The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-28
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THE NEW BIG LEAGUE.
Ehd OF the War Means Good Things 70,
the Minor Leagues

'S Leagues
All lovers of the national game are
haPpy that at last the war in the East be-
tween the National League and American
ASSOCIATION has ended. The latter organi-
cation brought the former To terms bv
proving It's equality. The two great organ
lzations began war that threatened 10
bankrupt both, but the National League.
which began the trouble by virtually rob
bIng the Association of two of its best
players, was forced TO admit that the Asso-
cation more than paid it back for it's bully.
ing action. But, in the meantime. a dis
graceful method was being used by each
TO lnJure the rival organization. To re-
taliate on the League the Association
would get some of the Leagues best
players to join some Association club, UNI
I'll finally when the Association had OBJ
tanned about half the Leagues best men,
the latter organization commenced to
bribe Association players to break their
contracts and join League clubs. The AS
ISOLATION got the best of it, however, and
with ruin staring them in the face. as the
players were raising their salaries ire
mendously high, even reaching $500 a
year for three years, the moneyed men of
both organizations thought it time TO set
the trouble was considered TO be consol-
idation of the two organizations, especially
as the Association had put successful
rival club in Boston, was starting a fine
one in Chicago to fight Spalding and An
son, and was talking of invading other
League cities. The members of the two or
CARNATIONS met at Indi annapolis last week
and effected a consolidation. Hence
forth, instead of two eight-club leagues
there will be one twelve-club league, TAX
ing in the following cities: New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Balti-
more, Washington, Pittsburg Cincinnati,
Cleveland. Louisville, st. Louis and Chi
cago. Columbus and Milwaukee We're
dropped, the owners of their franchises
being paid $4,000 and $1,000 respectively.
The owners of the Boston Association
Club were paid $37. 500, those of the Ath-
letics, of Philadelphia 5000, and those
of the new Chicago club $4,000. In the
cities where there were two clubs the
teams will be picked from the two. The
men bribed to break contracts will be re-
stored to their original clubs. and harmony
will reign. Nick Young, president of the
League, was chosen president of the new
organization, and Zach Phelps, president
of the Association, was made solicitor.
This settlement of the baseball war will
be the best thing for all concerned, even
the players. The very high salaries may
60 down somew what, but good ones will be
paid, and there viii be no tampering with
the honesty OF players.
As for minor leagues. the benefit is al
most inestimable. BY the consolidation
into one big league = JOINT protective law
by which all leagues can come under re-
vised national agreement which will not
make slaves of the players can be formed,
and new life can be given TO the national
game. For the Pacific Northwest League
it means that men who have heretofore
been demanding large salaries in the major
leagues will be glad enough to come here
on reasonable salaries.