The morning call., 1891-08-11
STRIKING PLAYERS.
Causes That Led to the Lockout
at Sacramento.

From all that can be learned from differ
ent baseball sources, Harry O'Day. second
baseman, was theiinnocent cause of the re-
cent strike in the ranks of the Sacramento
team.
Some of the players favored his presence
in the team; others objected to O'Day,
hence the lockout and the numerous dis
tressing features resulting therefrom.
The first rupture occurred last Tuesday
morning during practice on the Sacramento
grounds. ODay, who had been released
from the club some time previous. but who
had been engaged to play few games with
out signing, WAS also out for practice
Those who did not like O'Day made a
farce of tie practice, and Captain Nc
Closkey finally sent the whole crowd
home.
Max Ginsberg, brother of Sam, was
present during the affair, and on reporting
it to his superior, McCloskey was released
on the ground that he had no control over
the players. This started the fuss, and on
Friday when the Oaklands came up, Nc
Quirk, Spies, Hoffman and 0Day were
suspended for refusing to play ball.
EXCEEDED HIS POWER.
The suspension, so far as the first three
named are concerned, is all right but it
was not within tho power of Ginsberg to
suspend O'Day, as he had been released the
day previous by McCloskey, and did not
show up at the grounds on Friday. O'Day
could have signed with Sacramento, but
Ginsberg wanted him to play for $50 per
month, and he refused tn accept the terms
or sign a contract for that sum.
When tile strike was first declared the
entire team signilied Willingness to stand
BY their depoSed leader. but when 1t came
to a showdown the whole crowd, with the
exception of McGurk, Hoffman and Spies
went over TO GinSberg. On Friday morn
ing it is said, Ginsberg called on McGuirk
before he was up and offered him an in
crease of S75 per month and the captaincy
of the team If he would come back; but as
McCloskey was to be left out McGuirk re-
fused to listen to the proposition. Beesie
was loyal to his friend MeCIoskey. and said
he would stand cut in his salary of $50 a
month ii the captain was reinstated Mo
Closkey had stood by him and several other
members of the team for the last three
years, and IL they proposed to turn traitor
it was all right, but he would not Friends
Of both parties know this to be fact. and
McGuirk is to be commended for his action.
GOT THE WORST OF IT.
Among those who have been McCloskeY's
stanch friends in the past are France
Peoples, Sunday, Work and Hutchinson''
When McCloskey took charge of the Sac
ramento team several of the leading fans
sent in the names of favori te players who
would inset the popular fancy for 1891. But
McCloskey gave his friends the preference
and got the worst of it. 1t was through the
Vaccinations of some of these aforesaid fans
that the trouble first started. They wanted
some other man in place of O'Day. Franco
objected strongly to this player, as did some
of the rest, until the objection finally re-
suited in strike and the suspension Of the
players named.
at the conclusion of the game Saturday
evening McCloskey got into an argument
with France, and tried to immense him in n
horse-trough in front of q saloon opposite
the ball park.
France took refuge in the saloon, where
Sunday came to the rescue with pistol, but
was disarmed by O'Day and McGuirk. This
Is the nearest approach to riot that has
taken place since the strike, and If the strjk-
ers remain in town there is Liable to be
more trouble.
Sacramento has secured George Sharp of
the San Jose team to play center field, and
VIII probably sign Jim Mcdonald. The
Ottawa (lll.) team has disbanded, and some
players may be got from that source