Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-12
A REVIEW OF SPORTS,
Some Opinions About the
Ward Injunction Case.
A FEW PROBABLE RESULTS.
The Decline of Old-Time Prize Fight,
ing in This Country.
FOGARTY'S WORLD CHALLENGE.

FO0Ah11O y nUhlU CdAILEA0E'
We are still without any definite knowl-
edge as to whether or not baseball contracts
are worth the paper on which they are
written. The Ward case still hangs in the
balance. Though we nave heard what reasons
the New York club have for showing that
John NJ. Ward should not be allowed to play
with any other club than the Giants next
season, the world has not yet been fully
enlightened as to what the reply OF Mr..
Wards counsel will be, but certainly the
case has been proceeded with far enough to
arouse the great curiosity as to the result.
How it will terminate / will not venture
to predict In this instance 1 prefer
to act on the advice of Josh Bill
hngs and Drophesy after the event.
don't lay claim to any safe knowledge re-
garding the deeper mysteries of law, but at
present will content myself with SAYING that
the New York club has presented very strong
case from a commOn-sense point Of view.
There are two very important facts in my way
Of thinking viz: that John NJ. Ward signed
contract with the New York club, and that
that club could not retain him for the year for
less than 5000 for the season. In ordinary life
If this would not be understood to mean that
If the New York club offered Mr.. Ward $1,000
for the season she must play with that club,
don't know what in the world it does mean.
Logically and morally it is evident that John
NJ. Ward signed with the New York club for
1889 and gave the officials Of that club def
nitely to understand that he would play for
them next season. However, Mr. Wards side
-.
one story is always good until anoth er is heard
Ihave a strong notion that Judge O'Brien will
refuse to grant the National Leagues request
in this instance. and il that be so 1 understand
that it will really just be the beginning of the
legal fight
It's Only n Starter.
On the eve of the celebrated hearing at New
York it is interesting and exceedingly amusing
60 hear the declarations of each party as to
what will be done if such and such an opinion
IS handed down. The old League very solemnly
informs Us that if temporary injunction is not
granted it will only be the means of going fully
into the case ina higher court. On the other
hand, the new League or Brotherhood AYERS
that if an injunction is granted now it will
amount to nothing, as the case must be argued
IN higher court Thus each party has some
sweet consolation for its friends IN the event of
an apparent defeat in the first round. Certainly
don't believe that either party is sincere in
the statements above quoted. First blood'' in
this instance means very great deal; aye, it
means almost absolute victory or defeat. The
granting Of a temporary injunction would have
q talismanic effect in converting players from
Brotherhood notions TO National League sup
porters, and the refusal of an injunction would
certainly strengthen the weakened who are
now wavering in the brotherhood ranks The
old League supporters are aware of
this. So much SO that a day or
two ago director of the local League club
said to me: "An injunction at this stage is
worth thousands of dollars to u.s." Of course
1t is and anybody who knows anything about
the conflict will understand the force of the
statement quite readily. Well, then, in view
Of these facts we cannot do other than think
that when either party talks about the result in
the presens instance being immateri2, it is
making what in vulgar parlance, would be
called bluff and 1 may add very big one.
Some Probable Results.
But whatever may be the opinion Of the court
on the matter there are certain results which
seem highly probable; results thas directly
affect the status of the national game. If the
validity of the contracts is not upheld it will
cause quite change In the methods of baseball
business, and if they are upheld, it will be the
worst thing that possible coulc befall ball
players. Should the contracts not be legally
acknowledged there will be no guarantee what
ever for club retaining its players, except il
be by the somewhat voluntary recognition of
baseball law. This in itself, will soon cause
the game TO degenerate that is, providing there
Is a haven for CONTRACT jumpers, as at present
But the good business sense of those who have
heretofore guided the national game TO extra
ordinary success will undoubtedly discover a
form Of contract that will be legally binding.
II the present form of contract is binding in a
legal sense, the League magnates will almost
have accomplished what they have worked
Tor hard, viz, the wholesale reduction
Of salaries. Should the League in this in
stance be successful there will be such A
slaughter Of salaries as has not been known in
the history OF the game. Further still, it will
be the end of any new departures" for long
time to come, because l am still thoroughly
convinced that there are many in this new
movement whose enthusiasm at most is only
very, very luke-warm. Friendship rather than
business principles have drawn many into the
movement, and that means when troubles
begin to come thick and fast and at a Verv
costly rate. business sense then Shows up and
prompts a speedy withdrawal
SEA
A Free BOoting System.
But the most certain and most important
result Of the Leagues defeat at law will be the
free-booting system of pilfering players. As
far as the new League and the older associa-
tions are concerned, ChurchiIrs lines will define
the system on which they will go ahead. It
viii be on
THAT good old rule,
The simple plan:
For him TO keep who has the power:
And him to catch who can"
U,1,ss 4I,,+ al ~, l..
tions will be against the new League, inasmueh
as the former are all under one common nation-
al agreement The American Association can
not well be other than bitter opponent of the
new League, because the latter Is holding ont
every inducement possible for the desertion of
Association players. This certainly is one of
the most unpleasant features of the new
League. There certainly does not exist any ex-
cuse whatever tor the Brotherhood TO trv and
wreck the American Association by inducing
Its players to desert it; most assuredly if there
is any virtue in truth and fair play time Of re-
Iribution will come for such action. Whatever
may be the aim and conduct of other people or
other organizations, the key to the success of
the new League lies in the fact of its acting
honorably, and. in the strictest sense toward
those who are quite distinct from 1t. Personal
ly ! am not concerned as to what the result of
the conflict between the League and Brother
hood may be, but think every one of us ourht
20 be more or less concerned in the determined
efforts of the new League to secure players from
the american AssOClaLlOn, an organization that
has been heroic, and that is now passing
through a very trying ordeal venture to saw
that no fair-minded patron Of the national
game will indorse the action of the new League
IN inducing the Association players to forsake
their clubs. Talking on this subject the other
day, President Nnnick said to me: "The new
League. if it ever makes start will now be a
target for every baseball organization in the
country. It has no protection and every other
organization has. Speaking for myself shall
have no scruples in trying to secure every good
player want from the new League. For in
stance il the new club here gets down to work
and it has a good young player that we want
we will certainly endeavor to make him the
best possible inducements we can to get him to
JON us. There will be nothing TO stop US from
doing that; but. on the contrary, it will be our
duty as a means of self-protection-" There is,
indeed, much truth in what Mr.. .Nimick says
and as has been pointed out from time to time
in these columns baseball will for time, be
demoralized. However, the ultimate result of
It all will be very great reduction of salaries
all round This is as certain as that night fol-