leagues; the minor leagues could draw no fresh supply from each other, and everything would dwindle to a dead level of monotonous sameness which would soon kill the game. Under such a system a champion club would remain so indefinitely, as the other clubs could get no new material to strengthen with. It would also be a rank injustice to minor league players to permit them to be reserved in these smaller organizations. They would be cut off from all chance of promotion and increased salary. Every player of any ability or ambition looks forward to a place in the higher leagues; for that he works and strives to perfect himself; that is the goal of his ambition. Of course he must commence in a minor league; now, what folly it would be to permit that minor league to put the fetters of the reserve rule upon the ambition of the young player, and chain him to a place where no higher honors are possible. The injustice of it must strike all sensible persons at a glance. Reserve is necessary in the highest class, and, with the exception of some few individual cases, cannot be regarded as a hardship to the players. They can get no higher, therefore their reserve does not check ambition; all possible glory having been attained, the player has but the financial reward of his work to consider, and it is sole to prevent ruinous competition here that the reserve rule was instituted, and under these circumstances has proven a wise measure, and to some extend the savior of the National game. None of these conditions exist, however, in the minor Leagues, and therefore the power to reserve would not only be superfluous, but positively detrimental to the game at large and the minor leagues themselves in particular. These bodies now have so little to complain of that all talk of “war” becomes positively childish. Let us hear no more of it.

[from the Indianapolis correspondent] At a meeting of the board of directors on Monday night it was decided to issue a lady's season ticket, reducing the price from $25 to $16, and making good for all of the championship games. President Brush is in favor of doing everything possible to increase the attendance of the ladies, and feels that while the ticket is very cheap it will pay in the end. It is the better class of people who support base ball in Indianapolis, and the long-headed president seems to think that where the ladies go the men will be sure to follow.

The muffs attached to the Union Club of Morrisania and the muffs of the Eagle Club of this city had a very enjoyable match at Morrisania on Thursday last. A lady was chosen to act as umpire, and she acquitted herself in a manner which evinced a thorough knowledge of the game...

The game taken all in all, was one of those soul-loving, mirth-provoking things that go smooth down the stepping stones of life and ease up the business cares of man. A novel and new feature in the game of base-Ball [sic] was the selection of a lady umpire and lady scorers.

We hope Mr. Joseph Fraley Smith, President of the Athletics, will prevent the establishment of a Lager Beer Saloon on the ground of the club. Such an institution will do much to demoralize the club and the game, and will prevent ladies and gentlemen from visiting the enclosure. We don’t object to lager, but a ball ground is not the place to sell it. Philadelphia City Item August 1, 1868

the Atlantics cut of the gate, renege on a game

... On the 18th of July, by the letter of their [the Atlantics] Corresponding Secretary, they positively agreed to play the Excelsiors, of Rochester, on the 28th, remarking; “It is customary with the club to receive fifty per cent of the gross proceeds of a match.”

To this an answer was returned immediately by the Excelsiors, accepting the challenge on the terms proposed. They did not say to the Excelsiors, however, that, doubting the integrity and honesty of other clubs, now that their own reputation was becoming so questionable, they in Syracuse (a plan which they undoubtedly adopt in other places) stationed one of their number at the gate to count the tickets, that they might be assured the ticket sellers returned the right amount of funds received. However this may be, upon the strength of the positive arrangements made by the correspondence above referred to, the members of the Excelsior Club have been to a good deal of expense to prepare for the match, and were greatly surprised on Saturday to receive the following very cool dispatch:

BROOKLYN, N.Y., July 25.

To John. W. Gothout, Secretary Excelsior Base Ball Club:

We have two matches here next week. Have made no arrangements to play you there on Tuesday.

Signed, J. C. CHAPMAN, Director.

Now there can be but one explanation for such conduct; either the club is afraid to meet the Rochester and Buffalo boys, or else they have transformed themselves from a first-class ball club into a second-class hippodrome, and are only willing to play at such places where the gate money promised to be abundant. If the former, they should certainly be dropped from the national Association; and if the latter, they are unworthy the fellowship of first-class clubs, and should be ignored by the public generally. New York Dispatch August 2, 1868, quoting the Auburn Morning News July 28, 1868

But go to, let us talk of other things; it were impossible to pursue this theme further without distilling the briny tear. The age of amateurs is gone; that of twist-pitcher, league nines and catchers’ masks has succeeded, and the glory of base-ball is departed forever! Never, never more shall we behold that generous muffing of flies and grounders, that proud laying for balls on the bound, that dignified disobedience, that insubordination of the heart which kept alive even in defeat the determination to “wax ‘em next time.” The unbought first nine, the cheap champion of the town, the nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise, is gone. It has gone, that sensibility of fingers, that slipperiness of grip which felt a hot liner like a wound, and inspired courage in the striker, while it fumbled with the ball, which dropped whatever it touched, and under which the game itself lost half its dullness by losing all its certainty., quoting the New York World

[Atlantic vs. Athletic 7/12/1869] The return game of the social series between the Athletics, of this city, and the Atlantics, of Brooklyn, was played last Monday afternoon, at Seventeenth street and Columbia avenue. The ground presented a very animated scene, a living wall of spectators, some eight or ten individuals deep, surrounded the whole area, and the embankments outside the grounds were also occupied by an immense crowd. The outside delegation being fully as large as that of the Athletic-Cincinnati game. Considerable money was invested at odds on the Atlantics prior to the game; but as soon as it was known that Smith and Start would not play with the Atlantics, the betting veered around to even on the Athletics.

[Mutual vs. Chicago 7/28/1871] Some idea of the interest evinced in the game may be gleaned from the fact that eery seat in the grand stand was taken three days ago, and to-day speculators made comfortable little “stakes” in disposing of reserved seats at a high rate of premium. Up to noon over 7,000 tickets had been sold, and at that hour, although the gates were not to be open until 1.30 P.M., a crowd of fully three hundred had assembled to secure the first chances for good seats. At half past two every seat on the ground was occupied, and for a time it appeared as if the vast throng pouring in at the gate would overwhelm everything. New seats, capable of accommodating 2,000 persons, had been erected and held back as reserves until the old accommodations were taxed to their utmost capacity; then the lower gates were opened and in “less than no time” the new tiers presented a similar appearance to the old, all occupied by enthusiastic lovers of the sport. Next the fence was devoted to spectators, and finally, when the hour for play approached, there was hardly room from the players. All sorts of estimates as to the number in attendance were made, but those in the neighborhood of 14,000 to 15,000 are nearest the mark. There must have been at least 2,500 ladies present, the fair sex of this city being as enthusiastic as their cavaliers over base ball and the White Stocking., quoting an unidentified Chicago correspondent

[Athletic vs. Chicago 8/6/1875] We have on several occasions called attention to Mr. McLean's unfair construction of the “strike” rule, so far as the Athletic were concerned, but never did he so enforce it so unjustly as in this game. With such a construction as he placed upon it, the umpire can throw any game. We do not charge that this was done in this case, but the batsmen were surprised at having “strikes” called on balls which should have been considered “balls,” and fearful if they waited for a good ball they would be retired on “strikes,” struck at any and everything, the result being a game lost.

[Trimountains vs. Gramercy 9/21/1868] Both clubs took the cars at the Harlem Depot for Tremont, the new grounds of the Unions had been selected for the match, owing to the rain however, the ground was quite wet, and it was finally decided to go to Melrose, and play on the Unions old grounds...

The National Base Ball Club, of Washington, was advertised to play the Pastime on the morning of the Fourth, but as is usual with them, failed to keep their engagement, much to the disappointment of the crowd assembled on the ground. The Pastimes gave them a game in Washington some few weeks ago, with the understanding that they would return the favor on the 4th. They, however, demanded fifty dollars on Saturday night before they would leave the city. This unreasonable request not being yielded to by the Pastimes, they did not come up from Washington, and the umpire, Mr. Lennon, gave the game to the Pastimes. A match afterward was gotten up between the Maryland and the Pastimes... Baltimore American July 6, 1870.

It is stated that the National Association delegates will adopt the ten-men and ten-innings rule, and twenty-five cents admission.

[Athletic vs. Cincinnati 6/17/1882] [The field is in poor shape after a heavy rain] ‘When was their [the Cincinnati Club] surprise, at 1:15 o’clock, to hear that Manager Simmons insisted on playing the game. The sun had but a little before burst through the clouds, and there was no certainty that it would not rain more before night; still Manager Simmons said he guessed the game must be played so, mud or no mud. It was whispered around that he understood White could not pitch a wet ball, and he thought the Athletics had one chance to down the Cincinnatis. Manager Snyder finally agreed to play, against his will, however.

It was now nearly 2 o’clock, and the news of the game must be gotten over town some way, and that right soon. The banner at Hawley’s was run out across Vine street. A bulletin was put up at this place also, announcing the game would be called at 4 o’clock, Manager Simmons consenting to this to give an extra hour to the grounds to dry up. An express wagon was called into use and sided with muslin placards announcing “game at 4 o’clock.” A band of music was an impossibility in the short time required to make the announcement, and by hard labor a drum and fife quartette were at last secured, put into the wagon, and the news was in this way run around town between 3 and 4 o’clock. It was the best that could be done, and even under these discouragements every body was surprised to see the attendance so large. Fifteen hundred and twenty-five people paid to enter the grounds, which the guarantors made fully sixteen hundred. The grounds were very soggy, and made running an uncertain amusement.

The second nine of the Cass club recently threw down the gauntlet to the first nine, and the game took place yesterday at Recreation Park in the presence of about 200 spectators.

The St. Louis Western Sporting Life speaks of the sport of cricket as “one which is in America rapidly closing in final struggle with base ball. That the latter still prevails in West cannot be held to eclipse the fact that cricket threatens, and dangerously threatens, its supremacy in the country.

[Union of Lansingburgh vs. Cincinnati 8/26/1869] [George Wright at first base] Gould followed at the bat, and George Wright stole to second base.

Roxburgh, of the Leadvilles, catches without a mask. How long he will continue it probably depends upon the number of fouls he is called on to catch. One of the audience remarked recently it reminded him of the engineer's opinion of the Indian who attempted to stop a train by standing on the track.: “I admire his pluck,” he said “but blank his judgment., quoting the Toledo Blade

The Oriental met the Fulton... Both nines being short, but eight men were played on a side. [two outfielders were played]

[Excelsior of Brooklyn vs. Englewood 9/4/1873] The old Excelsior Club of Brooklyn took the field for the first time since the Spring of 1872 on Sept.4, when they accepted an invitation from the gentlemen of the Englewood Club of New Jersey to visit that suburban retreat. ... After a well-played game on a very poor field...they were entertained at the Englewood House, the Excelsior Glee Club delighted the guests with their excellent singing.

Copied from another posting

[Forest City of Rockford vs. Atlantic 5/31/1870] ...when [the Forest City] had bravely crept ahead of the Brooklynites, the latter resorted to the mean, barefaced dodge of waiting–taking advantage of the reprehensible leniency of the umpire–to worry the pitcher or get a base on three balls..., quoting the New York Herald 6/1/1870

[St. Louis vs. Brooklyn 6/18/1889] Now came a play which puzzled the crowd–grandstand occupants as well as the bleachers. Collins bunted a ball high enough in the air to prevent it being a hit direct to the ground, and, as it fell on fair ground and then rolled on foul ground–Collins ran to first on the hit... and everyone expected to hear the umpire call foul. But he apparently was the only one to see the point of the play, and when he decided it a fair ball there was a dispute. ... Of course when the point taken was explained there was prompt acquiescence, but the crowd could not understand it a bit.

The South Park Commissioners have everything ready for the base of ball to-day on ice, at Washington Park, between the Jenney & Graham boys and the professionals (Artics). This is the deciding game and will be hotly contested. Both nines will be in uniforms–the toboggan suits–and a good game is expected. ... The diamond is all laid out, and the regular ice rules will govern the game.

Harry Wright has two pet ideas which are worthy of consideration: First, he would put the pitcher back two feet, and secondly he would have base runners to overrun second and third bases just as first is overrun now. The first would give the batters a chance to display their skill and make the game lively and the latter would prevent many of those painful accidents to players which yearly cripple clubs.

How the discussion of one idea brings out another. The talk about moving the pitcher's position further back has brought out another idea of that experienced manager and close observer, Harry Wright, namely, to permit players to overrun second base as well as first. Such a change, it is argued, would save the clubs the services of many valuable players, as more injuries are due to sliding to second base than all other causes combined. The change would also go to still further lighten the burden of the umpire, as most of the close decision arise at that bag, and under present conditions it is not always an easy matter to decide correctly whether or not the player is out when he goes down into the dirt and raises a cloud. These points are strong ones, but are offset by the question whether the game would be robbed of interest by thus abolishing the clever sliding to second, which is now one of features of every first-class game of ball—on which many a game hinges and turns. The idea, however, though not new, is worth more consideration than it received when first broached some years ago.

[answer to a correspondent ‘Easton B.B. Club, Easton’] A is on 1st b., attempts to steal second; catcher throws to 2d b.; the ball is held on the base, but the runner is not touched by the baseman. Is the runner out? ... Not out unless touched, as he was not “forced.

[from answers to correspondents] A man running has reached second and a man first. The ball was then struck into the field, and is not caught. Ball is sent to second, and the man running from first is put out. Ball is sent to third, and reaches the base before the man running from second. Is this man out without being touched with the ball? ... No. He has to be touched.

Will you please answer the following query in the column devoted to the National Game? There was a player on third base trying to get home, and a strong batter at the bat; the batter knocked a very high ball down to the centre fielder, who caught the ball, putting the batter out. The man on third ran in, and touched the home plate before the ball was caught. Was he out? The Umpire decided he was. There had been one player out before this ball was knocked, and the centre fielder threw the ball to third base, claiming a double play. By answering whether the runner was out or not, you will oblige Yours, &c., AN AMATEUR

[Answer:] The runner was out; Sec. 11, of Rule 6th, says...

[from answers to correspondents] A is on third, B is on second, an dC is on first base. The ball is not hit. C leaves first base and touches second. Are b and C forced at third? ... No. No runner can be forced from a base except by the act of the batsman in hitting a fair ball.

Thomas Barlow, formerly of the Hartford base-ball club, has fully recovered from his protracted illness, and proposes to wield his little bat gain during the coming season.

Henry V. Lucas, the old St. Louis manager, is now located in Chicago, where he has charge of the passenger department of the Baltimore and Ohio Road. He does quite a business with ball clubs, and always looks out for the comfort of the boys.

Projector Jackson, as usual, has caught on big. He is now the press agent for the American Institute. If he was to fall into the river he would come up with a gold watch in his hand. National Police Gazette October 30, 1886

Commentary on Bobby Mathews age

A cold, cruel wind crept up the Allegheny River yesterday afternoon, and, turning up the side streets, swept athwart the ball grounds. A weak, inform old man, with the stub ends of a silvery beard sticking out of his chin, and flowing white hair curling out from his tiny blue cap, hobbled over to a seat on the players' benches.

Age sat with decent grace upon his visage,

And worthily became his silver locks;

He wore the marks of many years well spent.

Of virtue, truth well tried, and wise experience.

When the venerable patriarch shed his ulster and dropped his great horn-rimmed spectacles the crowd discovered that it was Bobby Matthews—a man who played ball when the Pyramids were building and when the great crumbling Sphinx, with its unutterable mysticism and majestic secrecy towered above the sand, a riddle easily read, a ball player who saw the first course of stone laid for the construction of Niagara Falls, and before whom passed the vision of the world in its geological stages in imagery as gorgeous as the splendor of a tropic morn. The aged player laid down his toga—there was a harmonious conjunction and passage between the cold, cruel wind and the aforesaid stub ends—and he then walked out to the pitcher's box, and proceeded to mow down the Allegheny nurselings, for as a bath of corrosive sublimate is to the bed-bug so is Bobby Matthews to the home team. The Athletics won the game by a score of 6 to 3. Brown, Mann and Barkley were the only players that could hit the “little old man.” National Police Gazette October 30, 1886, quoting the Pittsburgh Dispatch

[Chicago vs. New York 5/25/1889] Anson was jeered whenever he raised his hand and asked “How's that?”...

[Athletics vs. Brooklyn 10/6/1889] ...nearly three thousand of these enthusiasts were there and saw the home team “chicago” their opponents...

[Nassau vs. Star 10/21/1863] We noticed that the Nassaus did not not wait so long at the bat when players were running their bases as they did in the Excelsior game [10/19]. They should, by all means, avoid any appearance of playing a waiting game, by promptly striking at good balls, even if their men are on bases at the time.

The suit instituted by unpaid players against the Athletic base ball club is against the old club, which, while still retaining its corporate existence, is without a “nine” and is not against the “Athletic Association,” which present the nine known this year as the Athletic. The association is a totally distinct concern, having no connection or application with the club, famous for so many victories, such sad defeats and such hopeless bankruptcy. Philadelphia Sunday Republic May 6, 1877

Mathews’ delivery

Mathews, for several seasons past, has visited Louisville with the Mutual club. His powers are so well known by Louisville audiences that he scarcely requires an introduction. He is one of the few pitchers who hang on to the old delivery of by-gone days, a style which has been almost entirely eradicated by the underhand throw of the present time. Louisville Courier-Journal May 9, 1877

A bill in equity was filed in Common Pleas, No. 1, Philadelphia, May 28, on behalf of what claims to be the original Athletic Base Ball Club to restrain Wm. Sharsig, president, Charles E. Mason, vice president; Lewis Simmons, secretary and treasurer, and the players of the present Athletic Club from using the name. The complainants declare that they were incorporated January 5, 1876, and that the corporation is still in existence. The defendants, it is averred, by joining the American Base Ball Association have prevented the complainants from gaining admission thereto and have otherwise injured the complainants. The present club, it is averred, has never been incorporated. The president of the old club is said to be Ex-Receiver of Taxes Thomas J. Smith. It has not had a team in the field for years.

The case came up in court Saturday, May 31 st, but argument thereon was postponed till Thursday. The probability is that the case will never amount to anything. The matter was agitated by the same parties last fall, but was frowned down by public opinion. It was supposed that this was a settler, and the filing of the above-mentioned bill last week was a surprise. The averment that the present holders of the title prevented the old club from joining the American Association is ridiculous, as the old club was not in existence when the American Association organized three years ago, and had not been for some years, having gone out of existence under a cloud of suspicion and distrust and with many debts, which are still unpaid. A club under the management of those people would not be admitted to any reputable organization under any circumstances. The whole affair seems to be the work of envious speculators, who would like to reap where others sow. The Sporting Life June 4, 1884

The suit of the alleged stockholders of the old Athletic Club for a preliminary injunction restraining William Sharsig, president, and the other officers and members of the Athletic Base Ball Club from using the name Athletic, came up for argument before Judges Allison, Pierce and Biddle in Court of Common Please No. 1 last Thursday and, as was predicted in these columns, in our last issue, was summarily disposed of. For obvious reasons the Court considered that too great a hardship on the ground that the complainants had waited too long before making the application and should have given notice to the defendants before allowing them to spend a large amount of money in grounds, contracts, etc. This does not, however, decide the question as to whether the use of the name “Athletic” by the present club is a usurpation or not, as Judge Allison said that the legal question as to the latter club’s right to the use of the name might be a matter for future consideration. The case will now go to a Master, who will settle the rights of the parties to the disputed name. Meantime the Athletic managers are not losing any sleep over the matter. The Sporting Life June 4, 1884

Suit has been brought against Austin H. Brown and others, directors of the old Indianapolis Base-ball Club, by McKelvey, a member of the Club in 1877 and 1878, for $400 and three years' interest upon the same. He claims that when the organization disbanded in 1878 that the amount of his salary, named above, was due him, and has never been paid. Cincinnati Enquirer January 21, 1881

McKelvey, the centre-fielder of the old Indianapolis club in 1877 and 1878, has sued the directors of that organization to recover $400 and three years' interest, which he claims is due him. Boston Herald January 30, 1881

Carlton and Sweasy, of the late stock company Cleveland nine, who have not been paid since June, have sued the stockholders for their entire salary, and from the result of the preliminary examination it seems likely that they will win their case. The club can show no legal cause for nonpayment in the way of insubordination or neglect of the club rules, such as in getting drunk or not reporting for play, etc.; and as the club is a chartered company, they are legally liable for all their engagements with players. It is one thing to engage a party of men for a special season, and then do divide the profits at the close of the service, and quite another to discharge such men before half the season is over, because the investment does not pay. When directors of clubs engage men they run the risk of profit or less, and must stand by the latter as well as benefitting by the former. The others of the Cleveland nine let up their employers, but Carlton and Sweasy do not see it in that light.

Base ball has been in court again, and again ha the law sustained the noble game. The Court of Common Pleas at New Brunswick, N.J., was the scene of the contest, and the question was as to the ownership of a plain everyday base ball. A suit was brought last Wednesday, by the Clipper base Ball Club against the Buckeyes, both of New Brunswick, to recover a ball the former team won last summer. The Buckeyes put in among its defences the plea that playing for a ball was gambling under the laws of New Jersey. The court refused to allow the defence and ordered the defendants to pay $1 and costs.

Burns, the blacklisted third baseman of the Newark Club, yesterday began a suit in the Court of Chancery to compel the directors of the club to reinstate him, and to restrain them from any acts of opposition or injustice that may prevent him from obtaining a livelihood. The action is based on the ground that no association or individual has the right to deprive him of making his living. The case will be argued in several days. Should Burns be successful in his suit, other similar actions will probably follow.

There is quite a large-sized row on hand between the Detroit and Cincinnati clubs over the Allentown batter, Beatin and Kinslow. These players have signed with both clubs, and their contracts have been promulgated by Presidents Young and Wikoff—by the former under date of July 28, the latter on July 27. Detroit, at present, has the best of the controversy in the possession of the men. The facts appear to be as follows:--Both clubs have been dickering with the Allentown Club for this battery for some time past, but the fancy price fixed by the club, and other causes, prevented a consummation. Meantime, the Pennsylvania Association was rapidly going to pieces, and while the Detroit Club still continued negotiations with the Allentown Club, the Cincinnati Club drew off to await the final collapse, with the hope and expectation of getting the players for nothing. When the Association dwindled to two clubs Manager Schmelz went to work at the players without consulting their club. Meantime Detroit had arranged terms with the players and the latter had accepted them, and all that remained was to come to a satisfactory conclusion with their club as to the amount of release money. While this dicker was going on Manager Schmelz worked on the players and by representing that the Association was practically disbanded and that the Allentown Club was no longer under National Agreement protection, and therefore the players were free to sign without danger of punishment, induced them to sign, Wednesday, the 27 th, regular contracts with Cincinnati. He then rejoined the Cincinnati Club at New York. Of course when the Allentown Club officials hear of this they at once accepted Detroit's figures—said to be $1,5000—and by convincing the players that the Cincinnati contracts were illegal, got them to sign with the Detroit Club, whose terms they had first accepted, and on Friday they left Allentown for Detroit. The Cincinnati Club now threatens to blacklist the players of course, and proposes to even go to the courts, if necessary to gain control of the services of these men....

The probability is that the arbitration committee will be called upon to settle the case which will hinge upon the point whether the Pennsylvania Association was disbanded, or still under National Agreement protection, when the Cincinnati signed these players. Cincinnati will maintain that as but two clubs were left and no more championship games were being played the League was practically dead, and protection lapsed. Detroit holds that so long as one club is left in a League it is still under the protection of the National Agreement and subject to all its provisions, and that the protection does not lapse until official notice has been promulgated of final disbandment and withdrawal or lapse of protection. The Sporting Life August 3, 1887

The American Association is decidedly wroth at its treatment in the matter. Says a prominent official, in speaking of the matter:

“About the coolest piece of assumption that ever came under my notice is embodied in the following despatch, presumably inspired by Mr. Young:”

“Washington, D.C., Aug. 10.--The Beatin-Kinslow matter has been decided in favor of Detroit, so far as the League is concerned. President Young declined to take official notice of the black-listing of these two players by the Cincinnati Club on the ground that the records, so he claims, will show that Stearns, of Detroit, opened negotiations with the Allentown management for Beatin's services, and that terms satisfactory to all concerned were agreed upon before Cincinnati appeared upon the field. No money was paid over until the goods were delivered. In the meantime the Cincinnati management came along and secured the signatures of Beatin and Kinslow to play with the latter club. The players immediately, upon receiving a despatch from Detroit claiming their services under a prior agreement, telegraphed to President Young for advice, and at his suggestion they reported to duty in Detroit. He holds that the agreement entered into between Sterns, the Allentown management and Beatin, whereby all parties accepted the terms, is as good as a written contract, and, under the circumstances, the blacklisting of Beatin and Kinslow does not go.”

“And so the matter has been decided so far as the League is concerned” When? Where? Is Mr. Young the League? “And Mr. Young declined to take no official notice of the blacklisting because the records will show that Detroit opened negotiations first.” What records? Who has passed upon them? “And at Mr. Young's suggestion the players reported for duty in Detroit.” And that, too, after Mr. Young previously advised Kinslow that he was free to go where he pleased? “And the blacklisting don't go.” The self-constituted judge hears Detroit's side of the story, makes up his mind that that must be right and decides that the blacklisting of the poor, insignificant, puny American Association don't. go. That settles it. It's all very simple. But somehow the unreasonable American Association can't see it in that nice, rosy light, and refuses to acknowledge Mr. Young as its “boss,” censor and guardian. It really must decline to see in Mr. Young the autocrat of the base ball world, instead of the mere salaried employee of an organization to which the American Association owes no allegiance. It fails to see by what authority Mr. Young presumes to decide upon the legality or illegality of Cincinnati's claim, and the binding force of the American Association's suspension, and by what right he ignores official communications of record, whose promulgation is mandatory. It is also curious to know who made Young the judge of what he shall, or what he shall not, promulgate, as by all the National Agreement rules Mr. Young's duties in the premises are merely clerical, and where a dispute between the two organizations arises the National Agreement alone has jurisdiction. The Sporting Life August 17, 1887

President Wikoff and Chairman Phelps were in a quandary how to act, and asked Mr. Byrne's assistance in the matter. The latter, however, has in the past been so much abused and misrepresented for acts strictly in line with his official duties and for the best interests of the Association, that he was disinclined to take any hand at all in the matter. Since he has been in the West, however, he has been prevailed upon to change his mind, and some lively developments may be now looked for, as the aggressive little man from Brooklyn is a good fighter, knows his business and makes no mistakes. He certainly made none while he was chairman of the Association. He has had a conference with Messrs. Wikoff, Stearns and Schmelz, secured all the information possible about the entire case, and will this week, as secretary of the Arbitration Committee, make a formal request on behalf of the Association to the president of that body, Nick Young, for a special meeting of the committee to decide upon the dispute between the Cincinnati and Detroit clubs, and will also request suspension of the players until the question at issue is decided according to the methods provided by the National Agreement. Mr. Byrne says he will insist upon a strict compliance with the letter of the law, neither more not less. The Sporting Life August 24, 1887

...the Association will be very cautious about increasing its membership beyond eight clubs. It was found, last year, that any number not divisible by four, made a schedule exceedingly awkward. Ten would be as bad as six, as was determined by the St. Louis meeting. The only increase allowable or possible, would be twelve, and it is safe to say that the Association do not hanker after an increase to this number.

[reporting on the Atlantic Association meeting of 2/11/1889] The Postal Telegraph Company was granted the exclusive right to place its instruments in all the grounds of the Association.

[Athletic vs. Boston 6/14/1874] [Murnan] escaping an unavoidable out by an extraordinary jump clean over Leanard [second baseman], who was stooping to touch him and who claimed that he did touch him–this being the only decision in the game that was not entirely satisfactory to both nines, and even this decision was one that nine out of ten umpires would give, as it seemed almost impossible for Leonard to have touched him.

[Atlantic v. Eckford 9/2/63] Start was placed at 3d base, a position any player of the nine can fill better, because he is a left-handed player, and for that reason just the man for the opposite base.

Charles H. Turner, treasurer of the St. Louis Club, has, on behalf of its creditors, received judgment in the amount of $6,500 against the stockholders. Several declare their intention to fight the matter out. New York Sunday Mercury March 17, 1878

Mr. Charles H. Turner, treasurer of the St. Louis Baseball club, on behalf of the directors, sued a large number of the members to compel them to pay up the balance due on their subscriptions, and executions have been ordered to issue against the defendants in sums varying from $12 to $90. New York Sunday Mercury June 2, 1878

A well-known Pittsburg attorney, who has made a close study of base-ball players’ contracts and has figured in suit growing out of them, says that they are illegal, and would not stand for a moment in any court in the land. As for blacklisting a player, which is practically issuing an injunction to prevent him from making a livelihood, it gives the victim the best kind of grounds for a suit for conspiracy against the club or association of clubs placing a ban upon him. St.

[Mutual vs. Athletic 10/21/1868] Hunt, Jewett and Devyr scored, the latter coming home on three strikes by Kelly, Radcliff [catcher] letting the last ball go by him; Swandel left Kelly on second base by hitting high to centre field, which Sensenderfer [center fielder] attended to.

[Atlantic vs. Union of Lansingburgh 7/18/1870[ Pike hit a terrible liner over two fences, making a home run (this being the best hit so far by long odds). Brooklyn Eagle July 19, 1870

more on William J. Piccot

Mr. Piccot was about thirty-three years of age. He served as compositor in the Courier and Enquirer office, and afterwards on the New York Times, subsequently as proof reader on the latter paper. While serving in this capacity, he was delegated to report a game of base ball, and did it so well that he immediately adopted reporting base ball as a profession. He was known as a fearless and conscientious writer, ever frowning upon wrong, fraud and deceit, and upholding that which was praiseworthy. Brooklyn Eagle July 19, 1870

The following is a list of players thus far recorded as being disqualified from future service in any American Association clubs: Frank Larkin, John Sweeney, Harry T. Pyle, Frank Cunliff, James Egan, Henry S. Moore, John Grady, B. McLaughlin, William E. Wise and William Welsh.

Those disqualified by the League are Geo. Bechtel, G. W. Hall, A. H. Nichols, W. H. Craver, Richard Higham and Herman Doscher.

Those disqualified by the Northwestern League are W. F. Yott, Harry Arundell, George Baker, H. E. Overbeck and E. Lockwood. The following have been reinstated and made eligible to contract: Frank Gardner and John Milligan; also John J. Smith and Harry T. Luff, suspended for the season of 1883. St.

[See TSL February 15, 1888 p. 5 for in all professional leagues]

The snow was now beginning to fall thicker, nearly blinding Rice, as he took the bat, and the very first ball seeming pretty good, he gave it as hard a knock as he knew how, and ran. But he had miscalculated the twist, and the ball fell very near the short stop, making an easy throw into first base. Nothing but Rice’s matchless fleetness of foot saved him; he hurled himself at full length on the base, just as the ball was received from the short stop by Riley... Changing Base; or, What Edward Rice Learnt at School, pp. 164-165. William Everett. Lee and Shepherd, Boston. 1869 [copyright 1868] [an engraved illustration from Changing Base by William Everett, published 1868, showing the runner on the ground on his stomach, and a baseman standing over him holding the ball, with the caption “Rice makes his Base.”]

[Chicago vs. Atlantic 7/4/1870] The play on the occasion was not up to the usual mark of either club. A live ball was on play and heavy, showy hitting was the order of the day, as the large score [30-20] shows.

[Athletic vs. Atlantic 7/5/1869] [score 7-8 after one inning] It was now very perceptible that, owing to the liveliness of the ground, a very large score would be made by each club, almost every ball hit bounding clean over the fielders’ heads, or else shooting along the hard ground with such great velocity as to render them almost impossible to be stopped.

[from a letter by Horace Fogel] When the Athletic and Philadelphia clubs played the spring series we started for the first time to score “stolen bases.” Of course there was wrangling and disputing at first, and for the first two games the scorer's box was a regular debating society; but we soon had the matter down fine, and it became as easy and nature to us as it was to score runs. We met in the box the first day, and before the game was called the matter was thoroughly discussed. The rule was read and re-read, and we all agreed upon a uniform system. We decided to score every time a man started for another bag, and succeeded in getting there. Of course there was no trouble about scoring “clean” steals. The rule means that if a man starts to steal a base and gets there, no matter if there's a wild thrown a muff, a fumble, a wild pitch, a passed ball or any kind of an error made, he shall be given credit for a steal, providing, of course, that he started to run before the error was made. This is what the rule provides, and this is the way we score it in Philadelphia.

There has been in almost every quarter of late a widely-spread feeling in regard to the honesty of certain players. It is too universal to pass lightly without notice, and, in view of some assertions and suspicions, we consider it a part of our duty to make some suggestions, and give some general advice to those whose tongues wag too freely regarding those who are unable to defend themselves. There are more instances of the old song–“Give a dog a bad name and hang him”–in base-ball circles than are exactly pleasant to contemplate.

To begin with: A player who allows himself to be put under such influence instantly loses his manhood. He becomes a dirty, groveling loafer, and commits an action which the veriest thief would be ashamed of. He is guilty of an act to which robbing helpless children sent on errands with a few pennies is heroism, “going through” a drunken man’s pockets a worthy notion, or robbing a corpse almost a virtue. The victim is not swindled–it is worth than that; there is scarcely a word strong enough to express the extent and meaning of the filthy crime. Gambling is not a pleasant matter to contemplate at the best, but when a wager is lost in good faith, and through the medium of such a wretch’s moral prostitution, it is the meanest, vilest and most putrefied way of putting a hand in a man’s pock and taking his means.

We regret that we have not expressed ourselves quite strong enough in the above. Words are not forcible enough to define the work of such loathsome moral lepers, and we honestly subscribe the opinion that there are but few, if any, in the fraternity. Now, the next thing is simply this: People have been growling from bad to worse in this matter, and have got into the habit of using the names of certain men with utter open recklessness. They could not begin to prove what they say, and it is an outrage, in most cases, which can never be atoned for. An accusation of this kind is no laughing matter. A report spread in this manner not only scandalizes a probably innocent man, but puts him in jeopardy of his life. Had Wansley, Duffy and Devyr been seen immediately after the exposure consequent upon their dishonesty in the famous Mutual-Eckford game, they would have taken their leave of this world in a very summary manner, and we know that a vigorous search was made for them.

These threats we have heard within this week, and we hope that in every instance hereafter, where there is the least suspicion of culpability on the part of players, club managers will have the parties examined on oath. After ferreting out the proof, and where guilt is discovered, the criminal be ejected with disgrace from the professional, and left to the tender mercies of those whom he has victimized. This is the only mode of procedure. Clubs pay efficient players for their services, and they should render their best. Suppose an artist is engaged to do a certain piece of work in his best style. He is a man of more than ordinary ability and is paid accordingly; he gets sulky, perhaps, or, for a consideration from some jealous person, slights his work, daubs through it carelessly, and money is wasted, where a man of mediocre talent would have actually beaten him and honestly done his work for much less money.

Since we have commenced this topic we might as well do it thoroughly. Before the game of Wednesday last it was currently reported that the Philadelphians would “throw” the game. Every player on the nine was aware of this rumor, and the only origin we can find for the same was the fact that a shrewd sporting man anticipated a very easy triumph for the Boston on several grounds. In the first place the Philadelphians had just returned from Cape May, where indolence and over-eating, without further dissipation, put them out of condition. The Baltimore and Boston Clubs did the same thing last year, and lost seriously by it. It was a good ground to base theory on. The two months’ gymnasium practice before the season helped the Quakers to much of their success; to break this good condition was injudicious. Another thing: the party referred to looked at the fine condition of the Boston; and the loss of needed practice by the Philadelphians on account of the postponement of the Washington game of Monday last. So the market was flooded with his case, tongues commenced to wag, and in a short time a scandal was concocted. It is as clear as day. If, on the other hand, the party had paid players to aid him in winning his money, it is very unlikely that he would tell the public or even a personal friend. Men do not care to boast of dirty work of this kind. The result was against the Philadelphians, and it so happened that the game was lost by the poor play of one man, who has a record for honesty that is not questioned by any one, and the defeat was taken gracefully.

...

The following is from Mr. Chadwick’s pen. He is impulsive, and no doubt regrets very many things he does. The mere fact that a player buys pools is to be regretted; but, at the same time, it does not make his dishonest. Still the paragraph is, to a certain extent, important:

‘A record is being privately kept of all the professional ball players who have bought pools on games they have played in this season. It would astonish Philadelphians, Bostonians and Baltimoreans, not posted in the “ways that are dark and tricks which are vain,” in professional circles to see the list already secured. Of course it would be no surprise to our people, as they see it done too often. The clubs which are behindhand in the score would no doubt bring the matter up in conversation but for the fact that no one could enter court with clean hands.

‘At the close of the season, when the comments of the play and the averages of each are made out, not a name of a suspected man will appear on the record. We have also to state that every season we have been written to to know if we could indorse this and that player. Thus far we have eight down on our books who are rated as black sheep, and the blackest of the flock is a fellow we call “Rascal Jack,” because he has “Dunn” so many people. Mr. John Dunn’s great character was “That Rascal Jack.”’

It is hardly necessary to allude to the player referred to in the last few lines. Now, if there are any charges of fraud with good foundation, let them be advanced at once, and let the culprit be publicly and privately disgraced. Until this is done there will be no end of fault-finding and accusation.

[Eckford vs. Athletic 9/16/1869] In the first inning, a new point of play occurred–viz., that of running home on a foul ball thrown in to the fielders by an outsider. A tipped ball went back into the crowd while Martin was on third base. The ball was passed to the catcher by one of the spectators, and by the catcher to the pitcher while the latter was out of his position. Martin waited at the base until the ball was in the hands of the pitcher, and then started for home. McMullen ran and touched him, but as McMullen had not gone to his position, Martin was declared not out; and properly so, too. The rule governing the play in question is this. Section 1 of Rule 5 says: “If an adversary stops the ball with his hat or cap, or if a ball (mark the words–‘a ball’‘ simply not ‘a fair ball’) be stopped by any person or persons (as the crowd, for instance) not engaged in the game, no player can be put out unless the ball shall first have been settled in the hands of the pitcher while he stands within the lines of his position.” This rule and the precedent adopted by the umpire in this game should be remembered. We noticed that Mr. Hayhurst alone of the Athletics saw the correctness of the decision. New York Sunday Mercury September 19, 1869

Martin struck a bounding ball to centre field, and got home, working around to third on passed balls, eventually completing his run on a foul ball, it having been passed in by the crowd, the pitcher not being in position when he received it. This point mystified some of the Philadelphians; but it was well taken. National Chronicle September 25, 1869

There is some talk of Cincinnati entering a complaint against the Detroit club for disposing of intoxicating liquors on its ground after the close of a league game.

I have not heard of the Cincinnati part of it, but I hear that the intoxicating liquors were sold on the grounds as you stated. I have inquired into the matter and find that the Detroit club leased its grounds from the Recreation Park Company, and that after the close of a game the base ball management had no control. Therefore I do not think that the Detroit people are guilty of violating the rule., quoting an interview of Hulbert in the Cleveland Leader

[reporting on the NL meeting] ...a resolution by Buffalo, seconded by Troy, that each Club be allowed to regulate its own admission fee. The resolution was vigorously opposed by Cincinnati, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston and Providence, and was finally defeated by that vote. Troy and Buffalo fought the measure on every point possible, either technical or apparent.

Mr. C. Gilman, umpire of the game played between the Osceolas and Athletes on Saturday, says that the latter were not beaten, as reported. Eight innings, he says, were played by the Osceolas, but when the Athletes were called to the bat, it was found that the balls was non est, a member of the Osceolas having made a home run with it. As the continuance of the game under these circumstances was impossible, the umpire decided that it was a draw, and the contestants withdrew. New York Daily Tribune August 5, 1869

a resume of Alphonse Martin's career; his slow curved twisters; the Eckfords practice regime; pitcher directing the catcher

Alphonse C. Martin, Pitcher and Captain, is 24 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighs about 148 lb., and is by occupation a mason. He commenced ball-playing in 1860, by joining the Unions, a junior club of this city, as catcher. He remained but one season with them and joined the Junior Atlantics in 1861, playing first base. After two years' experience in that club he connected himself with the Irvings, then a well-known junior club of this city. It was in this Nine that he first became known as a pitcher, and in three seasons acquired a high reputation for efficiency in that position. So much so that the Empires, a well-known senior club, invited him to pitch for them. He accepted the invitation, and in one season became the leading slow pitcher of this section of the country. In 1865, the Mutuals succeeded in getting him in their Nine, then one of the strongest in the country. With the Mutual he remained one season. At the opening of the present season Martin linked his fortune with the Eckfords, and was made Captain of the Nine. He exercises sure judgment in selecting the material for the Nine, and placing his men in the positions they are best fitted to fill. He has also recognized the importance of thorough practice, and has had the Nine in the field at least three times each week of the season. It is unnecessary to say much of Martin's style of pitching. He is known as the leading slow pitcher, and probably no one player gives so much concern to his opponents. His “slow curved twisters” are exceedingly difficult to hit, and his delivery is graceful and generally even. He assists the catcher to a great degree in taking foul balls, showing remarkable judgment in directing him where to play for the ball. New York Daily Tribune August 6, 1869

...the old Cincinnati Club has at last secured grounds to play on next season, and yesterday a contract was closed for the lease of a piece of property that can, by the expenditure of a considerable sum of money, be transformed into a ball park. It is situation on Western avenue, just north of Findlay street, and is what is known as the Hulbert property. At present it is occupied by several dwelling-houses, a brick-yard, and part of it is under cultivation, being used for “truck patches” by gardeners. The present occupants, it is understood, have no stipulated lease on the grounds, and it is said that they will remove their effects to some other place in time to let the Cincinnati Club being the necessary improvements as early as January. The lot extends from Western avenue through to McLean avenue, and runs from Findlay street nearly as far north as York street. It is 750 feet long by 450 feet wide. The Sporting Life December 12, 1883 [This is the site the Reds would use through 1970.]

The salary list of the Eclipse club, only footed up to $15,000 this season, and the local papers had the nerve to expect such poorly paid players to win the championship.

There is something of a decided lull in base ball just at present. ... There are numerous causes for this dullness, the principal one being that nearly every first class club is waiting the customary probation of new players.

Robert H. Leadley, Watkins' success, is a Detroit boy, and since 1884 has been secretary of the club. He is keen in financial matters, is well posted on base ball, and best of all is well stocked with common sense. He is popular with the players, and there is little doubt that he will succeed. His first act was to make Dan Brouthers field captain in Hanlon's absence, and it proved a good move. Leadley will not occupy the players' bench. He thinks the field captain should have full charge of the men during a game, and prefers to watch the contest from the stand.

[from Ward's resume of the history of the reserve rule] The remedy for these abuses may be difficult to find; the system has become so rooted that heroic treatment may be necessary to remove it, but go it must, like every other founded upon so great injustice and misuse of power. The only question is, whence shall the remedy proceed? Shall it come from the clubs, or from the players, or from both conjointly? The interests of the National game are too great to be longer trifled with in such a manner, and if the clubs cannot find a way out of these difficulties the players will try to do it for them. The tangled web of legislation which now hampers the game must be cut away, and the business of base ball made to rest on the ordinary business basis. There will be little need, then, of extra judicial rules to regulate salaries, for these will regulate themselves, like those of the dramatic and other professions, by the law of supply and demand; “base ball law,” that wonderful creation which no one individual seems ever yet to have mastered, will be laid away as a curios relic among the archives of the game, and the time-honored and time-proven common law will once more regulate base ball affairs: “deal” will be confined to legal limits; “phenomenons” and “wonders” will no longer receive advertising salaries, for the careful business manager will keep within justified figures; contracts may be made for periods of more than one season, the leagues will be composed of cities of nearly equal drawing strength and the percentage system will be re-enacted, thus reducing to a minimum the temptation to compete for players; the players will catch the spirit of the new order; base ball to them will be more of a business and less of a pastime; contract-breaking will be impossible and dissipation will disappear; the profession of ball playing will be looked upon as a perfectly honorable calling, and the National game will be more than ever the greatest of outdoor sports. All of these changes may never come; many of them certainly will. But it will be when the game is governed by the law of the land, when its financial conduct is placed in the hands of thorough business men, the “greats” and the “onlys,” the “rustlers” and the “hustlers,” have gone “down the back entry of time.

[reporting on the AA umpires' meeting] A unanimous request was made by the umpires that all clubs put a marble or glass slab, a foot wide, on the front outer edge of the pitcher's box. They say that it is impossible to watch the pitcher's foot and at the same time judge properly the passage of the ball and position of the batsman. Representatives of five clubs who were present agreed to put down this slab, and it is probable that all will see the advisability of it, and will comply with the request. The Sporting Life April 8, 1885

[quoting Chadwick] The umpires have requested all American clubs to place a marble or glass slab, a foot wide, on the front outer edge of the pitcher’s box. This slab, they claim, will allow them to devote their attention particularly upon the high delivery of the ball. The president insisted upon a strict construction of the rule prohibiting the overthrow, and the umpires were notified that they must promptly inflict the penalty every time the hand holding the ball passes above the line of the shoulder when the arm is swung forward in delivering the ball... St. Louis Post-Dispatch April 11, 1885

The management intend to extensively advertise their games, and make them attractive to people living outside of Cincinnati. For this purpose the services of Manager Harry Lewis, of the Grand Opera-house, have been secured to procure excursion trains on different roads on days of attractive games. Mr. Lewis will superintend the advertising of the club, and will also control whatever Sunday games may be played on the grounds.

Nearly a thousand people paid the 25c. admission-fee to the Capitoline grounds, on April 23, to witness a game played between two professional nines of New York and Brooklyn...

The game on Thursday last week was appointed to be played between nines–most, if not all, professional players–from the Mutual, Union, and Active Clubs, of New York, and the Atlantic, Eckford, and Star Clubs, of Brooklyn. The catcher and pitcher of the Active Club, however, failed to put in an appearance; and consequently it came to pass that the Mutual and Union Clubs had to face the Brooklyn music by themselves, while on the other hand the Brooklyn nine was strengthened by the addition of the finest player in the Excelsior Club–who, by-the-way, is an amateur player... By-the-way, these games are for the individual benefit of professional players; and none other should take part in them. If leading amateurs are desirous of playing, let them get up a picked nine of their own class and not keep those in need of the pecuniary assistance the games render from earning an honest penny by their skill as players. No admirer of the game begrudges a quarter to witness two hours of such interesting play as even this game afforded; and when a game of the kind is played in the friendly spirit this was, and marked by such excellent decorum throughout, the professionals may be sure of receiving the countenance and patronage of the best class of spectators, as such patronage is placing the professionals in a position likely to make them independent of rings and gambling influences, and this is the great temptation this class of players is subject to. Now is the time to get up these games; and if they are properly managed and marked by the good order and regulations this one was, they will soon become popular. The success of this experiment, by-the-way, and that is what it was, establishes the precedent of a charge of twenty-five cents as the admission-fee for first class games, whether contestants be club-nines or picked nines. New York Sunday Mercury April 26, 1868

This match was arranged for the pecuniary benefit of the two nines who took part in it. It was in this respect an experiment, and as such it was an undoubted success. It was publicly announced that a grand match would take place between the noted players of the principal clubs of Brooklyn and New York, and though among the last-named were several amateurs, it was well known that the majority had adopted base ball as a means of earning a livelihood, and had therefore become professional ball players. As this was plainly apparent, and in view of the fact that twenty-five cents admission was charged, it was equally plain that the object of the match was to earn money, the proposed contest became a test game whereby it was to be ascertained how far the public would go in patronizing an affair of this kind, and by patronizing it, of course, endorsing the system of professional ball playing; and, inasmuch as nearly a thousand spectators were congregated on the ground at the cost of a quarter of a dollar admission fee, that alone was proof of the approval of the system, and hence we may set it down as a fact that two classes of ball players have been practically created, viz., professionals and amateurs, the former being those who play for money or place, and the latter those only who play the game of the healthful exercise and the exciting recreation it affords. American Chronicle of Sports and Pastimes April 30, 1868

Seventeen of the players who took part in the contest New York vs. Brooklyn, on the Capitoline grounds, on the 23d of April, accepted the sum of $6.50 each as their share of the game money, thus stamping themselves as professional ball players. The odd man and the only one refusing to receive any compensation was Mr. Chauncey, of the Excelsior Club. We do not write this as condemning professional players, as a person who gives up his entire time to the interests of the game must of course be paid for it, but only to show who may and who may not be considered as professionals. New York Dispatch May 3, 1868

The match game between the Harvard and Lowell clubs, set for the 17th inst., did not come off. Both parties appeared on the ground at the appointed hour, the Harvards with their full nine, and the Lowells with Lovett, Sumner and Alline, who were sick, their places being filled by Lowell, Conant and Dennison. The Harvards, learning of this state of affairs, very generously refused to play a match game, but not to disappoint the large number of spectators, decided to play a practice game... At a meeting of the Lowell Club held the following evening, the following preamble and resolution was unanimously adopted... Resolved, That the Lowell Club desire to express their sincere thanks to the Harvard Club for this polite and gentlemanly act, and assure them it is fully appreciated.

[from a sketch of John M. Ward] His curve-pitching is very puzzling to most batsmen, although but medium-paced, he displaying much headwork, having a thorough command of the ball, and having no superiors in fielding his position.

[Eckford vs. Mutual 7/3/1869] After considerable delay in selecting an Umpire, Mr. John Grum of the Eckfords was finally persuaded to accept the thankless position.

[Athletic vs. Allegheny 6/2/1868] The Allegheny boys were anxious to have either Harry Graffen or Hayhurst for umpire, but both being members of the Athletic, that was ruled an impossibility. The Allegheny boys strenouously endeavored to carry their point, but Hayhurst was resolved, and could not be made to “see it,” just as it was hoped he would. A good, impartial umpire, one posted in the rules and points of the game, like Bomeisler, Graffen or Hayhurst, would prove of immense service to the Pittsburgh clubs at just this poin in their history. It is probable, though, that in any important matches they may have arranged as to the future, they will secure the services of one of the above professors. Henry Arden, of the Cincinnati Club, was finally prevailed upon to act, and did so satisfactorily to both parties.

[Mutual vs. Haymakers 8/26/1870] There was quite a delay in the commencement of the proceedings, occasioned by a difficulty in the selection of an umpire, the Haymakers refusing the services of Grum because he did not enforce the rules strictly. They finally agreed to John Wildey, who is becoming quite a desirable umpire...

Frank Greiner, one of the old members of the Athletics, which he joined ten years ago, has been honored by his constituents of the Sixteenth Ward with the renomination for the School Board, of which body he has been President for three consecutive years. He was also elected delegate to the Magisterial Convention.

Lieut. J. Dorsey Ash, who was unfortunately killed in the Pittsburg riots, was an active and much esteemed member of the Olympic Base Ball Club, of Philadelphia, and a large delegation of that time-honored organization paid the last tribute of respect to their deceased comrade by attending his funeral last Friday a week. St.

[Mutual vs. Athletic 9/2/1872] The choice of umpires fell upon John Sensenderfer, of the Athletic, and while we give the “Count” all due praise as n upright, straightforward gentleman, we most heartily condemn the practice of choosing umpires from the forces of the contesting nines. The reasons are very patent: In the first place, a man who umpires a game, when he is placed in the position of Mr. S., is very delicately situated. Mr. Reach found it so some days previous, and the first impulse of such men as either of the above named is to steer clear of bias or partiality in favor of their own club, who are sometimes the sufferers in consequence. On the other hand, should the umpire be unscrupulous, he will not hesitate to umpire the game into the hands of his own club. Therefore we hope to see no more of this near-sighted business.

George W. Smith, the veteran ballet-master at Fox’s American Theatre, is also a veteran ball player, having served his apprenticeship with the old New York Club, an organization that used to make their headquarters at the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, a quarter of a century ago. George, although, of course, no so active as he then was, can still display a skill far surpassing that of many of the more youthful members of the fraternity.

At a special meeting of the Star Club held last Thursday evening and called for the purpose of expressing their condemnation of the behavior of one of their nine during [their] late game with the Keystone Club, of Philadelphia, in that he intentionally played to delay the game, and acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the game; therefore, it was resolved that Thos. MacDiarmed be suspended from all participation in...games for the season...

The successor of Spalding as pitcher for the Bostons next year will be Josephs of the Doerr amateur club of this city. Contracts were signed Friday week in this city. Joseph is better known throughout the country from his connection with the Philadelphia club, with whom he has played a number of games since Fisher left them. ... In his recent visit to Boston, in the early part of August, he and Snyder played with the Bostons in a practice game against the “Phillies” with Spalding and White. The score of 7 to 2 in favor of Josephs’ side afforded another proof of his skill, and two days alter in a championship game, a muff by Malone of a ball thrown to first base was the only thing which saved the Bostons from defeat, they winning by only one run, in a score of 4 to 3 in eleven innings.

At a meeting of the stockholders of the Domestic Base Ball Club, at Newark, N.J., last Tuesday, arrangements for next season were discussed. The report of the financial secretary showed that the number of general tickets sold this season was 35, 076; boys’ tickets, 4.632; grand stand tickets, 11,249; receipts for the season, $11,165.15; incidentals, $2,105.34; total, $13,270.40. The name of the association was changes to the Newark Base Ball Club, and will be incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000. The stock this season was $2,500.

Under date of June 12 Secretary Wikoff, of the American Association, issued a circular which contains the following: “The Indianapolis Club having played a game of base ball with the St. Louis (League) Club the clubs of the American Association are notified that under resolution adopted at Baltimore March 2, 1885 (page 80 of ‘Guide Book’) they cannot play any game of ball with the Indianapolis Club.

The Fort Wayne Club has adopted an objectionable scheme for realizing money by selling their reserved players to the highest biders: Phillips and Scott having been thus disposed of to the Indianapolis and Detroit Clubs, the consideration paid the Fort Wayne management being respectively $500 and $250. In failing to keep its contracts with its players last season, the Fort Wayne Club clearly forfeited its rights to hold the men. St., quoting the Philadelphia Dispatch

The Camden Base Ball Club will have a reserve team this year, which will play on the home grounds the days the regular team are playing games in other cities in the semi-professional Inter-State League.

The annual meeting of the Manchester [N.H.] Base Ball Club was held last evening [10/26]. … The report of Treasurer Garland showed that the receipts for the past year amounted to $15,804.07; expenses, $15,067.09.

[a ruling of the Arbitration Committee] In the matter of the controversy between the Milwaukee Western Association club and the Rochester International Association club for the services of Ezra B. Sutton, the undersigned find from the evidence that when the Rochester Club arranged for Sutton's services for the balance of the season of 1888, the president of said club agreed that Sutton should not be reserved by said Rochester Club. This agreement is not only proved by what we believe to be credible testimony, but is admitted in the broadest terms in a letter from said president to the secretary of that club directing him to release Sutton accordingly. There are other circumstances strongly corroborating this conclusion. The point now relied on, that the president had no authority to make such an agreement, cannot be upheld. In the absence of some express notice to parties dealing with the chief executive officer of an association that his power are limited, good faith requires that such parties be not prejudiced in assuming that he has the power to claims and which is one usually pertaining to such office. While great care should doubtless be exercised in acting on such verbal agreements, yet where it is one as clearly proven as in this instance, and where the same is embodied in the written admission of the party alleged to have made it, a great wrong would be done should we disregard it. We therefore find that the Rochester Base Ball Association had no right to reserve Sutton in the face of their agreement and he was therefore free to sign with the Milwaukee Base Ball Club.

[a circular from the secretary of the International League] On Sept. 28 of each year, each club, member of this League, shall transmit to the secretary, a list of names of any players, not exceeding nine (9) in number, on that date under contract with such club, which such club desires to reserve for the ensuing year, accompanied by a statement over the signature of the secretary of such club, that such club is willing to pay not less than one hundred and twenty-five dollars ($125) per month as the compensation of each player so reserved, in the contract to be made with him for the ensuing season. The secretary of this League shall thereupon, upon the 1 st of October, transmit to each club, member of this League, a complete list of all the players so reserved by the clubs then composing this League, and no club shall contract, negotiate with or employ any player while so reserved by any other club. Such reservation shall terminate when the reserving club enters into contract with the reserved player, or release him from such reservation, or disbands, or is expelled by or resigns from the League without entering into such contract or releasing such player from such reservation. The Sporting Life September 28, 1887

“It is not plain just why the International League wants a reserve rule, as it will not be recognized under the National Agreement. It may be, however, that it is to prevent the stealing of players among its own clubs.”--N.Y. Sun. Your last sentence gives the reason for this reserve, which is not a new thing for the International. It was in force last year. The Sporting Life October 5, 1887

The clubs comprising the New England League have filed with the secretary the lists of players reserved by them for the season of 1888... The Sporting Life October 12, 1887

The Peoria (Ill.) club has organized a reserve team.

[reporting the International Association meeting 11/21/1888] The whole afternoon and part of the night was consumed by the discussion of a salary limit. The committee appointed at the directors' meeting, consisting of Leonard, of Rochester; O'Neil, of Syracuse, and Hobbs, of London, presented a scheme which provided, First—That no contract be made for the services of any player for a longer period than five months, from May 1 to October 1. In case of violation the player to be disqualified and the club to forfeit its franchise. Second—That salaries be limited to $1,000 per season, at the rate of $200 per month. Players violating the rule to be disqualified and clubs to lose their franchise and guarantee deposit. Third—If players receive any moneys in any way, shape or manner from the club or any one acting for the club, in addition to the salary, he shall be suspended and the club shall forfeit its franchise and guarantee. Fourth—Each club shall send to the secretary within ten days of the end of each month a true copy of the pay roll for the month, and account for all sums paid players, the account and rolls to be sworn to. Fifth—No money shall be advanced to players more than $150, which shall be deducted from his salary. Sixth—If the players shall report before April 15th they shall not be paid more than $10 per week and board. Seventh—All contracts made previous to the adoption of the salary limit must conform with the above clauses.

…

A compromise was finally reached by the adoption of a salary limit of $12,500 exclusive of the manager, the amount of salaries for each month to be pro rate part of the entire amount. Detroit was the only member to vote negative. The advance money clause was murdered outright.

The Texas league has fixed the salary limit for 1890 at $950. St.

Our Western League club is now an assured fact, and Manager Tom Loftus is now doing the “rassle” act for players. … The money to organize and back the new venture, has been put up by President Von der Ahe, Cahrley Comiskey and Tom Loftus, and it is said that these three gentlemen own share and share alike, but it would be safe to bet that Von der Ahe owns about half the stock, and Loftus and Comiskey the other half. The games will be played at Sportsman's Park, and the schedule will be so arranged that it will not conflict with the Association dates. … President von der Ahe was asked the other day whether the new club would be run as a feeder to the Browns, and he promptly answered “that the Western Club would be a distinct organization, and would have nothing to do with the Browns.” However, if the new club develops a good player or two, it is safe to say that the Browns' president will purchase said “cracks,” even if he is obliged to pay the purchase money over to himself.

[reporting on the International Association special meeting of 1/20/1889] Secretary White submitted a proposition by the Postal Telegraph Company to allow the various clubs unrestricted use of the wires in return for a frank at the grounds. The Western Union offered to allow each club $100 worth of telegraphing and a half rate for all messages in excess. Detroit and Toledo had already made arrangements with the Western Union, but for the other cities the Postal bid was accepted. The Sporting Life January 30, 1889

minor league salary capitalist

[reporting the International Association special meeting of 1.20.1889] In the evening, after many arguments, the salary limit rule was amended. All sorts of propositions were made for limits, from $14,000 to $18,000, as well as graded limits for certain clubs, but to no purpose, as Rochester, Syracuse and London defeated all amendments. Finally, after a recess of half an hour, a compromise was arrived at and Rochester moved that the limit of salaries be fixed at $13,500 for each club. Syracuse seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously. The Sporting Life January 30, 1889

[reporting the Middle States League meeting 1/5/1888] Mr. Farrington's motion to amend the salary limit rule so as to read that an affidavit from manager and players in which both are to swear that the limit of $75 per month has in no way been evaded, was unanimously adopted.

[reporting on the meeting of the Tri-State League 1/29/1889] The new salary limit of $750 will cause a lot of trouble. The way the magnates count on it is by having only eleven men for each club. That would mean only one extra battery. The pitchers and catchers would receive $90 each, the infielders $60 each, and the outfielders $50 each.

[from the Boston correspondent] John C. Haynes is to-day the head and front of the biggest music publishing house in the country, the Oliver Ditson Company, of Boston. Mr. Haynes is in this thing for something besides the money he may possibly get out of it. He was one of the so-called “frozen out” stockholders of the Boston Base Ball Club Association. He finally sold his stock and got a good price for it, because it was utterly impossible for him and the other majority [sic] stockholders who held the minority stock to figure at all in Boston's base ball interests. And although he and the others who disposed of their stock to the triumvirs made tremendous money by the investment, they were sore on account of the “freeze-out.' it is for that reason Mr. Haynes is more particularly anxious to see the present move succeed. The same is true of two or three of his associates. The Sporting Life November 20, 1889

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A great many people imagine that a catcher’s failure to hold a foul tip, when he is close up to the bat, is an error. This is a mistake. The time between the moment the ball touches the bat and his hands is so short that it can not be calculated, and certainly gives the catcher no chance to change the position of his hands. If the course of the ball is not changed by the tip, the catcher usually secures it, but a failure to do so does not constitute an error. St.

[Union vs. Liberty of Newburgh, undated] These two clubs recently played to match games under the condition that the Unions catch all hits, except fouls, on the fly.

The Diana Female Base Ball Club, composed of young ladies connected with the Northwestern Seminary, at Evanston, Ill., have been challenged by the Baltics of Chicago, a junior club, but it is probable the ladies will decline.

[Louisville vs. Baltimore 6/12/1884] The game between the Baltimore and Louisville Clubs was called after thirteen innings had been played; score 4 to 4. … In the ninth inning Umpire Brennan made a perfectly fair decision, which was disputed by the spectators. The grand and open stands were vacated, and the crowd closed in upon the umpire. The police protected him, and the game proceeded after an interruption of fifteen minutes. When the game was called, owing to darkness, an exciting scene ensued. The mob closed in and began tearing the rails from the fence. Brennan saw he was to be assaulted and fled. He was caught, however, and severely beaten about the face and head. The Baltimore Club boys promptly went to his rescue and saved him from a terrible and to all appearances a probably fatal thrashing. The assault was a cowardly one and the managers of the Baltimore club are severely criticised for not having police protection on the ground. It is said they refused to continue to pay the police force which was formerly on the ground and the officers were withdrawn.

[National of Washington vs. Athletic 7/2/1866] The moment the striker took his stand–and he was required in each instance to stand upon the line of his position–the umpire [Theodore Bomeisler] asked him where he wanted a ball, and when told, indicated to the pitcher the ball the batsman wanted, whether “knee high,” “waist high,” or “hip high,” as the case might be. This done, after the first poor ball had been sent in, he called “ball to the bat,” and after this warning called balls on the pitcher, and strikes on the batsman, whenever the former delivered unfairly or the latter failed to strike at the balls sent to him where he wanted them and over the base. Adding to this proper and sensible interpretation of the rules a promptitude and decision in deciding men out or not out, thorough impartiality throughout, and sound judgment in the majority of instances, he afforded all present a sample of excellent umpiring which was as creditable to him as it was satisfactory to all parties concerned.

[St. Louis vs. Atlantic 7/14/1875] [final score St. Louis 2 Atlantic 1] The game was played with a dead ball, but was marked by heavy fly hits to the outfield on both sides. These caused the monotonous continuation of whitewashes.

About fifty members assembled at the rooms–Eighth and Vine streets–on Monday evening last to attend to some important business regarding dues and the duties of the directors.

A committee was appointed to arrange with the club’s creditors for the amicable settlement of the debt contracted by the advancing of funds to the club, as several gentlemen have been kind enough to do.

There seems to be considerable rivalry between some members of the club. The directors have had several of their powers tied up; and, amongst other things, are restricted in the issue of complimentary tickets. A resolution that the members of the nine elect their own captain was handed in, and will be acted upon next meeting.

We hope that the members will amend their differences and enter on the season of ‘72 in harmony and brotherly feeling. The Athletic Club is the most prominent in the country, and its actions will be noticed minutely. The advisability of keeping up a good club spirit was never more apparent that at present. Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch January 14, 1872

The proceedings were marked by nothing special save the adoption of an amendment to the by-laws, fixing the annual subscription at fifteen dollars, with the privilege of a reserved seat in the pavilion for each and every member. With a view to harmonizing the seemingly antagonistic elements of the club, and to provide for the settlement of all financial difficulties, two committees, consisting of some of the most influential members, were appointed. Philadelphia Sunday Mercury January 14, 1872

The Western clubs are all going to make a great fight to have the Association adopt the percentage system next year. All the managers think the constitution should be changed to this effect. President Phelps, of the Louisville Club, in a recent interview on this subject said: “The association will have to come to it sooner or later. The percentage system is the only fair method of doing business, and commends itself to all sensible men. If there chances to be a weak club in a base ball organization, then it can manage to live and pay expenses. Under the present $65 guarantee plan, which the Association now observes, a losing club will sooner or later have to disband. Take the tail-enders, for instance. They are poor drawing cards wherever they appear, and unless the gate receipts are divided, such a team is handicapped. Of course some of the clubs must win up at the bottom of the list, and such teams ought to be aided by the more successful ones. The guarantee system is a selfish plan. My opinion is that the clubs should work together for mutual benefit; that is the only way to have harmony among the different members.

Manager Von der Ahe, of the St. Louis Browns, was also approached upon the same topic while in Louisville a few days since.

“What is the reason of your alleged threat to join the League?” was asked.

“I cannot give you a direct answer,” he replied.” It depends on what I get.”

“If the percentage plan is adopted in the Association, you will remain a member of the organization, will you not?”

“Yes, that is what I want. I think, however, that we shall be able to secure the percentage basis in the Association. The Western clubs all approve it, and the Brooklyns and Athletics alone oppose it. I think any one will admit that my demand is just. My club is the great drawing card everywhere. Look what we did in the East. We played sixteen games to 140,000 people, drawing about $40,000 for the Easting clubs. Decoration Day, in Brooklyn, we draw in the two games 30,000 spectators. When we played the Metropolitans on Staten Island we had the biggest crowd ever seen there. We went to Philadelphia, and the very first game was witnessed by 13,000 persons. The four games we played at Baltimore netted the Baltimore Club over $11,000. now, is it not fair that we should get some of this money? The drawing power of the St. Louis Club bring in these receipts. I have the champion club, and I have to pay my players champion prices. It is an expensive nine, for it takes lots of money to support it.” The Sporting Life July 13, 1887

[from a dispatch by Caylor] Depend on it, St. Louis is wanted in the League. Will St. Louis go? Yes, unless one thing is done, namely, unless the Association pledges itself to the percentage plan for 1888. The St. Louis team is not drawing at home but is drawing immensely at every city it visits. Von der Ahe must have the benefit of the per cent. policy or of League teams as fresh cards at home. The former will bring him the most money, and it will keep him in the Association, and that alone will do it. Can such clubs as the Cincinnatis and the Athletics afford to lose the St. Louis Browns for the few hundred dollars that the percentage system might take from them? I think not. Make it satisfactory to St. Louis to stay and the League fever danger is passed. The Sporting Life July 20, 1887

Of course, the case of Wansley was brought up, and on motion of Mr. Wildey, the delegates were instructed to vote for his restoration, as in the case of Devyr and Duffy. The festive William is wanted in the nine. The aforesaid delegates were also instructed to prevent members of college clubs from playing in other nines. This is a blow aimed at the Harvard.

News from various non-league cities indicates that there is quite a unanimity of sentiment that the time has come when the interests of non-league clubs demand positive instead of negative legislation, and, unless the league shall be able to work a change of feeling in the minds of their opponents, it is probable that the International Association will vote not to give a guarantee to any club playing on their grounds, which is equivalent to a refusal to play league clubs, since the latter are pledged to play no club that refuses to give such guarantee. The present indication is that they will not rest here, but will utterly refuse to play league clubs on any condition until the league modifies its rules of intercourse. The battle ground for the next month will doubtless be in Lowell, Syracuse and London, where an element is at work to induce the Lowells, Stars and Tecumsehs to cast their lot with the league. This latter association sees that if it can win over these clubs, which are representative in their districts, that the battle is substantially won. The Internationals will be less powerful antagonists without these strong allies; indeed, it would appear that no resistance of any moment could be offered without the cooperation of these clubs. Both associations need them, and will strive hard for an alliance.

The movement of the minor base ball leagues toward combining for self protection is growing rapidly. Within the last few days several of the minor leagues have joined the International League, which was the first to take action in the movement. It is said that the leaders are level-headed men and carefully feel their way before making a move. The manager of one of the leading Eastern League [clubs] said yesterday that there would be a big surprise in base ball before too long.