Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-31
BIG PAY FOR BALLPLAYTNG.
One OF the Results ofthe Pierce War that Is
waeing Between the C!ubs OF Different As

One Of the Results ofthe Fierce War that Is
waeing Between the Gibbs Of Different As
sociations.
A Philadelphia paper says: The base
lall war is still raging. and will wax hot
ter az the season draws TO close. TbeeX-
pu,sion OF Charles Sweeney, the Providence
pitcher. and his acquisition by the ST. Louis
Unions has been followed by the deseriion
OF Dickerson from the Lucas ranks. Ru-
mors that GlasscOck and Mccormick have
asked for their release from Cleveland have
been denied by both these players in per-
son.
Lucas has secured a poor bargain in
Sweeney" said Manager Bancroft, Of the
Providence cub. ellis arm has given
OUT, and be can only throw undTbandel.
lie was no good to the Providence Club the
last two weeks we had him"
Millionaire Lucas said about the same
thing OF Taylor when he jumped over to
the Athletics, but Taylor is doing good
work.
The National Agreement clubs claim that
The Union Association has established an
agent in every city where there j. club,
and that the Offers made by these agents in
their efforts TO secure the best players have
been the cause OF tie recent di,aifectiOn in
different parts OF the country.
d" Discipline has gone 10 the dogs re-
marked a wcll-known manager at Rccrcd-
ton Park; "but while National Agree
ment clubs may suffer now, the tables VIII
be TUNED upon the Unions in the end"
Robert Matthews, pitcher Of the Athletic,
is among the latest to receive an oHer from
a Union club. He received dispatch Of
fcripg him $4,000 per year. The lit,ic
pitcher opened his eyes, showed the dis.
patch to Manager Sharsig and then tore it
up. Baseball play ers are ruling high.
Good pitchers bring all the way from 81 ,00)
To $1,000. catchcrs are scarce at $4,000. m
federS command as much, II not more.
while very poor outtielders will bring
S2,GG0, provided they jump a contract, No
player will sign contract now without
real estate security. Millionaire Lucas has
the call and Is now bulling the market.
The prOfessed opposition OF the Union
Association 10 the reserve lulo. ii the ru-
mOrS now prevalent can be relied upon
and they seem 20 be well authenticated
was originally decided upon solely to gain
public sympathy. II is charged that at the
Baltimore meeting the representatives, OF
all the clubs had private understanding
that they would not interfere with any
DldNtI DtIOBSlUH 10 duptHtI I UlDH ttuD.
This amounts to the same thing as the re-
serve rule. There is scarcely doubt but
that the National Agreement clubs will
again endorse the reserve rule at their fall
meetings. Boston, Providence, New York,
Buffalo, and Chicago, OF the National
League clubs. will vote for it. The Phila-
delphia Club Is on the fence, and Cleveland
and Detroit are SAID TO be against it, In
the American Association, President Won
der Abe and Manager Williams, of the st.
Louis Club, have taken the initiative and
declared for the reserve rule. Cincinnati,
Columbus. Louisville, Metropolitan, Bllti-
more, Brooklyn. and the Athletics will
vote TO endorse it, while Of the remaining
five clubs probably three will be in favor Of
an open market.
B1ll-players never think for them
Selves" said Manager Harry Wright;
"they jump first and think afterwards.
How it is possible for a club drawing five
and SIX hundred people to game to offer
$1,000 and $4,000 salaries is mystery. aud
live players never stop to think. These
salaries would ruin a club drawing much
larger audiences"
"What chance has player who jumps
from a National Agreement club toa Union
club to live?" chimed in Manager Ban
croft. OF Providence. Gle may make q
GOOD salary for one year, but the next sea-
son he will Doe ut the mercy OF the Union
managers He il ostracsed by all National
Agreement clubs. and il he does not accept
any offer the Unions may make him lie cIG-
not play ball.