New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-16


no THE TEAMS SUCCESS
ro,.er Shading. who has been director
>,ou,-york Baseball Club for many years
r,aar several administrations mas '"e
90 proposition a little too tough 10 nan
ND be has IN consequence sent IN MS reS's-
o &C q director Of the club. When seen
~.,.rsav Mr.. Spalding admitted that ne nau
'.,-os from all connection with the cluo on ac-
- Freedman. and that he wanted noln-
- .,-,ber 10 do with II. Mr.. Spalding "a hrtnlF
,,nced that the manner In which freedman
.ordrcted the affairs Of the New YORK CRUZ
10" ,.,,rad the game in this city and he SAID
MT care TO have his name connected with
restitution where such methods were pur-
sued. .. NJ Eraed-
1eo4- said Mr. Spalding, "I disposed OF
-. financial holdings in the company ana was
MY od 20 retire. Mr. Freedman came to me
- r~esd me 70 remain director or the
81. - consented met him just after L
....,r,ed from Europe several weeks ago, ana
.to, he told me then astonished me so tha'
sa,.rmined to retire as a director at once l
A-octarize his methods as unsportsmahllhe
- rrbnsfnesslike. and their continuance VIII
II mil
ron Freedman's friends admit that he en-
,.red baseball for purely speculative purposes
.ra that he never had any real regard for the
,ore His constant wrangling with players
1,oires reporters and the other club owners
has served to bring professional basepa. more
- ,ess into III repute throughout the country.
" ensaking Of the matter yesterday. prom
-, baseball man said THE policy of those
-,~l- c1,,f -
- ,sars has done much to lower the respect
sor the game and the profession among the bet
.er element Of people who support athletic
.norts in this city. Freedman did more than
.nvnodv else to drive college football out OF
Vev-York and the record the team has mace
si,ca ba has been in charge is certainly not one
10 be proud Of. When he secured control OF the
clnh in 1894 New-York had team second to
none in the country, for it had Just won the
Ternule Gun series, defeating the champions In
to,r straight games. Everybody knows what it
mas done since. 49,,
Then Freednan's insults to the other club
owners have not helped baseball In this city. lie
has refused TO attend the last three meetings
Of the National League. or TO delegate one OF
the other stockholders or directors or the ciuD
20 20 there its representative instead ne
goes 10 Mr. Soden of the Boston club and gives
hm New -YOrks proxy with instructions how
% vote upon every question. Now there were
ehr directors at home who were competent 10
ID mis- work and you need not look any further
than TO Mr.. Mccall or John b. Day to find them.
ffeedman's repeated assaults upon newspaper
men and his barroom brawls certainly have not
served 10 elevate the standard of the game. II
was hoped that there would be a change in the
MANAGEMENT of the club this year. but so long
as Freedman can draw $4,000 salary for man
aging the club he is not going TO get out If he
can help IT,"
The players Of the New York team are now on
their way South. where they will begin their
preliminary practice tomorrow. Several Of the
most important players. notably Rusie. Meekin
and seymour have refused to sign with the
club. on account Of alleged cut in salaries
Without the services Of these three great pitch
ers the NewYork team might well give up
any idea Of securing anything like a decent
position in the League race. Mr. Spalding's let
ter in full is follows:
New-York. March a. 1898
Andrew Freedman. President National Exhibition
Company, New-York City.
Dear Sir l hereby tender my resignation as a
Director Of the National Exhibition Company, to
take effect Immediately.
have hesitated about taking this action for some
tme, because Of my desire TO be Of some service to
the club and 20 the game Of baseball in the metro
pOitan district but | realize that no director in the
NeT-York club has any influence whatever with
you.
Referring 10 the conversation had with you on
The subject short time ago on the elevated train,
you distinctly stated that il was matter Of no
Consequence 10 you whether the club successful
OF not. and that Y they were not successful YOU
Intended 10 substitute the cheapest class of PLAYERS
possible. protested at that time against any such
policy, and could not believe that YOU were in ear
nest, but since that time have heard from other
reliable sources that it IS your intention 10 operate
me club upon such an unsporismanlike and ruin
Gus policy. Under these circumstances | cannot
with sef-respecf remain director in he club any
.onger ! therefore insist upon immediate accept
snce o. my resignation. and decline 10 further
set as member Of your Board. whether II is ac-
NV'eu OF not yours res"ec'iI W spArnr>,c