The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-01
AN EIGHT-CLUB LEAGUE
THE SCHEME HAS ALREADY BEEN
PERFECTED, 1T Is SAID.
It's Contamination Depends, However,
Ahe-Muckenfuss Lawsuit.

LOUISVILLE, KY. Dec. S1.-Contrary to
an announcement made to-day, that the di-
Iectors of the Louisville Baseball Club would
hold an important meeting tonight, at
which deals of general public interest would
be settled, no such meeting was held. How
ever, the baseball news brought here from
the East by Director Barney Dreyfuss was
made known by that gentleman tonight
and it throws much additional light on the
eight-club league scheme recently limited at
in New York at the meeting of the baseball
magnates. MIR. Dreyfuss says several offers
have been made for the star players of the
Louisville club. Consideration of the deals
and their settlement will be made at the an
nual meeting of the stockholders next week.
More important than this, however, is the
statement, unequivocally made for the first
time, that the eight-club-league scheme is
a reality and that its contamination hangs
on the decision of the St. Louis courts,
which will be made this week, in the case
of Muckenfuss VS.. Won der Abe. If the
courts decide in favor of Muckenfuss, and
thereby Gust Won Der Abe, there will be
but eight clubs in the league, and Louisville
will not be one Of them. The league has al
ready made an offer for the Colonels, with
have practically agreed to the terms. If the
court of st. Louis decides in favor of Muck
enfuss, the Cleveland team will play in the
Mound City; Louisville and Washington will
be bought out and abolished and the Balti-
more team will play in Brooklyn, thereby
reducing the league to eight clubs If Won
Der Abe wins his suit and he is kept in
power by the st. Louis court. then the re-
duction deal will be blocked and the Louis
vile club will probably dispose of some of it's
star players. 1t can be said, however, that
the magnates expect the courts to decide in
FAVOR or Muckenfuss, and they have already
made arrangements for a meeting of the
heads of the eight clubs interested.
While Mr.. Dreyfuss would not go into de-
tails regarding the offers from the Eastern
clubs he admitted that the New York and
Philadelphia clubs were the ones that seek
the Colonies best players. He also adj
mitted that one of the offers was $4,000 for
out-helders Fred Clarke and Charlie Dexter.
Mr.. Freedman also made an offer of $4,000
for Pitcher Cunningham: Philadelphia has
also made offers for Clarke. Dexter and
Kittredge Magee and Clingman are also
sought by the Eastern magnates. 1t is
stated that the local owners can dispose of
four or five of their players to the New York
and philadelphia clubs for at least $25, 600.
Whether the Louisville stockholders will de-
eide to dispose of these players is a question
which viii not be answered until the annual
meeting next week.
In the course of an interview Mr.. Drey-
fuss said: "Mr. Freedman wants Clarke and
Dexter. I offered him Dexter for Rusie but
he could not see it that way. Instead he
offered me Russie for Cunningham. I could
not see that Louisville would have any the
hest of that trade and / refused. | consider
Cunningham, all things considered, one Of
the very best pitchers in the League. But
we all know that New York must be
strengthened if we expect TO make any
money Brooklyn is to have a great club
and New York will not draw flies unless
the Giants are strong We al realize this
and as we all want to make money, we want
to see New York strengthened. With a
strong team in New York and fierce rivalry
between New York and Brooklyn every
team in the League will make good money
no matter whether the respective clubs make
money at home or not. You see, strong
pressure has been brought to bear on us. 1t
was also brought to bear on Washington
Earl Wagner has sold Setback for 1000 to
Cincinnati. Setback was the star player of
the Senator's You can see how the wind is
blowing.
Yes admitted Dreyfuss. "the deal for an
eight-club league is still ON. ] may as well
admit it. Everything depends on the coming
suit of Won der Abe against Muckenfuss
which will be tried in the St. Louis courts
the coming week.