The times., 1897-03-13
BR00KLYA's BIC OFFER
Mr.. Byrne Will Give 100000
for the Cleveland Club.
robson THINKING 1T OVER
President Young Says He Does Not
Doubt the Correctness of the Re-
port-The Announcement of the
News the Topic in the Baseball
World.

There was somewhat OF a seismic disturb
ancc in baseball circles. yesterday, when
the announcement was made that Mr.
Charles II Byrne, president OF the Broo klvn
Baseball Club, had made straightout, bora
fide offer of 100000 cash for the famous
Cleveland team.
ordinarily offers involving so large an
amount are taken with dubious shakes of
the head and many nliSgivings as to their
gcnuineness, but III this case it appears 10
lac a fact that Mr.. Byrne has approac he'd air.
Robson, Of Cleveland, with proposition
as tempting as money could make it.
Mir. Byrne is not a tTIfler in business
matters. He cares little for The spec .acu.
lar lii his transactions ana bears a repu.
tation as a diplomat that has won hin
the complimentary sobriqUet of the Lit.
tie Napoleon OF baseball. He makes
no "grandstand" plays, and as he is
quoted directly as having SAID that Brook
lyn wants the Cleveland club, it can
be depended upon that he offered the
princely price of 100000 for Tetcau
and his Spiders
1t is an offer hard for the Cleveland
maenates to Withstand. Mr. Robson bas
sunk u barrel of money III the attempt
TO give the Forest City winning club
He has succee led artistically, but his
bank account has been grieyously drained
in the heroic effort.
Such cash sum as 100000 would
no doubt, reimburse him for past losses
and il is rot improbable that he will tell
4 eI.,.
at this time, according To tie Test in.
formation obtaiLatlc, the proposition has
neither Leen accepted uor declined.
The Brooklyn management is making g
strenuous struggle to rehahilitate and popu-
lariZe baseball in its city, and while $IOo !.
0o0is lots OF money, skeptical construction
can be put on the honesty Of the effort To
place 4 top-notch club within the baiIwiCk
CT its patrons.
Mr.. Byrne is reported as having said
in connection with the matter: In behalf
of Mr.. Ane!l ana some friends, | have III.
formed Mr.. Robson that we Will give
$10O, 600 In cash for the Cleveland Club
lock, stock, and barrel. We make this
offer for the very good reason 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 %
cent hau in BROOKLYN has received wide
spread coutmeudation from our patrons
and, with new grounds, ana d strong team
we hope to give general satisfaction
Incidental to Mr.. Byrne's statement about
new grounds. the Brooklyn club VIII play
at Washington Park the coming season.
The locationis decided ' easier aud Guicke
20. &
Bay, and viii merit and receive the patron
age of the BrookIvuites as well as a
large contingent from New York CITY II
is also worthy Of note in connection with
the big offer that Ar. Robson was of
fered $4,000 for five of his players II
the late Baltimore meeting.
In talking OF the deal last night, Presi-
dent Young said that his Information was
only that which had appeared in the pa
pers, bot ventured the statement that MF
ByTne had made the offer in good faith
and that in his opinion Mr. Robson S
acceptance would only be necessary tt
close the biggest transaction ever consunl
mated in the history OF baseball. Mr.
Young stated that he had had no informa-
tion OF such a deal previous to its public
announcement. He said he had perfect
confidence in Messrs. Bryne and Robson
and that any trade between them wout
certainly not be TO the disadvantage Of
the League, but, ON the other hand, would
strengthen the weak spdts and enhance
the popularity OF the game.
In the event of Mr. Rohison sacceptance
of Brooklyn offer, Cleveland would proba-
bly, remain in the League circuit, with 4
team made up of many of the present
Brooklyn team and some extra players
who are with Tebeau now. The franchise
would be owned by the Brooklyn people
who would be compelled to run club iii
the Forest City until the unanimous consent
OF the League could be secured to trans
fer the franchise to some other city.