New-York tribune., 1903-03-13
GROUNDS IN MANHATTAN.
american League Makes Long En-
Dected Announcement.

The New-York American League CLUB Is 70
play this year at grounds between One-hundred-
and-sxty-fifth and e-hundred-ano-sl11y-
eighth sts Eleventh ave. and Fort Washington
Road The grounds Manhattan Island.
and fulfil the promise made by the American
League. They are not intecsected by One-hun-
dred and sixty sixth and One hundred and-six-
ty-seventh sts., and are the largest in the coun-
try The One-hundred- and-sixty- -eighth-st sta
ton OF the new underground road Is At the
northeast corner of the grounds. This year,
however, patrons OF the American League VIII
be compelled to use the surface roads.
The new president OF the New-York American
League Club will be Joseph Gordon. who was
associated with John 3. Day in the New-York
National League Club fifteen years ago. The
contractors are to begin work to-day. and work
on the stands will follow within few days.
There is seating capacity for $4,000 spectators.
The plans for the stands have been submitted
to the Building Depa rtment, and permit has
been granted to proceed with the work. The
property belongs to the New-York Institute for
the Blind. and has been leased by the American
League Club for ten years.
The above announcement, given out last even
ing by President johnson OF the, American
League solved the riddle which has kept 80
many in this city 'he anxious seat for the
last few months. The delay in announcing the
grounds, he explained, was due to negotiations
for the Lenox-ave. property, extending from
One-hundred- and forty -second-st.. east OF the
Harlem River. c. w. somers, ]. F. Kilfoyle
and others, according to President johnson,
were ready to buy the property, but 1t
was found that One-hundred- forty -third-st
could not be closed and the project had to be
abandoned. Then more delay came. as Presi-
dent Johnson points out, through the inability
of Mr. Gordon. who got the property from the
RA. lI.,I harr {ho
directors of that institution hold special meet
ing to arrange for the lease. The papers
were finally signed. he says, yesterday after
noon
Other sites considered were the Astor estate at
One-hundred- and-sixty- -frst-st. and Jerome-ave.
One-hundred-and sixty sixth-st. and Amster-
dam-ave., One-hundred-andtwenty y-ninth-st. and
Second-ave. and four sites in The Bronx.
President Johnson said that money for players
was voted by the American League. He said:
On the receipt of advice from Boston. we found
that we could gather in a bunch Of Pittsburg
players-Leach Tannehil Chesbro. Branstie!d.
ConToy, Smith, OConnor and Davis All of the
field. who accepted the terms offered him by
the agents OF the American League. and who
also agreed to sign contract, but later Brans-
field decided to remain with Pittsburg for the
coming season OF the other seven, Leach. Con-
roy and Smith jumped their contracts and went
back to Pittsburg. At the recent peace con-
the New-York Americans. Manager Griffith
pls yed an active part in rounding up the players
for the New-York team. and signed all of them
except Willie Keeler l personally conducted the
negotiations with him.
Joseph Gordon. the president Of the club,
was formerly president of the old Metropolitans
and was interested in the old National League
Club when John B. Day at the HEINZ He
lives at No. 100 West Eighteenth-st. He said
last evening that the club would probably be
incorporated under the laws OF New-York, to be
known as the "New-York Baseball Club" and
that John B. Day would be one Of the officials.