Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-05
FOR THE TEMPLE CUP
Rules Suggested for Regulating
the Contests.
THE SCANDAL OF LAST YEAR
Action by the Base Ball League
Desired.
AN IMPORTANT LETTER

Messrs. Young and Byrne, the committee
appointed by the league to make reguIa-
tions for the Temple cup series of ball
games. have submitted to the league the
following letter:
September.3, 1895
To all Clubs, Members of the National
League ard American Association of Pro-
fessional Base Ball Clubs:
At the regular schedule meeting held in
New York city, March, 1894, you will re-
member. Mr.. c. H. Byrne of the Brooklyn
club, on behalf Of gentleman whose name
at the time he was not authorized to d.
vulge. requested this organization to ac-
cept very handsome trophy, to be COM
peted for by teams of this league subse-
quent to the regular championship season.
under such rules, regulations and condi-
lions as the league might see fit to make.
The main purpose the donor had in view
vas that, with some inducement held out
to the members of the respec tive teams, to
derive some material benefit from their
good work in winning first place in the
race for the championship, all the teams
would be inspired to make an extra effort
to win, and thereby have a chance to take
part Ill post-season series of games for
the trophy.
1t will be remembered the league at said
meeting constituted the undersigned a COM
mittee to take charge of said trophy and
authorized them to make such rules reg,1-
1ations and conditions as they deemed
proper, to govern any series of games that
might be played for it's possession.
This committee took charge of the trophy
and did make rules. regulations and conii-
lions governing games to be played, but IN
doing so failed to make conditions regu-
iaung any other series of games except the
hitlai series for the first possession Of the
trophy at the close of the season of 1891
The conditions made at the time were:
Last Years Conditions.
First. The club or team which from the
record appears al the close of the cham
pionship season Of 1894. on September 80. to
have won second place in the championship
series, shall have the right to challenge the
club or team which from the record shall
appear to have won first place to a series
of games for the possession of said trophy
such series to consist of seven games, and
TO more, the club or team which first
wins four games of the series to be de-
olared the holder of the cup for the ensuing
season.
Other conditions referred to minor de-
tails.
Rule seventh however is important. as
IT very distinctly defined the basis for the
division OF the receipts That rule is IS
follows:
THE net receipts shall be divided between
the competing teams on the basis of 60
per centuIn to the winning team and 80 per
centun to the losing team, the mode of set
Element to be left entirely to the managers
of the competing teams.''
The plan as outlined in rule first was
made because it was necessary to make
beginning, and no better plan could be de-
Yised.
A difference of opinion has now arisen as
to the teams which shall have the right to
play for the possession of the trophy at the
end of the current season.
one member of the committee Is of the
opinion that the team which won the
trophy last season under the rules. regula-
lions and conditions laid down, and which
now holds the trophy, is entitled to defend
1t against any challenger, and can only be
deprived of its possession after a formal
contest, conducted in the same manner and
under the same conditions which enabled
that team to win it. the team winning
first place having the prior right to make
the challenge.
The other member of the committee is of
the opinion that the donor of the trophy
originally intended that it should be con-
tested for by the teams winning first and
second places in the championship race
each season, as reward for their earnest
efforts in behalf of their respec tive clubs,
and that it would be manifestly unfair for
a team holding the trophy and which failed
to win reasonably good position in the
current championship race to derive any
benefit from post-season series Of games,
while the team which by earnest effort Sc
cured second place should derive no benefit
from such series.
1t is almost unnecessary to say that both
members of the committee are thoroughly
sincere in their opinions and a present do
not see their way clear to change their
honest convictions. 1t only remains, there
fore, for the committee to submit the aues-
tons at issue to the respective clubs for
their views. and the committee, as mat
ter of course, will be governed by the voice
of the league,