The Washington times., 1905-01-15
DOES CROKER OWN
NEW YORK GIANTS?
Boss Dick Said to Be Prin-
cipal Stakeholder.
GIVES ORDERS TO BRUSH
News Came From Another Owner and
Created Quite Surprise in
Baseball Circles.
GIVES ORDERS TO BRUSH

NEW YORK, Jan. 14.-Quite a furore
was created in baseball circles yesterday
by the announcements of a stockholder
in the New York baseball club that
Richard Croker was the principal owner
of the Giants and that John T. Brush,
In declining to play the New York
Americans. was not acting of his own
volition, but was obeying the orders
form some one higher up
This stakeholder. who now comes to
the front with a positive statement that
Croker is the real thing, when the
Giants follow any set policy, says that
the boss interests in the club are look
cd after by Andrew Freedman, which
state of affairs has often given rise
TO the rumor that Freedman IS still the
main owner OF the team.
Holds the Majority.
When asked what proof he had to
offer that Croker owned the team now.
| this gentleman said:
Because, as stakeholder, 1 know
who holds the majority of the stock
When at the end of the season of 1904 I
went To Europe, two of nay partners
| quietly disposed of their shares in the
| club TO Andrew Freedman. Fourteen hun
dred and forty shares were disposed of
for something Ike So COO I was notified
! by cable of the sale. On my return here
| III the following spring l went TO Mr.
| Freedman and offered 10 buy his stock,
or rather the stock he purchased for Mr..
] Croker for sl2s, 600 Mr. Freedman
/ thought | was joking. but said he was
not prepared at the time 20 accept the
offer, as ne had 10 consult some one else
1 before he could act. Later, when Mr..
Freedman rejected the offer / raised the
price TO $4,000, and then to $4,000, but
again my offers were refused. / learned
| later that MIR Freedman had only act
| cd in the purchasing of the stock in be-
half of Mr.. Croker, and / still know that
| Mr.. Croker has that stock. which today
Is valuable piece OF property.
Very Shrewd.
| Il did not think very much OF Mr.
/ Brush until he assumed charge of the
New York club. and l must say, from
the viewpoint of a minority stakeholder
that he is very shrewd and capable
business manager Mr.. Brush has not
all TO do with the running of the clubs
affairs He has to consult those above
Inn, yet he is given fun rein in man,
things which pertain to the running OF
the cluh.
| AS SdlQ before 4 Wish L owned TIT
Giants; not that l would have a bettel
team here than Mr. Brush has gotte1
together. but for nay love OF the nationa
game, and because of the value of tn
| stock l am a strong believer in harm
: ony, and instead of assuming the posi-
ton that the National League has tax
en-. TO try to disrupt the American
League, j would turn my efforts towar,
bringing the two leagues together on
more friendly basis. There is room Il
; New York. Philadelphia. Boston, Pitts
, burg, and Chicago for two clubs, and i
, the two leagues worked in harmony
; baseball would prosper in all of tn
. cities.
Post Season Series.
: Il believe in post-season series be
tween clubs OF the two leagues. as
? tends 10 create friendly rivalry be
tween the players and stirs up the Ell
: thusiasm of the fans. While / thin
Mr. Brush IS a good business man.
am not in favor of The position he Ia
taken in refusing to play the Highland
ers, and 1 firmly believe that in the pc
sition ne has assumed he is guided b
the dictation of those higher up in tn