New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-02
ING or ~ LIE NEw-YORK CLUB

HORST LAUGHS AT THE IDEA OF AN EIGHT
CLUB LEAGUE AND THE ORIOLES SELL
ING OFT TO THE NETWORK CLUB.
Tho proposed deal between the Brooklyn and
Baltimore clubs which has been pending FOR the
last two months is stll hanging fire. Henry Won
derhorst and Edward Hanon. the principal owner
and the president Of the Orioles. came TO the city
yesterday 70 consult with the owners OF the Brook
Ign club to II matters could not be fastened
Earlier in the day F. A. Abel. the owner OF the
majority % stock 81 thA Brooklyn club. and Presi-
dent Ebbets held conference at tho Office Of their
attorneys. When Mr.. Abel met Messrs. Hanlon
and vonderhorst al the Hoffman House later in
the afternoon the hope was exposed that some
thing definite might he done.
The baseball hurdles and obstacles, however. ap
pear be trouble some ever. and while the
deal may be made and Brooklyn secure the best
team that q ever had the fact remains that the
contamination Of the deal is not much
than Il was NJ the last meeting Of the National
League Tne friends 81 President Ebbets are In
disnant that he has been held up 10 public
as the who has been instrumental in prevent
Ing the contamination Of the transfer OF the
Baltimore players 10 Brooklyn. They say that the
delay is due 10 purely business reasons and that
Ebbe,s is just anxious 10 have the Baltimore
players come 70 Brooklyn either vonderhorst
or Ate is 20 have the deal made. The statement
has been made that President Ebbets controls only
IS per NJ the stock Of the Brooklyn club Those
IN position 20 know say that he owns nearer 70
per cent.
Messrs. Abel. VondeThorst and Hanon wers
found in consultation M the Hoffman House late
IN the afternoon. and all admitted that the deal
had not been arranged yet although they thought
The conditions looked little more hopeful than
they did week ago. A meeting OF the Brooklyn
club will he held in Jersey City Friday. when
Mr.. Abel promises that something will be done or.
as he expressed Il. that some OF the hurdles and
blockades will be removed"
President Hanlon said: This vexatous delay IS
annoying Of course expect 10 start for the
South neX' week 10 arrange for spring training
grounds for my players. and I would like 10 have
II arranged so that could make the preparations
for the two Then my Baltimore players
must be signed. in fact have not as yet sent out
my contracts TO the players. II is getting along
toward the time when must make preparations
for the opening of the season and we cannot afford
10 delay much longer. That yarn that the Bat-
more club would negotiate with the New-York club
FOR the transfer of myself and the Baltimore play
ers 70 NeV-York was ridiculous The Baltimore
iolub could not sell my release any more than
could sell that Of Mr. Vonderhorst No deal be-
tween the Ne Work and Baltimore clubs has ever
been considered for instant let alone putting the
Two-thirds u the Brooklyn players are already
under contract This number does not include Mo-
,Csrthy and Dowd who are under reservation 10 the
SSb but who vii p96aby not sign n. 0p6nossS
transfer Of the Cleveland players TO ST Louis was
nearer completion than was the Brooklyn-foa4-
1imore combinat on. They seemed 70 think that the
fact that Won der Abe had caken the matter into
the courts might prevent tho contamination or the
deal until after the playing season had opened.
Even II both deals should be carried out SAID
Mr. Won der Horst, 1T would not have any effect
upon the League circuit There will he twelve
clubs In the League this year, ahd next year, too,
for that matter The twelve-club agreement Will
stand until The fall OF 1901 unless of the clubs
retire voluntarily. Now, League franchises are
valuable. end none OF the club owners are going TO
part with their holdings for nothing. Then again.
no move DO made without the unanimous con-
sent Of all. you there is little chance for
anybody being frozen out In case some or the
Baltimore PLAYERS were transferred to Brooklyn
there would etill be the Baltimore Club in Balt-
more There plenty Of players for both In
case Frank De Haas Robson secured control Of ST.
Louis there would remain the Cleveland franchise
in Cleveland Whether the franchise would be
transferred 10 some other city or not would De de-
termined upon later
Those VINO have made study OF baseball matters
admit II of the clubs could be Induced
TO retire. ten-club circuit would be unwieldY
and even difficult to handle than the present
twelve-club circuit The schedule on a tweve-cluo
basis has already been prepared and II is said that
the schedule will be presented and adopted at the
meeting Of the League. which VIII be held az the
Fifth Avenue Hotel next wednesday. This will be
the regular schedule meeting OF the League, and
not special meeting has been announced.