Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-28

gusta New England League team with
such skill and general ability as to win
him tho friendship of every fan:
Milwaukee. Wis, May 27.-Mike KEEL
ley, who has just been purchased by
the Washington club Of the American
League Association, has had q most in
tcrestirg time Of it the past two or
three years-in fact, his career on the
diamond would furnish the vehicle for
a cCrking good farce with baseball
trimmings. However the baseball fans
of this section hope that the people
who have been trying to put Mike KEEL
ley out of the game will fail by the
Wayside now and DE forgotten.
Prior to 1902 Mike Kelley had been
playing with the indianapolis club in
Tho Central League, and also with some
Of the smaller teams, having made a
hit as captain of the minor league
tea ms. He made q success Of it at In
diantnols-so much 50 that George
Lennon Of the St. Paul club secured
him fer that team, paying Owner Wat
kins 500 for his release. Then came the
advent Of the American Association
and the war with the Western League.
Kelley was manager Of the st. Paul
club and handled the team cleverly,
playing first base himself. He won the
pennant ard made such Roadway that
the next year Owner Lennon announced
that Kelley had purchased an interest
IL the club and would be made preSi-
dent Of tho club.
On this announcement Kelley was
elected to the board of directors as
chairman and held the position until
the trouble between the two factions in
the association arose that later Great
ed such a sensation in baseball circles.
Kelley afterWard became involved in a
personal dispute with Owner Lennon
and the following year left the st. Paul
man to take the management and pres
idency of the Minneapolis club 1t de-
velOped afterWari that w. II. Watkins
and Charles Raushaupt of 1ndianapo-
lis were the principal owners of the
MINNEAPOLIS club.
Then came the trouble between tho
Watkins and Lennon or Tebeau fac
tons The st. Paul club announced that
it had sold Kelley to the ST. Louis club
OF the American League, Mr. Lennon
maintaining that Kelley was hired as
player and could not leave while
Kelley claimed TO be q free agent and
under no contract.
The sale was always considered to be
'phony' one. The National Com
mission took the matter up and Kelley
had them enjOincd from interfering bur,
afterward dropped that phase of the
case. Kelley WAS prevented from play
ing, but was permitted to manage from
the bench. The controversy over the
official baseball followed and Kelley
sided with the Watkins crowd.
Following all this trouble came the
umpire faSco at Minneapolis and later
the claim that Umpire Owens had been
betting on games. This was followed
by the suspension Of Kelley and also
Secretary Lvdiard Of the Milers. There
was an open trial at Milwaukee, but
nothing wa. proven against Kelley.
Later he was suspended by the Ameri-
can Association ana about the same
time the Minneapolis club was pur-
chased hy the late Gus Koch Of Mil
WaulIec. Then followed the bitter fight
at Minneapolis. the people of that CITY
siding with Kelley 50 strongly that the
attendance fell off from 201O daily to
100 OF 200. Mr.. Koch grew tired Of the
job and refused to fight against Kelley,
so it was not long before he sold out
to the Cantillon brOthers-Joe ana
MiHo-and they lost no time in placing
Kelley right. They had him squared in
a way with the association and also
| re-engagcd him. placing him in charge
| Of their Des Moinrs club in the West
ern League
Once more the National Commission
broke in and tried to have Kelley
stopped from playing or managing the
| team at Des Moines, the claim being
made that he still belonged to St
Louis. In order to stop all further at
| temnts to injure Kelley in his profess
sion Joe CantillOn bought his release
from st. Louis and proposes TO Use him
at first base for the Nationals.
Kelley is splendid captain of team
and knows the inside plays as we'll as
the big league men. He is n good field
er and fair hitter, 50 there is no rca-
| son why he should not help Joe Can
tillon, even in the major league The
fans from this section wish him sue
| cess.