The sun., 1897-03-12
BROOKLYN'S BIG OFFER.
BYRNE AND zBELL BID $1,000
FOR THE CLETELIND BALL CLUE.
Tho Former Makes tho Proposition TO Presi-
dent Robison. who says He viii Consider
Nc and May Not Acccpt-Bssebau Mag
nntes Confer Mt IenElh In This CITY.

dent Robison, who says He Will Consider
u and May Not Acccpt-Bssebni Mag
mites Confer at Length In This city.
The Brooklyn Baseball Club. through Prcsi-
dent G. II. Byrno and f. A. Abel, made cash
offer OF 81 1OO, 900 to Frank De H. Robson yester-
dny for the franchise and players Of the Clcve-
land Club The offor was unexpected that
the Cleveland magnato declined to say anything,
except that he would consider IL and would
probably refuse il. Tho Brooklyn officials,
elatcd over the Leagues sanction to play Do
cent ball, and more confident than over before of
securing new grounds within n few days, are
anxious TO give the best article OF ball to their
Brooklyn patrons that money can provide.
Mcssrs. Byrno aud Abcll. together with sew
eral moncycd lIrooklynites, have been consider
ing the plan Of putting up big money for star
players and have been negotiating with Robson
OF Cleveland for some time past for the release
OF Jack OConnor Accordingly, when Robson
arrived here On Wednesday night he received u
telegram to meet Byrnc at l o'clock yesterday
morning For six hours they were together, and
they talked nothing but baseball. The Cleveland
President did not refuse to listen TO a deal for
OConnor, but when President Byrne sprung tho
100000 offer he was completely taken by sur
prise. To n SuN reporter Byrnc said last night:
Realizing that there IL some opposition to
Sunday ball playing in Cleveland, and having
heard that MIR. Robson might transfer his splen-
did ball team to some other city unless no could
play games on the Sabbath. the Brooklyn club
has decided TO get In tho first bid for of tho
best baseball plants Of tho League. In behalf Of
Mr.. Abcll and some friends. I have to-day in.
formed Mr.. Robson that we will give 100000
in cash for the Cleveland Club. lock, stock. and
barrel. We make this offer for the very good rcn-
son that we feel confident of realizing at least
90 per cent. on our investment in one year. The
fact that we are going to play 25.ccnt ball in
Brooklyn has received widespread commcnda-
tion from our patrons and with new grounds
and u strong team. we hope to give general sat
isfaction. Mr. Robson has only to say the word,
and we will have Tcbcuu and his men playing
here to bigger crowds than ever before In the
history of the game
President Robson, who was present while
Byrno was talking, said that he did not care to
discuss the Offer beyond the statement that II
was most unexpected and very liberal. IL will
think it over" said he. but I do not believe
now that 1t will be acceptable" Byrnc and
Robson were together last night, and will meet
again to-day.
In the event Of Rohison's acceptance of Brook
lyn's offer, Cleveland would probably remain in
the League circuit with II team made up of
many of the present Brooklyn team and some
extra players who are with Tobcnu now The
franchise would be owned by the brooklyn poo.
pie. who would he compelled to run club in
the Forest city until the unanimous consent of
the League could be secured totransfcr the fran
chisc to some other city.
w. III. Conant. treasurer Of the Boston League
Club, arrived in town Wednesday night from n
visit to Old Point Comfort. 1t reported in
the Fifth Avenue Hotel that he had held a long
talk with Robson, who did not leave him until
nm early hou. in the morning. hut the willy
Clevclander only laughed when questioned
about the matter, and snid that even II he did
see Conant they didn't talk baseball Upon one
point. however, Robson consented to talk freely
He said:
The Clevclands have hitherto been called the
Spiders. hut in the future they will he known
as 'Tehcau's Indians, for we have just signed
n full-bloOdcd abOriginc of the name OF Sock.
alexis. He was recommended To us by John W.
Ward"
President Byrne has closed u deal with Cncin-
natl whereby Short stop Ritchcy will play under
Ewings management. In tho telegram which
Byrno received from Brush the added iu
formation that the Cincinnati President and
Harry Won der Horst OF Baltimore will leave for
San Francisco to-day. Brush did not say that
they were going to see the Corbett. Fitzsimmons
fight.