The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-03
SPORTING TALK.
EBBETs,s PRosPECTS FOR GETTING
OONTROL OF THE BROOKLHNS.

OONTROL OF TIE BRO0ELTN
rlS mas uournt Out the ola players, HenEue
SHARES and Elns a. option on Abetrs stock
-Whs His Plans Are-Echees 81 tbe WI.
e~hael.TayloFe cs-Ba Asron's etery.
The deal which will place Charles H.. Ebbcts
IN control OF the Brooklyn Club, tho story OF
which was told in THE Sun esterday, has cre-
ntod a sensation in the baseball world and has
stirred mp the cranks on the other side OF tho
bridge. Ebbets, It. IL said. has gathered to-
Rether enough capital to control 30 per cent. OF
the stock OF tho club. and has already bought out
tho much.talked-of minority stockholders, in
Guiding Henry J. Robinson, George Channcey,
and others, who became identified with Brook.
Ign baseball affairs when John M. Ward organ
ined tho Players League Club in 1890, with
Headquarters at Eastern Park. Tho consolida-
ton OF the National League Club owned by
Byrne, Doyle, and Abel with the Players
League Club in 1891 was n serious mistake for
tho former element. At Washington Park
Bryne, Doyle, and Abel made plenty Of money,
bnt at Eastern Park they lost. The withdrawal
Of Joseph Doyle left Byrne and Abel in the ma
jority at Eastern Park, and later Byrne sold
some Of his stock to Abel. Tho latter then
owned about so per cent. of the stock, and with
Byrne's remaining interests he welded not less
than So per cont. Of the whole issue, which was
made on a 1850 900 basis. The minority stock
holders. who wero Jointly interested in the Kings
County elevated road and the Ridgewood Land
Company, on whose property Eastern Park Is
located, soon tired Of making good the losses and
were satisfied to receive an annual rental for
tho ball grounds, which, of necessity, was paid
by Abel, as there was nobody else to do 1t. In
1896 the club lost $11. 900, and Abel was forced
20 mako 1t good or sivo up tho franchise. In 1897
the club dropped eli ,O0o:more, and that was the
last straw. As the losses had increased with each
eeason since the club went to Eastern Park
Aboll decided to call a halt. He said to The
Bun. representative not two weeks ago that he
would not put up any more money and wanted
to get out of baseball. He also said that he had
sunk nearly $780, 600 in the Brooklyn Club and
could see no way of getting any of 1t back.
Abell has been game TO the backbone through
all Of tho clubs vicissitudes. but the illness of
President Byrne, upon whom Abel has always
d. pended, Is a serious blow to him, and he has
felt more like washing his hands OF tho whole
busin ess, than ever before, Abel was therefore
acted as secreiuiy and treasurer OF the club for
many years. informed him that he had raised
money enop y to 4o buy y out %nli fhS min nG 1bs s sn9sr.
prise OF his young friend that he Immediately In
formed Charley, thli. he could set the balance OF
the stock held b. .Ahcll ut u reasonably low fg-
ure. In fact. The pr,ce was so fair that Ebbets
SECURED an option urtil Feb. l, when, in all prob
The Illness OF President Byrne has brought
tho deal TO q crisis mo q than anything else. AS
he cannot recover from the sickness with which
he "a suffering, something had to be zone quickly
a largo slice OF tho Eastern Park rent had not
been paid. and the salaries of various club en-
HGloyees were ss,i1 ar, Srre ears a., E ssYs,vi i ms is w BIZ
be paid Off in full. As the club is now practi-
duties left by Byrne. In a word, he will DO
though william Barnie viii continue TO handle
tho team. Barnie and Ebbets have always been
worR in ari Sarmon sna E !nSs I u a HS" as,ier. bat
his capabilities were somewhat hcld IN check.
anes mas sc %aa1 a m psRsr"if IN the .oE bu nin,ss. and %s ' on
many occasions President Young has been
Spmpelled dnd TO ,b ask ma his assii tbRcss b Wit aiw bail
been popular, while he has an army of friends
among the cranks. 10 viii undoubtedly move
cure another suitable location which he has in
view. and will also play SUNDAY, bali. both at
tar as the team is concerned, it viii receive. a
Thorough overhauling. Ebbets and Barnie
to mako several important moves. Abel Is
well pleased over the urn OF affairs. ne said
E ysss waS a snsy Below Be- nR' his f g P,lS' ri t9r as ss Ss
knew Of no better man than Ehbots in whom t.
H SSSss hr SeeISa aa baseball 10 bo Sffa AFFAIR." Even ssne jho ,ba
!latter, would probably assist him materially
II ssS9 Is up the club, which, Il properly
ity that Ebbets, paid about s25.o 900 to get the
less than 33lS cents on the dollar. Il will take
more than that, however, to buy out Abel.
Those who saw the Michael. Taylore race in
pointed. They had been led 70 believe by press
In poor condition while the Frrnchlnan was a
wonder and would win; It was With outs, oxen
r rfss; re ens m Mss affBBe e %sm to az Mi R e be pas hsd
him, which created great enthusiasm, the crowd
began to reject, and before ten miles had been
fnished there were expressions Of disgust on
q aaf saees: with hhe sh spfi dea that Vac Tayi sae S %onld to wine the
said they had been hoodwinked. because they
could nSsa zee how y any m, Intelligent int far persons &C could I'D
form. In his practice on the track in private.
!Taylore showed THAT he knew comparatively
point pSirS a upon which etat ali Of tMai iehia siTl' Victories t rHe have have,
depended. And yet the Frenchman was
stale" Before the race 'shafer, who Is Mich.
aers manager, said that the little fellow was in
about his being stale had simply been circulated
to attract the crowd. There were 1000 per,
s 10. ip MicSnsl and and y his fo' ms an 60 get got in ns snd st Saif
handlers had considerable fault to find With the
Racing Board. They Claimed several i 2ahie
which were not allowed. and the referee was
legged abuses. Waite did not occupy a position
from which he could sec the entire track. but
stood on the floor opposite tho TwCnty-siXth
street side, where he could only see that short
strip from one curve to the other. Even when
Taylore's handlers claimed that Michael's pac.
ing machines were interfering .purposely with
the Frencbman on the other side of the track
the referee made nc. effort to get to a point
where he could watch the performances OF all
the riders during the entire running of each lap.
There was no place provided for him by the
managers. neither was there q prominent place
the entire race. The press Enclosure was about
twenty feet long and contained probably ten
chairs. II was situated on the floor OF the
Garden opposite tie starting line, and was so
hemmed In by the crowd that nothing could be
seen except a flashing rider now and then.
Coach Lehman of the Harvard crew. before
calling for Europe on Saturday. said that ii by
Yales conditions Cornell could see hor way
clear to enter the triangular race at New Lon.
don, Harvard would. In addition to the race
with the Blue, arrange another contest with
P~oughkeepsie. If Lehman speaks by the
board, this unexpected stand by Harvard will
put an entirely new complexion on tho rowing
muddle. 1t may result in Cornell withdrawing
from all negotiations with Yale and forthwith
arranging q race with Harvard. The Crimson
in that case would be forced to undergo hard.