The daily gazette., 1883-07-23
VII GToN. DEL. MsE%FDAY, July a8 1888
- =

salary overwhat they were then receiving
and guaranteeing each man his pay reg
ularly whether he played one day in week
or six.
Several of the players were called in and
the proposition broached to them. They said
that the scheme met with their approval Ia
theory, but that there were doubts as to the
willingness of the Brooklyn manager to come
to their terms; that several had already had
offers Of from $500 to $40C per month from
other clubs-both League and American
Associations-and as that they were playing
for money they proposed to go where they
could get the most. This rather staggered
Mr. Taylor, but he set about securing as
many Of the players as his purse could reach
Greenwood, the second baseman, was his
first choice, and satisfactory terms were
made with him at once. Corcoran ,Kimber,
Householder and Kennel were also gathered
In, and Mr.. Taylor became quite jnbilan+.
Mr.. Barnie, of the Baltimore (American
A Association) club has stuck to the Merritt
nine closer than brother eyer since hear
ing Of the expected disbahdment. He wants
good battery and left fielder ,and Emslie,
Sweeney and Gardner were his choice He
accompanied the club to Wilmington yes
terday aGd worked hard to get his men.
Gardner will probably go, but Emslie and
Sweeney are as yet undecided. They have
had offers, verbal, written and telegraphc,
from some dozen or more clubs, including
the Athletic, and are loath to sign in a
hurry r. r. ......
AL Reach took time by the forelock, and
haunted Warner, the third base man, like a
shadow from the day it was first intimated
that the club would disbsnd. He met with
but poor success at first, although his first
offer was S400 per month for the rest of the
season. By bettering this little, together
with other considerations, he finally made
his catch, and yesterday, just before start
ing for Wilmington, Warner signed, and
will leave Tor the West, to join the Philadel-
phia club, this evening. In Interstate
games Warner has proved himself one of
the best third-basemen in the country, be
ing an accurate thrower and sure and quick
in stopping erounders. He is also a good
batter. .
The Athletic managers wanted Warner,
and would take Sweeney at reasonable
figure. Mr.. Reach euchered them out of
Warner, and the others as yet have not
come TO terms Ft3
Mr.. Mutrie of the Metropolitan club had
his eyes on Greenwood and Kimber, but
found Mr.. Taylor had been ahead OF him.
The Managers Ct the Harrisburg, Trenton
aud Easton clubs were all either on hand or
well represented ly some one else, and all
anxious to secure one or more of the players.
The Easton Club manager telegraphed that
he would take the whole nine at S65 per
month each. This offer was equalled only
by the August Flower managers extrava-
gance. He thought to tempt Sweeney to
play at Jumbo Park for $50 month.
Sweeney, Emslie and Fennelley are the
only members of the team who have Lot
already signed with other clubs. The first
two are in great demand, and the latter
says he does not intend TO play ball for
nothing. When asked his terms he promptly
replied $500 a month.
The Merritt players should feel elated at
the collapse of the club, looking at it from
pecuniary view, as it enables them to
better their salaries-some of them three
or four-fold. The aggregate of the monthly
salary of the Merritt club was but 3 ,3l5,
divided up as follows: Gardner and Emsie
$3.50 each Sweeney, Corcoran, Fennelly,
Householder and Greenwood, S125 each
Warner and Kimber, 500 each, and Kein-
eel, 800. Yves Fisler got 500 per month.
The difference in the salaries was not due to
the worth of the men, but rather to the time
of signing them. Those engaged early de-
manded less than those signed late in the
season.
Although not great success financially
the club had done very well SO far this sea-
son, Notwithstanding the reports to the con-
trary, and the disbandment is rather due to
the conviction forced upon The minds of the
managers that Camden is too close to Phila-
delphia to be base ball town rather than
the belief that the club could not support
itself. The Merritt clubs share of the total
gate receipts has been something over
S6, 700, and the salary list of the cl4b so far
this season has been considerable less than
$1,000. The new ground is what put them
i,,a ..ft afn
cost about 81, 800. The club on disbandilg
yesterday was about 500 in debt. The
players were all paid up
An effort was made yesterday afternoon to
raise the amount OF the clubs Indebtedness
by subscription and to continue playing ball
under new management, but it was found
that the players wished to go, many having
much better positions offered them. So the
scheme was abandoned The Merritt club
virtually had the Interstate championship
won. fts
Q -