Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-25
THE PLAYERS CONTRACT.

THE PLAYERS CONTRACT.
Articles of agreement made and entered into
this of -, between -, of the city
of -, county of -, State of -, party
of the first part, and -, of the.city of -
county of - and State of -, party of
the second part.
WHEREAS. The party of the first part hereof,
together with other persons, has agreed to
form, and is about to form, corporation for
the purpose of carrying on the business of
playing baseball and giving exhibitions of that
game, and to that intent has hired, or agreed
TO hire, the said party of the second part, or
other persons, professional baseball players;
Whereas, Such contracts of hiring have been
and are made with the party of the first part as
the representative Of said corporation to be
formed as aforesaid, and without any intention
on his part to incur personal liability or by the
parties Of the second part to acquire any per-
sonal claim upon him; and
Whereas 1t is the express intention and un-
derstsnding of the parties that the salaries of
the parties of the second part hereby reserved,
and all other baseball players so employed is to
be paid from the moneys received at the games
played by the said club and by said players
wheu organized, and not otherwise nor from
any other source:
Whereas, 1t is also the understanding of the
parties that said club or corporation, when or
eanlzed is to unite with similar organizations
to be formed in seven other cities of the United
States, to form league 10 be known as the
PLAYERS National League of Baseball Clubs"
and which latter organization is to receive and
distribute portion of the united earnings of
said corporation among the players employed
by said corporation; and whereas, it is the un-
derstanding between the parties that the di-
of Tooo 70 hor-o fl,a
supervision and control of all said corporations
and of all professional baseball players en-
ployed by them. subject to the rules and by
laws and constitution of sa1d League
THE SALARIES.
Now. therefore, this agreement witnesseth
that the said party of the first part for and in
consideration of the covenants ana agreement
herein contained upon the part of the said
party Of the second part, to be kept and per-
formed herewith, and hereby it is oovenanted
and agreed on and with the said party of the
second part that the said party of the second
part shall be paid the sum OF - dollars out
of the funds as hereafter provided his only
salary such payment to be made on the lst and
18th of each month, commencing the 18th day
Of April and ending the LIST day Of November
in each year.
And the said party of the second part, in
consideration of said payments and all cove
naDts and agreements herein contained and to
be performed by said party Of the first part,
hereby covenants and agrees to perform such
duties appertaining to the exhibition of the
game Of baseball as may be required of him by
said party of the first part, at such reasonable
times and places as said party of the first part
may designate for the baseball season during a
period of three years, beginning the first day
Of April, 1890, and ending the first day of No
vember 1892 and that he will cheerfully and
readily obey all directions given to him by the
party of the first part or by any officer duly
authorized by the trustees or directors of any
corporation to whom this contract may be as
signed, as hereinafter agreed, or of the mana
ger or field captain of said party of
the first part, or of said corporation,
and will hold himself subject to his or
ders and at all reasonable times during the
entiresterm of his employment as aforesaid
and that he will devote himself, to the best of
his endeavor, to the services of the said party
of the first part in playing the game of baseball
as aforesaid during the entire period of this
agreement and that he will not be guilty of
any excessive indulgence in malt or spirituous
liquor and dissipation, nor any manner of
gambling nor any form of insubordination, nor
of dishOnorable or disreputable conduct, and
that be will, at all reasonable times during the
term of his employment as aforesaid pledge
himself to cheerfully obey all the rules and
regulations and discipline prescribed by the
said party of the first part and that he will
play baseball at home or elsewhere as may be
required of him. and to the utmost of his skill
and ability. and that he will not, at any time
during said term of his employment without
the written consent of said party of the first
part or said corporation, leave his or its SER
vices or perform or agree at any future time
TO perform services for any other club or organ
ization whatever, or agree to cOnspire or at
tempt to lose any game of ball or become IN
terested in any wager thereof
AN IMPORTANT FEATURE
rThen follows several sections taken almost
bodily from the League contracts.l 'And it is
hereby expressly understood and agreed that
the salary of the party of the second part,
agreed by the party of the first part to be paid
to him. shall be paid from the earnings and re-
celpts of the game of baseball played by the
party of the second part and others employed
with him, by the party of the first part, and
that no portion of the same shall become due
and payable except out of and from such earn
aIt is further mutually understood and agreed
that the party OF the first part aim, and shall
associate himself with other parties to form a
corporation under and By virtue of the laws OF
the State of -, and that after such cor
pOratiOn shall have been duly formed, the
SAID party oil the hrst part may assign the
upon the same shall become the property
thereof. The party of the second part shall
be bound to perform all covenants and agree
mentS on his part herein contained of, and
for the benefit of such corporation with the |
same force and effect as if this contract had
originally been made Herewith and the said
corporation shall possess all rights hereby
granted TO the party of the first part, and be
subject TO al obligations assumed by him, and
that upon Sucn assignment Delng made the |
said party of the first part shall be- and hereby |
is, released from all liability nnder this con-
tract 1t is further mutually understood and 4
sSreed that all moneys received by such cor
pGration from gate receipts or sources other |
than subscription of its capital stock shall |
constitute fund from out Of which shall be |
paid
-'Ffrst-The travelling and incidental expenses
of managing such corporation and to play base
ball by the players TO be employed by such cor |
poration.
''Second-Salaries of all players so employed. |
''Third-Two thousand five hundred dollars |
to the treasurer of said league as one-eighth |
contribution to the Leagues prize fund of $50 |
600 to be hereafter formed.
sFourth-Ten Thousand dollars shall be dis |
tributed to the stockholders of said corpora /
t1On in proportion to the amount of said stock /
then held by them.
PLAYERS PROFITS.
"FIfth-Next thereafter $4,000 shall be paid
TO the Treasurer of the said Leagues, to be dis
tributed equally among the players employed /
by the corporation, members thereof, share
and share alike.
''Sixth-The balance of any of such moneys /
shall be divided into two equal parts one of
which shall be distributed among the stock
holders Of said corporation in proportion to
the stock held by them respectively, and the
other shall be paid to the Treasurer of the said
League, to be distributed among the players |
employed BY said corporation equally, share
and share alike.
-lt is further mutually understood and |
1rTeed that the games OF baseball played /