Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-15
ON TOP THIS TINE.
Pittsburg's Claims on Mack and Bier.
n bauer Endorsed at Chicago.
THE BOARD OF CONTROL DECIDES.
Stovey Goes to the Boston League Team
and a Reproot Given to the Magnates.
CLEVELAND MAKES A LITTLE KICK
rsprcIAI rrLrenAn TO THE D1srArcH.,

rEPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE prsPATCH.i
CHICAGO, Feb. Alt was not until this
afternoon after q session continuing all day
yesterday and until 3 o'clock this morning
that the Baseball Board of Control an
nounced its decisions in the famous players
cases. Chairman Thurman summoned all
the magnares to the hotel smoking room and in
their presence read the Boards verdict. The
results of the Boards wrangling briefly are as
follows:
In the Bierbauer case the claim of the Ath-
letics was refused and the player given to the
Pittsburg club. In the case of Stovey the
claim of the Athletics was refused and the
player was awarded to the Boston League club.
In the case Of Mack the claim of the Bos-
ton Association was thrown aside and the
player awarded to the Pittsburg club. The
cases of Hoy and Haddock were not brought
before the Board and these men will therefore
not be disturbed in the contracts with the Ath-
letics and the Boston Association teams. III
the case of Lyons, who was claimed by the
Chicago club on the strength of his contract
with the Players League club of Chicago. the
Board refused to allow the claim and Lyons
will remain with the St. Louis club. $500 IN
pocket by the transaction. In the case of
player Powell, of the Spokane club, who threw
himself on the Boards mercy, his club owed
him money which he could not collect, and the
Board released him to sign with any club he
desired.
The decisions we're read with all the dignity
and solennity of a regular court of justice. ].
Palmer O'Nelll and Hanlon, of course. were
happy. The Boston Leaguers were not repre-
%sented, but they evidently had a tip on the
Stovey decision. The verdict caused some ex-
citement by the manner in which it was rem
dered. Never before in such q public manner
was sharp practice In baseball matters given
such a singing blow of reproof. 1t substan-
TALLY says to Pittsburg and Boston: "We are
guilty of a perfectly implied understanding,
but unfortunately we cannot prove it," The
words used in the decision are: I'VE are there
fore relunctantly compelled to decide in favcr
of Boston"
In summing up, the Board said: Undoubtedly
Pittsburg has the legal right to the men,
but morally 1t has not. 1t ought withdraw its
claim, but as it does not we must reluctantly
decide in favor of Pittsburg. The case Of
n. 9. Stoyey was exactly the same as that OF
Bierbaur except that he was claimed by
Boston and the Board was compelled to decide
in favor of Boston. Connie Mack was given TO
Pittsburg. He was claimed by the Boston
Association club. The Board also adopted a
classification of leagues and associations,
based on the salaries paid. the number of clubs
and the population of their cities.
The sensational business of the day was
transacted In ameeting of the National League.
There were present y. G. Spalding. ]. M.
Spalding. Robinson, Byrne, Reach, O'Neil
and Brush. II was determined TO sit down
heavily on Al johnson and wipe out whatever
alleged claim the Brotherhood orphan may
sAAlh hC okAA4 AAoca u eho ON AA&AAoA -
planned the status of the Cincinnati situation.
The showing made was satisfactory and all the
Leaguers present obligated themselves to stand
by and uphold the action OF the League in ex-
pellin { the old Climb and maintaining the right
of franchis. granted to the new club, repre-.
sented by Brush, Van Hamm, Mason, Frost
and associates.
This in itself would be sufficient to com
pletelv knock out johnson, but the magnates
trampled upon the corpse by agreeing that as
the old PLAYERS of the Cincinnati club were
formally reserved by the League at the time OF
Cincinnats's expulsion. they should be assigned
to the new club and that all League clubs re-
frain from communicating with or negotiating
for any of said players. More than this II
was further resolved that all clubs should
unite in cooperating with Cincinnati to give
it material playing strength, SO as to have IL
occupy Its old-time prominent position. Brook.
Ign also offered George Smith, the really great
lnfielder, to Cincinnati, and New York, Chi
cago, Pittsburg and others followed suit
/ promptly. Cincinnati will thus secure a fine
League team but Al johnson Is absolutely
frozen out and loses every dollar of the $4,000
he invested in baseball.
The National Board adjourned at 8 O'Clock
this evening. after action upon details concern
ing its routine work. The Western Association
also finally adopted a schedule and adjourned
Tonight nearly all the ball men left Tor theil
homes.