New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-17
BASEBALL.
THE FREEDMAN SPALDING CONTRO-
VERSY GROWS WARM

THIS crTY-FREEDMAN SAYS HE WILL CLOSE
THE POLO GROUNDS RATHER THAN
GIVE IN TO ANY PLAYER-voNDER-
HORST HELPS TO HEAP FUEL
Of THE DEBATE
The controversy the msma nagement Of tho
affairs OF the New York Baseball club, the first
chapter Of watch was printed yesterday. when j.
Walter Spaldng resigned a director OF the club
account OF Andy" Freodman's unsportsman-
He conduct. grew warmer yesterday. Many peo-
pie OF the opinion that IL the beginning
of the end of Frcedmanism in professional base
ball. and there considerable quiet rejoicing in
consequence. II has been admitted for some time
that the methods pursued the Polo Grounds
during the last four years have all but killed the
interest in the game of tho better class Of sport
lovers In this district
When Freedman was seen yesterday by several
representatives, OF tho newspapers he was found
munching great quantities Of roast beef and build
Ing air castles usual. not forgetting TO admire
his profile in adjoining mirror between each
gup. There were gravy stains at the corners OF
his expressive and hunaney modelled mouth as he
IS reported to have tried to answer the hot shot
from the Spalding batteries He intimated that
Mr.. Spsldng had msconstrued his remarks about
not caring for baseball He said that the other re-
marks made by Mr. Spaldng which were printed
broadcast over the country yesterday. as to Freed
mans Acknowledgement ana unSpOrtSmanlike con-
duct he considered Of too little Importance to re-
CURE an answer. He admitted that he did say that
81 tho players did not the salaries that he paid
them he would discharge them and substitute
cheaper men who could play just as good baseball
lie said that Mr. Day received three times tho sal
ary paid to the Chicago manager and that Spald
Ing was simply sore because he Frecdman) had not
ordered the players uniforms from the firm NJ
which Mr.. Spalding Is part. He said that he had
left the awarding of the contract entirely in the
hands Of Manager Day and Secretary Brunei.
Freedman said that SpaldinG had no interest In
baseball except the money that he could make out
OF IT, and that ho had intended TO ask Spalding for
his resignation as A director OF the club, anyway.
He said. regarding his not going to League meet
irgs. that that was his affair Then guplng down
an extra large piece Of beef Mr.. Freedman said:
Regarding Rusle. Mcokin and Seymour. they Will
either play bail at the terms offer or they will
not play at ALL Rather than give in TO them Will
close the Polo Grounds"
When seen later J. W Spalding said: MY retire
ment from any direction in the affairs Of the club
was on account of the policy pursued by Mr.. Freed
man It is true that the club did not order the
players uniforms from this year and It IS also
true that tho club did not pay for the uniforms or
dered last year In fact tho club is still indebted
to us for uniforms Slio. and FOR other things the
amount foos up something like $500 understand
from some of the players that Mr. freedman de-
ducted from their first months salary last year NoV
each for unifcr ms. SO 1t does not look as IL we
were the only people who made a proht on those
uniforms There eighteen players | believe.
and as the suits cost the players $50 each, you
do q little figuring for yourself
Henry Nonderhorst. Of the Baltimore club said
yesterday that he had read the Spaldng- Freedman
controversy. and that he sided with Mr.. Spaldins
right through lie said that Mr.. Freedman's man
agement Of the Ncw-York club during the last few
years had been the worst that he had ever seen
since he had been connected with baseball. Mr..
Nonderhorst said that Mr.. Freodman's mlsman-
agement had heen the most glazing. and that his
knowledge Of the game had been limited that
he had almost wrecked professional baseball in
/ off 10 L. M-nl
ing and unreasonable" said ne. and he has caused
the cub-owncrs nothing but trouble ever since he
has been connected with tho game
II IS ntmated that the meeting Of the League
next week will be n particularly lively one.