The evening times., 1899-03-18
EDWARD BECKER BUYS
THE ST. louis CLUB
Said to Have Paid $4,000 for
the Property.
The Strong Cleveland Team to Play
in the Mound City.
~S<r- a IN,
Frank De Haas Robson Interested in
the New Organization-Other
Sporting News.

ST. Louis, March 1S-Edward c. Becker
has bought the st. Louis Baseball Club.
This means more than appears on the
surface, as it carries with it the knowledge
that the Cleveland baseball team will be
transferred to this city and once more the
national game will draw its tens of thou
sands to Sportsmen's Park. The sale was
consummated yesterday, negotiations
which began Thursday being suspended to
allow Becker to open communication with
the League magnates. When the creditors
assembled Frank Tate, manager of the Co
lumbia Theatre, and Becker were both
present. Becker alone was invited into the
conference. After ten minutes Becker left
the room hurriedly and Messrs. Muench
and Rowell retired to private office with
a stenographer to draw up bill of sale.
The speed with which Becker's terms
were accepted was due to telegram re-
ceiyed by Rowell from John l. Rogers in
reply to the one sent on Thursday. Rog
ers said the League was not concerned
about prominent st. Louis business men
and would recognize no one except Becker
or Robson. After the papers We're sign
ed Becker wrote out a check for the
amount Then he departed. The credi-
tors bantered him for season tickets, but
he shrugged his shoulders and said he did
not have any idea of managing a ball
team. The price paid is understood to
have been $4,000. Frank Tate offered the
creditors $4,000 in cash for the property
they had bought for $33 600 He also Of
fered to pay up the League dues OF 81, 153
and the Wilkesbarre and Chicago claims
amounting to $l,750. In all Tate offered
S37, 7,9G3 for the club
Yesterday afternoon the American Base
ball and Athletic Exhibition Company filed
articles of incorporation with the recorder
OF deeds. The capital stock is 800 600,
one-half paid up. There are 200 shares,
at 500 per share. The stockholders and
the number of shares each has are as fol-
lows: Edward c. Becker 996; Guy P. Bill
lon, l; John II. Blessing l; Samuel G..
Payne, /; William G. Schofeld. l. Becker
is the recent purchaser OF the club Bless
ing is a member Of the firm of Gaylord
Blessing & Co., Messrs. Billion and Payne
are employees of that firm, and Schofeld is
a young lawyer in the office OF Attorney
John Fl. Overall. 1t is generally under
stood that Robson holds 40 per cent OF
the stock now in Becker's name. Al he
gives in exchange for this is his team Of
/ ball players But it is championship
team and will bring great baseball glory
once again to Sportsmen's Park. William
Kinnerk, attorney for Chris Won der Abe,
was seen. When told that Messrs. Becker
and Robson had bought the St. Louis
Club from the creditors syndicate he said ::
Every lover of baseball will be glad to
see the Cleveland Club in ST. Louis We
have not made up our minds about filing
| an appeal bond, which would have the ef-
| feet of setting aside this mornings pro-
| ceedings. We will push our appeal how
ever. If the bonds pay out in full Won
| der Abe will realize about $4,000 out OF
| the sale
1t is said Becker telegraphed over all the
! country asking the League men if they
! would stand by him in case he bought the
! club. He received several favorable an
swers and that was the reason he made the
purchase
The sale carries with it all the stands and
property now in Sportsman's Park, a ff.
| teen-year lease on the grounds and the
! following ballplayers: Pitchers Hill
| Hughey, Carsey, Sudhoff, Stivetts; Catchers
| Clements and Sugden; First Basemar
| Tucker, Second Baseman Quinn. Third
Baseman L. Cross, Left Fielder Harley
| Centre Fielder Stencil and Right Fielder
| Dowd.