The times., 1899-03-19


G. A. Gruner and the bondholders who
bought in the club at the sherff's sale last
Tuesday, and the fact that the Cleveland
team will be transferred TO that city, it is
said that Lotus, the Columbus Western
League manager, will take the franchise
in Cleveland. Frederick J. Mersheimer,
who owns the West New York Field Clubs
grounds at weehawken, where Sunday ball
fourished last season. has made a sub
stantial offer for the Baltimore franchise.
He was in that city and his proposition
is under serious consideration. Hanlon,
Won der Horst Abel, and Ebbetts are will
ing to unload the club il they can receive
q fair price for the franchise.
The refusal of the League to expel the
ST. Louis Club. even though the latter was
In arrears and could have been expelled
according to the constitution OF the
League, brings TO mind some ancient his
tory. At the recent session of the mag
mates, John l. Rogers, tine Leagues law
yer, opposed the expulsion of the club on
the ground that there was no precedent
and that it would be illegal. Since the
League was first organized in 1876 three
clubs have been expelled from member
ship AT the end of the first year the New
York and Philadelphia clubs were expelled
BY direction of President w. A. Hur. burt,
for refusing to make the last Western trip
OF that season. When the case was tried
by the League both clubs were represented
BY able counsel, while the Leagues inter
ests were looked after by A. G. Mills. The
- int md
after long argument the two clubs were
formally ruled out and they remained out
for about eight years. In 1899, at the end
OF the disastrous Brotherhood war, Aaron
Stern sold the Cincinnati club to Albert
/. Johnson, who organized the Players
League
AS the club had violated the constitution
the magnates of the League held a meet
ing al the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York.
A. G. Spalding at that time was one of the
leaders in baseball politics and vigorous
tighter He headed a movement to expel
the Cincinnati Club. John /. Rogers pro-
tested vigorously on the ground that such
G move would be illegal and blot upon his
professional reputation" Spalding' just
at that moment received tip that john
son had gone to court to secure an injunc-
tion restraining the League from expelling
bis club. This information prompted
spalding 10 insist on immediate action. He
invited Rogers TO leave the star chamber If
he did not want TO be party TO the ex-
pulsion, and when the latter had retired
the door was locked and the club was ex-
PEELED unanimously. Johnson had fight
on IL in the courts, but he was beaten
With these precedents the magnates could
have expelled the St. Louis Club. il is ar
sued, without fear Of results, especially
as Won der Ahe's club was more guilty of
violating the League constitution than the
three clubs mentioned above.
The alleged overthrow of John T. Brush
on the proposition TO expel the st. Louis
Club from the National League is not un-
derstood by the public, and for that mat
ter by the scribes who have SO ruthlessly
yelegeted the Cincinnati magnate to the
ehades OF the has beens. In the first place,
no vote was taken on the proposition, as
the records of the meeting will show; and,
in the second place, it required unani-
nous vote to expel. Knowing that Colo
mel Rogers and Barney Dreyfus would op-
pose the resolution, Mr.. Brush did not
tress the matter to a vote. That is the
true etory of John T. Brush's Waterloo"
ANDY" Freedman is surely looking for
trouble His declaration that he will not
attempt to strengthen his club, but will
release all his stars and employ minor
league organization, is in keeping
with a policy of ever years standing.
The foregoing is a condensed statement Of
one side of the case. Now for the other.
Mr. Freedman says that Walter Spalding's
resignation was not inspired by a high
sense OF duty which he owed the New
York stockholders" nor from anything
that was said with reference to the man
agement of club affairs; that Spaldings
action was precipitated by the fact that
Spaldings firm failed to secure the con-
tract for making the uniforms of the Gi-
ants. Freedman further says that he will
do all he can TO strengthen his club and
advance the interests of the League. That
is the right sort of spirit and the proper
course for Freedman to pursue.
Much of President Young's valuable time
Is taken UP in writing letters denying
statements attributed TO him by fake sport
ing writers. Uncle Nick" says: 1T
makes me very tired TO see interviews that
never took place printed in certain papers
in which ] am made to say things that are
ridiculous. ! am always glad TO give the
newspaper boys an item, but it disgusts
me to have them willfully and deliberately
misrepresent me-
Dick Padden gives it out as his opinion
that the Pittsburg Club is not. as strong as
II was last season. 1T has" he says,
OnIt Two StdADuCc plicutiSs ishutHlil anu
Rhines, the others being experiments. In
case either should get out of condition or
fail TO duplicate last seasons work it will
prove a serious handicap.
S-BALL ETAOI 80.
1T is almost a certainty that the Wash
ingfon club will beat out the Pirates. 1
am well acquainted with all of Irwin's new
men They are bra'"y players and as fast
as the wind. Hulen, Slagle, and O'Brien
would strengthen any team in the League.
They are all hard hitters and clever base
runners, and that's what counts
Ed Dunkle says that while he was with
the Phillies he won seven out of the first
nine games he pitched. Then he was laid
off about three weeks, in consequence OF
which he became stale and out OF condi-
tion. He was then put In and lost two
close games and released. What want" Z"
says Dunkle. lis work in the box at least
twice week. and this is necessary to in
sure good work on my part"
AMITSFMFNT FOR THE GIANTS