Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-29
A PAIR OF DIAMOND SHARPS
spalding land Selee Seduce Cooney
and Nagle from Omaha.
WE HAVE NO MANAGER NOW.
mcCorrnick Controls the Omaha
stock but What the Future
May Bring Forth NO Man
May Tell.


That there is a secret movement goisg on
IN league circles, of which the minor bodies
are totally in the dark, there is not the
slightest doubt. 1t begins to look TO u careful
observer that the magnates of the leading
base bali associations of the country are
quietly entrenching themselves against any
inroads upon their former old players that
may be made by the brotherhood, and are
signing as many of the best players Of the
MINOR bodies as they possibly can without
exposing their plans to the public. 1t be-
gyms to look as II tho national agreement was
NIL, lnsomuch as the reservation of players
. by the minor associations are concerned, and
the welfare of the great national game is in
imminent peril.
The writer was shown q letter from Jimmy
Cooney, Omahas clever all-round player, In
which that gentleman positively states that
he will not play in Omaha next season; that
he and Tom Nagle have both signed with
Chicago. All rcpLrts to the contrary, TINS
is fact
President Mccormick was seen and APP
prised of the information conveyed IN
Cooney's letter and his explanation, in effect,
was this
On the Doth sof September Frank Selee
wired Mccormick asking him his lowest
terms for Cooney and Nagle. Mccormick
wired back, $1,000 for Cooney and $1,000 for
Nagle."
Nothing further was heard about the mat
ter until few days ago, when President
MCCORMICK received a telegram from A. G..
Spalding, president of the Chicagos, notify
ing him that he, Spalding, had signed
Cooncy and Magic for Chicago for 1890, and
that the price for their release, 90, 900. would
be deposited with Nick Young, president of
the National League, subject to draft by
the Omaha management as soon as the deal
had been completed with the players.
Through this source IL was subsequently
developed that Selee, on the re.
ceipt of McCormich's telegram. had
s sys Geo ON Cooney p aad Nagle for thrty n days,
and that Spalding had finally signed the
players, paid them advance money, and
closed the compact so lar as they were con-
cerned.
Mccormick, of course was "red-headedn
TO use a little effective slang, and wired
Spalding that he would not release either
Cooney or Nagle; that Selce had exceeded
his authority; that he had no right TO give
Jan option, sell or release single player be-
Honging to Omaha until he had q thorough
understanding with the directors of the
club He also stated that he had wired and
written Selee, two weeks ago, that all prices
on Omaha players were off, and that nego-
tiations for any of them should cease.
Further, the telegraph yesterday morning
confirmed the report that Selee has signed to
manage the Bostons next year, and this
should be Il pertinent pointer to the base ball
people here, as he certainly has not acted in
the best faith with Omaha. On leaving the
city, Seize promised President Mccormick
to keep him posted of all his movements, par
tlcularly in regard to his negotiations for
players, and about his conclusion upon the
subject of the Boston management
According to Cooney's letter, Selee has Just
been on a'tour of the Omaha players homes,
and has seen them ALL
What possible business can Selee have with
these men at this season of the year? He is
interested in them no longer us his engage
ment with Boston sewers his official relation
with Omaha.
Cooney went with sSelee to Springfield,
Mass, to interview Canavan, but did not
divulge the nature of their business.
1t may be that the players of the minor
bodies are to be gobbled up body and soul by
the league, irrespective of all rights vested
in these associations by virtue of the national
agreement. President Mccormick dis
credits this, however. He argues that
the National league can not afford to
throw away the annual payment TO them
OF Sa5,0O0 by the minor bodies for the privil-
ege Of enjoying their protection aud the
restoration of their players. But this is
where Mccormick is off. All questions to be
settled, judged or arbitrated upon must be
left to the committee on arbitration, made
up of the potentates of the National league
and American association, with Nick Young
as chief justice. To this board must go the
cases OF Cooney and Nagle. Will Omaha be
allowed to retain her men after
their heads by the president OF
said club to the managerl Not much.
Cooney and Nagle have played their last ball
in Omaha; that will do to gamble on. Mr..
Mccormick has succeeded in buying UP
controlling interest in TIE Omaha base ball
association, and the next best thing for him
20 do Is to engage good manager, a man
competent to meet and cope with the wolves
OF the league upon their own ground and at
their own game If necessary.