The record-union., 1893-08-18
BASEBALL IS DEAD.
The Old California League Finally
DisbandS for Good.
Harris Last 'sJob'' Was a Success
The Country Managers Left Conn
pletely in the Cold.
"Uncle" Harris did it.

"Uncle' Harris did it.
There will be no more baseball by Cal
ifornia League teams in Sacramento or
elsewhere, for the very good reason that
the California League is dead. The game
announced for yesterday did not take
place, nor will to-day's.
John Batcher Vice President Of the
Sacramento management. has returned
from San Francisco, and told reporter
yesterday how it all happened. Mr..
hatcher was given notice that there
would be meeting of the league di-
rectors at the Bay last Monday, and he
attended. On the train, however, he read
IN one OF the Bay papers that Harris, the
manager of the San Francisco team, had
announced that the league was dis
banded, and further that Harris team
and the Oaklands would play exhibition
games at the Haight-street grounds. This
was something OF a surprise 10 the Sacra-
mentan, and he telegraphed to Manager
GelSchen OF the OaklandS TO meet him.
Geischen did SO when the train arrived
and 1t then developed that he had been de-
celved by Harris. The latter had told him
that both the sacramento and Los Angeles
teams had disbanded. When MIR. hatcher
informed the Oakland man that the Sac
ralEento team was still intact and ready
to play bail Mr.. Geischen said PPM with
you, Batcher." He also promised TO have
his team III Sacramento To play the regu-
lar series this week.
The league meeting took place, and
when Harris realized that the country
clubs had joined hands, he asked that he
be given until the next day to decide
whether or not he would put his team
back into the league. Geischen took 0c-
casi0n at this meeting to tell Harris what
he thought of him, but the request tor de-
lay was granted Just the same. This de
lay proved to be fatal to the interests of
the country clubs. Harris did some
slick" work during the twenty -iour
hours grace allowed him, but he did not
show his hand until they met again.
When they did meet, Harris was smiling
and suave. lie informed the other man
ayers that he had made up his mind 10
quit the baseball business. He had paid
of his men and disbanded his team, he
said.
Harris holds lease of the Haight street
grounds, which does not expire until
April next, so MIR. hatcher asked him
what he would rent the grounds tor-the
idea being for the country clubs to re-
organize the league. But Harris de-
manded such an eXorbitant rental that
this proposition had to be dropped.
Geischen then announced that he and
hatcher would carry out their agreement
to play their teams i'll Sacramento and
Oakland.
This was where Harris joker came in.
He grinned at Geischen, and asked him
if he was sure he had team. Geischen
then learned for the first time that Harris
had succeeded in breaking up the Oak
land nine.
1t was evident at this stage of the pro-
ceedings, reports Mr.. hatcher, that
Uncle" Harris was master of the stua-
ton, so the directors adjourned-and the
league of a thousand fakes and scandals
WAS dead.
The Post says: 1t is believed that, as
the California League has gone under, the
Central California League viii take its
place and use the Haight-street grounds.
With the exception of Borchers and
knell, all of the Los Angeles players have
left the southern league town. Hulen
is at his home i'll Santa Rosa, and Hughes
is in Sacramento.