The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-11-27
NEARING TIE END.
w. |. Harris Says the Baseball
War is Nearly Over.
THE PLAYERS LEAGUE PLIGHT.
The Indications are That it is the Under Dog
In the Fight - The Association
and the League.

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 it will have
been reduced to the position of a minor or
ganzation, with anything but cheerful
prospect before it. The indications are that |
when the bell rings for 1891 there will be
no such thing as 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, ct 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
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 at this time, and
their belief as to what will be the final
outcome. Addison, of Chicago, as j. Earle
Wagner puts it, has been paid to get off
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 fight, or the
Wagners either. They have laid down
plan for a vigorous one. The National
league men declare that it is bluff, but if
it is it is certainly a good one, and in the
language of the street, they may get away
with it." The scheme of the remnant of
the Players league looks well on paper.
Boston, Philadelphia and Cleveland they
have sure Boston promises to put up S50,-
Otto see the league through 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 it un-
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 fran
chise. 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 to continue in business next year upon
nearly the same lines as in 1890.
The National league men laugh at these
assertions, which, they say, are merely
made to secure better terms for Cleveland
Boston and Philadelphia. They are not in
the least worried by the threat of legal pro
ceedings, and are serenely confident that
the Players league is almost complete
wreck These are the indications as write
but in spite of outward bluffs by both sides
negotiations are still progressing in one
shape and another, and it would not bt
GHrprising if the situation of affairs should
be entirely changed almost before this let
ter is put into type.
One thing seems certain, and that is thai
even if the Players league can be held to
gether its prestige viii be gone as major
league, and it is equally certain that it,
fair prospects have been frittered away b,
stupid blunders on the part of men whC
thought that they could play winter base
ball with Al Spalding, Charley Byrne ant
John B. Day. While the result was inev
liable, it is certain that had the Players
league men acted wisely and courageousl,
they could at least have secured better
terms for themselves than they have done
As it is it looks like an ignominious defeat
The American association next year vii
probably consist of Columbus, Louisville
Toledo and St. Louis in the west, will
Philadelphia fWagner's club, Baltimore
Washington and either Rochester or Bos
ton--probably the former-in the east
This would be good strong circuit auc
one that should prove a paying one with
twenty-five cent tariff.
The National league will consist of New
York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Boston
in the east, and the western clubs will b,
Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago and Cleve
land None of these clubs will have an,
opposition except in Philadelphia, unles
in the always possible but improbable re
suscitation of the Players league, and tina
opposition even if it should come woul,
only be strong in Boston.
Collectively it would amount to nothing
even if the Players league should be abb
to hold all of its star players, which is no
probable. AT least one-third of the play
ers have salary due them on last season, O
rather have arrears that cannot be collects
under their contracts, and it is not likel
that many of them will be found who vii
be willing to take chances on another sue
season as last if they are able to make an
.erms with the National league. 1t is SAT
to say that organization will get back a.
of its old men that it cares to have.
1t is a matter for congratulation fo
every true supporter of the great nationa
game that peace has been secured and tina
next season we shall have restored tina
local pride that creates deep interest, ant
that we shall once more have nationa
championship. Under these condition
baseball will again step to the front of al
sports, where for its fascination and it
unimpeached honesty it will once NOR
resume the sway which it deserves to in