Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-04
BASE BALL.
The Fight Now Going on Between
Rival Associations.
The Union Association Hard at Work and
Picking up Men From Other As.
sociations-What the End
May be.

PHILADELPHIA, December 5.-Lovers OF
base bail at present are in a delightful state
Of uncertainty as to what will be the out
come OF the war which he's for some time
past been brewing between the National
League, American Association and North.
western League on one side and the Union
Association and the Union League on the
other. The latter association from its in
ception Endorsed the reserve rule of the
three older organizations a1d appointed
committee to visit the recent annual meet.
ing Of the National League at Washington.
That committee has been officially in
formed by Secretary \. +. Young that the
League was pleased 20 meet your commit
tee and had taken under consideration the
views expressed by you, but found i. i'm
practicable to cooperate with or make any
mutual arrangement with your asso'
citation, ae il could not be
done without conf Cting with engagements
already entered into with other sssocia-
TONS While the Union Association has
been actively fighting the three older or
CARNATIONS, the latter il appears, have been
doing their utmost to break up the I nion
League. Two of the clubs belonging TO the
Union League, Richmond and Washington,
have been led TO beiieve that they could
get into the American Association aud
have made application for admission, al
though there are other clubs which could
be taken in which would make much
shorter circuit. A well known Boston gen
tleman probably hit the policy of the Ma
tional League when he said: The only
association We have 10 fear is the Union
Lesgue; the lnion Association will die OF
its own weight within three months
InIOadS ON the Reserve List.
Despite the latter prediction the Union
Association las gone steadily to work and
has already made inroads in the reserve
list Drnlar, -oS---ed ~ TI~""l"-i. --.I
Shafier, reserved by Buffalo, are the latest
players to yield to the seductive promises
OF Millionaire Lucas, OF st. Louis, and their
contracts have been placed on record. Dan
zap signei for $3+0J and was paid Sl,o)o
in advauce. Shaiier jumped at $500, Of
which he has already pocketed 800. Fus.
selbsCh and STe"ncy, OF this city, reserved
by the Peoria club, with several other
members "a that nine, have also seeded
aLu joined the new Baltimore club,
OF the nion Association. CO-co
ran, reserved by Chicago, and Gross, re.
served by Philadelphia, have not vet sign
ed, but have received muniliCent oilers
from the new st. Louis club. Tlomas
Pratt has secured the grounds at Broad and
Moore streets for his Philadelphia nine,
hss signed several players and is said to
have made offers 10 Weaver, the Louis.
vlle's reserved pitcher, and to Bradley, OF
the Athletics. A statement has been made
on good authority that ii is the intention
a. NH 4 N
PLAYERS they have signed and then divide
them equally among al! the clubs, 50 As to
make all as nearly equal as possible IN
pIsying ability. So far the Union Ass0cia'
ton las four organized cluOs-Baliimore
Philadelphia, Chicago and ST. Louis. Puts
oureh will not have a club and Wash ing
'on is said to he doubtful.
Tie Question OF More Clubs
There is quiet undercurrent OF feeling
Imong the members OF the american As.
socation 10 sd0pt surh measures at their
.nrthcOming meeting os will tend to place
Is on q rrore even footing with the Ss,ion.
ii League" said prominent base bail man
10 reporter.
Why, did rot know there was any diff
ference between the two associations, ven
turned the scribe.
There isn't any difference, and then
sgain there is. The League has been quiet.
" at work since the new associations have
been organized trying 20 induce the Amer
lean Association 10 increase lts mem.
bership TO twelve clubs, on the plea that
this will weaken the new associations.
Now this undoubtedly Is a fact, bur it
will also weaken the American Association
to take in more than eight clu bs. II will
lessen the games at home grounds, conse.
dUently lessen the receipts, and the clubs
It is proposed TO admit would lose money,
ss they could not hore to compete with
their older rivals in playing strength. The
League has worked very industrious! = to
have Brooklyn and indianapolis admitted
TO the American Association, but it strikes
me very forcioly that if there was any ai-
vantage 10 be gained in increasing the
number OF clubs the Leage would not wait
for the American Association 20 act but
would at once scoop up the new material.
As is now stands, the League is making
catspaw out OF the American Association