The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-23


placed these propositions before the National
League with the additional informant ion
that President johnson would remain al the
Lafayette Hotel. Philadelphia, ready To
come over to New York TO complete the
deal, but the National League men could
not zee 1t In any light
Then as a war measure the National
League sprung another American Associa-
ton scheme which was intended to place
clubs in Philadelphia. Washington and
Baltimore in the East and Detroit, Indian
apolis, Louisville and Cleveland in the
West. Without delay they sent out. their
agents to sign American League players
and Harry Pulliam. now the President Of
he National League, proceeded to sign
Second iseman Dick Padden of the Chicago
Americans for st. Louis. This was the
first raid made upon the American League.
and up to that time Johnson's organization
had not taken a National League player
but the next day after johnson had received
an insulting message from the National
League, the American League sent c. W.
Somers to Boston, and before the week
closed Mr.. Somers had secured the Hunt
inRton grounds in that city. With equal
rapidity grounds were leased in Philadel-
phia. in Washington and in Baltimore ana
inside Of a month thirty-seven National
League players had been induced to sign
American League contracts. In securing
these players the American League men
League contracts, for they argued that this
only held good among the National League
clubs and would not stand in the court of
law. inasmuch as 1t prohibited a player
from signing with an outside organization
at an increased salary.
Jimmy Collins, the crack third baseman
Of the Boston National League club. was
the first player TO go over to the American
League, then in rapid succession President
johnson and his men signed Stahl, Free
man. Lajoie. Bernhard, Fraser, Jones,
Lave Cross, Fultz, Mc(iinnity, Seymour,
Williams. Howell McGraw, Carnick Mercer,
Clark, Mertes. Callahan. Griffith. Sullivan,
Piatt. Hugh Duny, Garvin. Anderson
Barrett. Harley, Holmes, Yaeger, Gleason,
Bradley, Scott. Taylor Mccarthy. Younr
and Criger. To Lajoie was paid a salar y
Of $4,000. and no sooner had he signed with
the American League than John l. Rogers
proceeded TO take the case into the Penn
sylvania courts.
Lajoie was permitted TO play with the
Philadelphia Athletics during the season
of 1901 pending decision of the court
but when the case finally came to trial al
opinion was handed down pronouncng the
optional clause IN Lajole's National League
contract bIndIng. La ioic was accord ngl,
shifted to the Cleveland National Leagu,
club, where he finished the season of 1902
So successful had the American League
been in its expansion 10 the East that, whei
y
made To invade st. Louls, and Collins
Duffy and Griffith went out on the road anc
proceeded 10 sign another batch of Nationa
League players including Padden. Wallace
Hardrick, Burketl, Powell. Harper, Red
Donohue, kehoe, Tom DAILY George Davis
Strang. Green. Eddie Mcfarland, Mcclure
Flick. Hickman. Warner. Monte Gross
Hartesell, Joe Kelly, Mc(;ann, Delehanty
Townsend. Orth and Wolyerton. twent v FIVE
IN all, making a total of slxty-two players
taken from the National League ranks il
two years In order to secure these mer
salaries were boosted away up.
The old National League salary limit o
u 400 was mere bagatele, for the Amer
can League contracted TO pay salario,
ranging from s., 900 TO 81, 900 year. thereb,
shouldering load which the Nationa
League men said would wreck the new
organization. But the quality of bal
played by the American League was OF
such popularity that the game drew i'm
mense crowds especially in the cities whert
the National League had been in CONTROL
and President johnson was corresponding /,
happy. In the meantime the Nationa
league men were striving earnestly. &c
wreck the American League in various
ways. Following the adverse decision ir
the Pennsylvania courts in the La ioie case
came the breaking up of the Baltimore
club. John I. Brush and Andrew Freed
man found a willing ally in John McGraw
anu WIN u Cdsn payment tnev S1cct.edeC
in purchasing the cream of the Baltimore
players for the New York club, move
which made the Baltimore franchise, a,
far as the American League was concerned
null and void. This was a staggering blow
for few days, but johnson jumped into
the breech, patched up the Baltimore team
declared the franchise forfeited and III,
American League finished the season ac
cording to the schedule.
The breaking up of the Baltimore club
proved boomerang to Brush and the
National League, for II paved the wav fol
the American League to enter New York
city. Had the Baltimore club remained in
tact, the American League would probably
have been compelled 10 pay $40 600 for the
franchise. Under the rules the Baltimore
franchise enabled the American League
to go in here scott free thereby establishing
n rival to the club which in the meantims
had passed from the control of Freedman
to Brush.
The increasing power OF the American
League was realized by the National Leagu,
men though they did not give public utter
ances to their feelings in any way. Presi
dent johnson, flushed with success. was al
along willing to reach peace settlement
with the older organization and accord
ingly they offered two chances TO the Ma
| tional League to fix things up. The first
one was deal with A, g, Spalding. whom
johnson met at Atlantic City early thi,
veal, anu SpdlulnR unueTIoOk 10 DTlnG Int
| two leagues together through a thirty
| days truce. but the troubles in Tn,
National League which resulted in the Spald
| ing-Freedman conflict, prevented con
summation Of the plan. Later In the season
johnson was advised by A. j. Reach of tn,
| Philadelphia National League Club that
truce might be effected. but johnson told
| Reach tina it would have to be accomplished
| inside Of thirty days or not at all. and al
| Reach could not do this the negotiation
| fell through.
Prior to the opening OF the past season
Brush visited johnson in Chicago ano
| offered all kinds Of inducements for a com
bination between the American Ieagu,
and the Freedman faction Of the Nationa
League. looking toward the formation Of
twelve-club circuit, but johnson turned
Brush down with fir 5ness.
In projecting the American League clubs
In Boston, Philadelphia and this city, {
W. Somers has played an important part
| He went into Boston, looked over the grounc
leased the park and put up the none,
| for the signing Of the team without assist
ance from local capital. He was elected
president Of the Boston American League
Club, but a year ago he sold out his inter
ests to Kililea OF Milwaukee. whose clul
was removed from the circuit to max,
room for st. Louis. Somers also went int
| Philadelphia on a similar basis and afte
| ne had placed the Athletics in good run
ming order he sold the club to Ben iamiI
| Shibe and others, who represented Phla
| delphia interests, and now Somers Is the
| man who has advanced most of the none,
| for installing the American League in New
York city, and he says that when the clul
| here gets under way, he will step aside il