Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-11-23
NEARINGTHE End.
w. I. Harris Says the Baseball
War Is Nearly Over.
THE PLAYERS LEAGUES PLIGHT.

Aue hnuicotions are Ah"s ~ >" s"e s""e'
Dog In the Fight-Prospectus Of the
American Association and National
League for Next Year.
At this writing the baseball legislators
of both leagues are in session In New York,
and by the time this letter appears in print
one of two things will have been accom-
plished: either the Players league will have
been wiped out altogether or 1t will have
been reduced to the position of a minor or,
ganzation. with anything but II cheerful
prospect before il. The indications are that
when the bell rings for 1891 there will be
no such thing rs a Players league. This
will be brought about by consolidation or
freeze out, or by amalgamation with the
American association.
As it stands now New York, Pittsburg
and Chicago are irrevocably lost to the
Players league. Brooklyn will be by the
time this letter sees the light, at least SO
far as the present Players League club is
concerned, and with the elimination OF
Brooklyn will follow Cincinnati, as the
National league would then control the
stock of the club and would then enable it
to make satisfactory terms with the Brush.
Kilgour syndicate, which controls the Gin
cinnati National league franchise. This
would leave Boston, Cleveland and Phila.
delphia out in the cold, and the first two,
if they would give up the fight, might save
something out Of the general wreck.
As for Philadelphia the chances are that
the Wagner brothers can get out whole by
sliding gracefully into the American asso.
citation. This is the programme Of the
National league leaders al this time, and
their belief as to what will he the final
outcome. Addison, of Chicago, a. j. Earle
Wagner puts il, has been paid To get of
the EARTH" and the Boston and Cleveland
Players League clubs will be offered the
same terms, only not so liberal compare.
lively.
1t is not to be expected that the Boston
people will submit without a fight, or the
Wagners either. They have laid down a
plan for a vigorous one. The National
league men declare that it is a bluff, but II
it is II is certainlya good one, and in the
language Of the street, they may get away
with it," The scheme Of the remnan Of
the Players league looks well on paper.
Boston, Philadelphia and Cleveland they
have sure. Boston promises to put up S50,-
0O0 to see the leaguethrough the season. Mr..
Prince, the new president of the organiza.
ton, PROCESSES to have discovered a legal way
to force the Chicago club TO remain in the
league by injunction proceedings, and the
league claims TO have on hand, and il I'M
doubtedly has, a proposition from new cap
italists in Brooklyn either to buy out the
present disguised capitalists or to start
an entirely new club, provided that Ward
is able to hold his team together and de.
liver it intact. They also claim to have an
application from another city for a fran.
cbise. This is thought TO be Washington
or Detroit.
Mr.. Prince Is very enthusiastic, and as
serts that there Is no doubt whatever that
the League can prevent Mr.. Addison from
completing his deal with Mr.. Spalding,
and force him by legal means and the cash
they are prepared TO put up TO continue in
the fold. Mr.. Prince hopes to ~reorganize
the Players league with eight good clubs,
and 10 continue in business next year upon
nearly the same lines as IN 1880.
The National league men laugh at these
assertions, which, they say, are merely
made to secure better terms for Cleveland.
Boston and Philadelphia. They IRE not 10
the least worried 10y the threat Of legal pro
ceedingS, and are s~erenely confident that
the Players league is almost n ]cDmnlu.t
wreck, These are the indications a. ! Sc ute,
but in spite of outward blulLs ly ly.Ls..,s
negotiations are still progressing in one
shape and another, and il would not Dt
surprising IL the situation OF affairs should
he entirely changed almost before this let
ter is put into type.
One thing seems certain, and that is that
even il the Players league can he held TO
gether its prestige will he gone rs a major
league. and it Is equally certain that it,
fair prospects have been frittered away by
stupid blunders Oh the part Of men who
thought that they could play winter base
ball with AL Spalding, Charley Byrne and
John b. Day. While the result was inev.
liable, it is certain that had the Players
league men acted wisely and co~urageously
they could at least have secured better
terms for themselves than they have done.
As it Is 1t looks like an ignominious defeat.
The American association next year will
probably consist Of Columbus, Louisville,
Toledo and st. Louis in the west, with
Philadelphia (Wagner's club, Baltimore,
Washington and either Rochester or Bos
ton-probsbly the former-in the east.
This would be a good strong circuit aud
that should prove a paying one with o
twenty-five cent tariff.
The National league will consist of New
York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Boston
In the east, and the western clubs will he
Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago and Cleve.
land. None Of these clubs will have any
opposition except In Philadelphia, unless
in the always possible but improbable re
suscitation Of the Players league, and tina
opposition even il 1t should come would
only be strong In Boston.
Collectively il would amount 10 nothing,
even II the Players league should be able
TO hold all Of its star players, which is not
probable. At least one.third Of the play
ers have salary due them on last season, or
rather have arrears that cannot be collected
under their contracts, and IL is not likely
that many Of them will be found who will
be willing 10 take chances on another sucb
season ~ last II they are able TO make any
terms with the National league. IL is safe
10 say that organization will get back all
Of it, old men that IL cares TO have.
IL is a matter for congratulstion foI
every true supporter Of the great national
game that peace has ben secured and that
next SEASON we shall have restored that
local pride that creates deep interest, and
that we shall vnce more have a national