The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-14
robson At THE BAT
HE LINES A FEW DOWN THE CEN
TER IN THE MERRY WAR.
Talks About McGraw and Player
Robinson, and the Deal Releasing
Them to the St. Louis Club.

NEW YORK. Jan. 13.-Frank De Hass
Robson, of the St. Louis Baseball Club,
tonight gave out the following statement
concerning the withdrawal of McGraw and
Robinson from the National Baseball AS
ISOLATION:
Before the last meeting of the national
association was held at Chicago, last win
ter, McGraw and Robinson had both
signed regular National League contracts
to play baseball with the Baltimore Base
ball Company, of which Mr.. Hanlon is
president and Mr.. Won der Horst is treas
urer. for the baseball season of 1900. This
was done on the same day, Saturday, and
that same night McGraw, together with
Mr.. Peterson, the president of his new
baseball club that had been organized in
Baltimore. started for Chicago to attend
the meeting of their new association. AS
is well known by almost every baseball
reader, McGraw and Robinson had previous
to this time deserted the Balti-
more Baseball Company and had
new National Association. They new
er intended to. remain in that associa-
ton, but on the contrary, sent private
communications to Mr.. Hanlon, president
of the Baltimore club. to know If he would
meet them at some place for a conference.
Mr.. Hanlon and Mr.. Won der Horst agreed
that Hanlon should meet McGraw and Rob-
inson and hear what they had TO say. This
was after McGraw and RoDlnson's new
baseball company had Incorporated and
elected officers, and in fact had gone so far
as to make a lease of the Baltimore base
ball rounds, which was the property of
Hanlon, Won der Horst and other stock
holders; that Is, all the buildings on the
baseball park ~belonge~ to them, and had
been put up by them at an expense exceed
ing more than 1900 40 in cash. AT the differ
ent conferences held by McGraw and Rob-
insCn at Mr.. Hanlon's home, McGraw and
p.hinCnn fofn6 70 IInnlAr fhnt fbnx- lid
not want TO play ball with the new Nation
al Association or become connected with il,
If they could make suitable arrangement
with Mr.. Hanlon and Mr.. Won der Horst.
"At the conference held by McGraw,
Robinson and Hanlon the first two said
they would like to make a proposition to
MIR. Hanlon whereby they would sign con-
tracts with him to play ball with the Bal
tlmore club for the season of 1900. Nc
Graw wanted $1,000 for the season, and
Robinson wanted 5000, with the added
proviso that If released or sold to any other
club McGraw was to receive s., 500 in adj
dition, and Robinson $500. Hanlon SUBJ
mitted the terms TO Won der Horst in my
presence. and Won der Horst declared he
would not agree to the terms, character
izing their tender as an outrage.
Il finally suggested TO them that prob
ably the National League would share in
the loss and help reimburse the Baltimore
club in case Hanlon and Won der Horst
accepted the terms OF McGraw and Robin
son, and both Hanlon and Won der Horst
said If 1 would telegraph to members of
the National League, asking them If the
National League would stand by them in
this matter and share the loss with them.
and get their consent 10 do so. that they
would then accept the terms ropos by
McGraw and Robinson. The latter also
agreed that they would break up the new
National Association and drop them entire
ly, this being part of the consideration. /
consented TO telegraph TO the members of
the circuit committee of the National
II a n m and did So and RpffinQ rpnlfa,
from them that they would stand by the
Baitils ore club. Mr.. Hanlon then again met
McGraw and Robinson and accepted their
terms, and they both signed National
League contracts calling for the above
named amounts.
After McGraw and Robinson had signed
the contract McGraw took the train, ac-
ccmpanied by Mr.. Peterson, the president
Of his new baseball organization In Balts-
more, and started. for Chicago. where they
we're TO attend the meeting of the National
Association. II was McGraw's idea 10
break up that association at that meeting,