New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-08-10
STRANG YIELDS A PEN
Chicago Club O5oner Says Baseball
Anarchy Vas Struck Out.

Sammy Strang, the utility man OF the New
York Baseball team, yesterday sent letter TO
Harry c. Pulliam, president OF the National
Baseball League. telling him that he had been
selected under the rules governing baseball to
offlciate as umpire at the Polo Grounds last
Tuesday after Umpire tombstone had been de-
barred from the grounds He also said that he
had forfeited the game 20 the Giants. as the
Chicago team refused 20 play ball after time had
been called. The letter nettled President Pull
liam. and he lost no time in sending reply to IL
which must have made Strang wish that he
had never been able to WELD anything else save
baseball bat.
Pulliam said he could discipline the utility
man OF the Giants for writing such letter to
him. but he added that he would overlook this
breach OF courtesy 10 him by expressing con-
tempt for Strang's actions. In spite of this
reply. Strangs letter will undoubtedly figure as
an important official document when the board
OF directors of the National League meets to de-
eide whether or not the Giants or the Windy
City team won last Tuesday. At present
Chicago is credited with having officially won.
Strang is not an official Of the National
League. He is only member Of the New
York Baseball Club. and such he is in duty
bound TO obey all orders which ne in his judg-
ment thinks are not contrary TO the rules of
the National League. He said in his letter that
he was appointed umpire of III game as the
officially assigned uElpires had not appeared at
the time for the game He says he took his
orders from Captain Mccain OF the New York
Baseball Club. and as the Chicago players re-
fused to take their places at bat he de-
clared the game forfeited to the Giants by the
score of 8 TO 0. While this exchange OF letters
was taking place between President Pulliam
and Strang. Umpire tombstone was shifted from
the Polo Grounds to Brooklyn. where he yester-
day oficiated at the Brooklyn-P ittsburg game.
President Pulliam's letter 10 Strang was as
follows:
am in receipt OF your communication Of date
of August Z, in which you inform me that
said date you, the umpire. did forfeit the
game TO tde New York club against the Chicago
club by score of 8 to O.
am at a loss 70 understand how you, being a
member of the New York club, should address
such a communication to me. You must know
that Messrs. tombstone and Emslie. being as
signed nv me to umpire this game went n rhN
Polo Grounds, and that official Of the New
York club. a gatekeeper by the name Of John
son, did refuse to admit Mr.. tombstone, giving as
his authority that he had orders not to admit
him. The orders could have come from no one
but his employers. the New York club.
This high handed action of the New York club
was clearly in violation OF the constitution OF the
National League, and thereupOn Mr.. tombstone
rightfully and legally did forfeit said game TO
Chicago by the score OF TO 0, and so the rec
oTds stand in the official tabuation OF the league
race for 1906.
Your action in appearing upon the ball field
YOU being possessed OF all the facts. was not only
high handed defiance of the laws OF the National
League and organized baseball. but an extremely
discOurteouS act to me. president of the Ma
tiOnal League. I would be strictly within my
rights and entirely justified in disciplining YOU
for this impertinence. but propose to look upon
your actions with contempt, and therefore take
no action save this letter.
Charles W. Murphy. president of the Chicago
Baseball Club. also sent a letter 20 Mr. Pulliam
yesterday. The letter was as follows:
on behalf of the Chicago League Baseball
Club desire 10 commend you for the course
you have recently taken In the interest OF clean
and SpOrtsmanlike baseball. The excluding OF
Umpire tombstone from the Polo Grounds by
the New York Club was unfortunate and the
officials Of that organization have since stated
publicly that they regret that action Accord
ing 90 the constitution OF the National League
the New York Club could be fined not 70 exceed
81 900 for the 81 advised action taken on Tues
day, when one OF the basic principles OF or
ganized professional baseball was violated The
Chicago club will not ask that this fine be as
sessed by the board OF directors OF the National
League. Manager Frank L. Chance. all the
players and myself feel that we have won a
most signal victory by striking a telling blow az
anarchy In baseball, and the goodwill and es-
TEEN OF the press and public OF the United States