Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-01
THE BASE BALL DEAL
Story of the Franchise Sale That
 Didn't Maierialize.

It may be news to good many
 people but an old story to few to
 know that the Waterbury baseball
 franchise and team came near being
 purchased by syndicate of promin-
 ent business men only a little while
 ago. The deal fell through because
 there were too many strings to the
 bill of sale. When the franchise was put on the market some weeks ago
 this syndicate got together and de-
 cidedto buyit. A well known business man was delegated to strike bargain
 if possible and at once opened up
 negotiations. What the syndicate
 wanted was the whole thing or noth-
 ing. This included, the franchise.all
 rights in the team, the grounds and everything and anything of whatever
 nature owned in part or in whole by
 the Waterbury Baseball association.
 When the negotiations were open ed the owners were asked to make a price on the franchise and team. They wanted $3,000 with Farley included, or if the syndicate would leave Far ley out of the question, they would sell for $2,000 The offer either way seemed to be fair enough, but the syndicate wanted show down then as to just what went with the fran chise and team. When that show down was given there was occasion for surprise among the prospective purchasers. It was found that sever al of the players had strings on them and could not be sold with the fran chise. This made the would be pur-- chasers look askance at each other and ponder before buying the rem nants of baseball team.
 But the buying of the grounds was where the principal snag was struck. The buyers wanted show down on that as we'll Itis said at that time there was an indebtedness of some- thing like $7,000 on the grounds. Each year the Connecticut Railway & Lighting company contributes $500 to the owners of the grounds and this little bunch of money was given because the grounds were To- cated so far out that the people would have to ride, which was a wise business arrangement of the trolley company. That $500 year would go a long ways toward pay ing on the interest on the $7,000 and the owners could sit back and col lect rent and do nothing, if they rented the field. which was more than likely. The syndicate wanted the grounds with the whole indebted ness and as well did they want that little bunch of $500, but here came a snag. The grounds could not be de- livered because while some of the people connected with the baseball team might have little interest in the grounds it was not enough to make them saleabls. The syndicate could purchase the franchise all right and the remnants of baseball team. or rather team with whole lot of tags on it, but if this was done then they must rent the ball field from the owners. That is the syndicate must put good team into the race, which would draw the crowds out to Reid ville must pay rent to the owners and the latter would also collect the little bonus of $500 per from the Traction company. Rather playing both ends and the middle 1t looked to the would be buyers and they didn't bite.
 When that deal fell through the amateurs of this city lost the hest chance they probably will. ever get as regards Rockville. The syndicate intended if the deal went through to throw the grounds open to the anna teurs for nominal rental. They cid not intend to play one professional game on Sunday throughout the season. They wanted the grounds with all their indebtedness, the bonus from the Traction company, the franchise, the team with Farley and the rest of 1t without strings. l They had the money to pay for 1t If l they could get 1t. They wanted to make clean sweep of things. but someone evidently smalled a rat and I the game was of.