Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-20
ONLY EIGHT CLUBS.
A League Official Makes a
Definite Statement.
THE DETAILS EXPLAINED.
John Ward, StaIey and Hurley Talk
About the Brotherhood.
THE SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

A prominent official of the National
League makes definite statement to the ef-
feet that two clubs will be dropped from the
circuit. New York has to be looked after.
John NJ. Ward says few words on the sit
uation. Pitcher Staley and Catcher Hurley
arrive. A big consolidation movement
among local gun clubs is well under way.
1t is now safe to say that almost all ar
rangements have been made to dispense
with two of the ten clubs now in the Ma
tional League. This fact was declared yes
terday by one OF the best authorities among
the League magnates. He declined, for OBJ
yious reasons, to allow his name to be made
public at present in connection with the
statement, but he gave the writer clearly to
understand that there will only be eight
clubs IN the League circuit this year. He also
said that Washington and indianapolis will be
the two clubs that will be dropped. The League
official referred to made the following state
ment regarding the matter:
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
Now let me tell you shatit will be absolutely
safe to predict that there will be only eight
clubs in the National League when the cham
pionship season opens. 1 am not at liberty to
tell you how this end will be accomplished any
more than saying that Washington and Indian
apolis are the clubs to be dropped. There never
has been the slightest intention on the part OF
the League to drop either Cleveland or Pitts
burg The reports about Pittsburg going to
sell out are really ridiculous, and do not con-
tain a grain of truth. L probably can give you
little more detail about the matter. New ork
is the keystone to the entire affair. because the
League must have first-class club there by
all means This is settled fact among all of
us connected with the organization. We can
not get along with ten clubs, and the two that
we can best afford to drop are Washington and
Indianapolis.
Nov there are many advantages in dropping
indianapolis. One is that New York can get
the majority Of the good players there, and this
is the programme so far. The New York club
can afford to pay for them, SO that the Indian
spolis club will lose nothing by it.
WILL BENEFIT NEW YORK.
"a transfer of this kind will give New York
one of the strongest teams in the country, and
that will be great blow to the Brotherhood
people in New York particularly. know that
the Indianapolis directors are not so much op-
posed to being dispensed with as we have been
publicly given to understand. If they are paid
for what money they have reasonably invested
they will be satisfied. However, deal bv
which they will be disposed of will shortly be
effected. Another advantage in dropping In
dianapolis is the lack Of baseball enthusiasm
in that city. We all know that it is not profit
able city, and it is consid rably out of the way
"Well, with Indianap ;is dropped, Glasscock
Denny Boyle and Myers at least will 60 to
New York, and the transfer will be better for
them and the directors will lose nothin,: by it.
Washington. that is President Hewitt, is al
ready resigned to the fact that there will be !
only eight clubs If mistake not negotiations
are already in progress to dispose OF Washin:-
ton"
NIMICK is MUM.
President Nimick was spoken to regarding
the above statement, and he remarked why
my lips are ,.ale6 on that subject at present
/ am und pledgs to say nothing about the
matter ju-; now: nor can tell you whether or
not we are -tparing an eight-ciub schedule.
1t was however, definitely stated yesterday |
afternoon that the League Schedule Committee |
is at work on an eight-cluh schedule; indeed. |
one authority stated that schedule Of the kind |
named has already been arranged. ]. Palmer |
O'Neill, when spoken TO about the schedule, |
SAID that he knew nothing officially about It. as |
he was not a member of the Schedule Commit 4
tee. He left for New York last evening. and, |
although he denies that he has been in this |
city on baseball business, it is well understood |
that he has been confering with Mr.. Nimick re- |
garding the dropping OF Indianapolis and !
Washington. His mission to Cleveland was ,
also in great measure to confer with Presi- |
dent Robinson. of the Clevelands, on the same |
matter Both President Nimick and President |
Robinson, it is stated agree with the suggestion |
TO drop the two clubs named. Mr.. O'Nelll will 4
meet the Eastern magnates this week, and it is |
not unlikely that vote by telegraph will be !
taken within few DAYS to determine the fate |
of the Senators and Hoosiers.