The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-12-17
BASEBALL WORLD
ALL STIRRED UP
SALE OF PHILADELPHIA TEAM
BIGGEST DIAMOND SENSA-
TON IN YEARS.
TALK OF SYNDICATE BALL
Murphy of the Chicago Cubs Denies
That He Is Interested in the Deal,
But Nevertheless, the Report Will
Not Down.

This winter promises to be the
most important in the history of base
ball and before the umpire gives the
familiar order to play ball" next
spring the various fights between mag
mates and the quarrels Of the players
for more salary and other concessions
some startling changes are expected.
The recent sale of the Philadelphia
National league team to syndicate
headed by Horace Fogel, who has
been elected president, gave the ball
of trouble which had already started
to rolling a hard push, and is the big
sensation to date.
Because of the presence of Charles
w. Murphy, president of the Chicago
Cubs, in Philadelphia when the deal
was made, it was Immediately predict
ed that he was behind Fogel. Muir
ply denies it, but in such a way that
there Is serious question whether he
was not leaving something unex-
planned Charles P. Taft, brother OF
the president, is Murphy's hacker, and
it may yet develop that it was the
Taft purse that furnished the coin to
pay for the club. 1t was announced
that $500 was the price paid.
It was also announced that Brush
of the New York Giants and Dreyfuss
of the Pittsburg Pirates were in the
deal with Murphy. This at once
raised the cry of syndicate baseball.
and brought forth the prediction that
the National league will be disrupted
If it is found that certain of the big
magnates are uniting to control all
the clubs One report said the clique
intended to buy the st. Louis Cardi-
nails and the Boston Doves. Robson
quickly said his team was rot for sale
and Dovey made the same kind of
talk. However the report will not
down that a syndicate has been
formed to gain control, and important
developments are expected any day.
Pittsburg fans were so wrought up
by tho tactics of Murphy and others
that they urged Barney Dreyfuss to
withdraw the Pirates from the Ma
tional league and join the American
league. Such a scheme if Carried out
necessarily would mean a ten-club
league or would crowd out one of the
other teams Naturally thought turnel
to Washington when it was said that
one of the American league teams
would be dropped to let Pittsburg in.
Washington always has a tail end
team. but still the owners there make
good money.
Along with the report of the sale of
the Philadelphia team came the word
that Johnny King, the hold-out Cub
catcher, would be engaged to manage
the new club. 1t was said that Fogel
had sent a check for $4,000 to Muir
ply for the purchase of Killing. Out
in Kansas City Killing Immediately
said he knew nothing of the deal and
had no intention of playing baseball
again for any team except his own in
that city. Murphy has said that Killing
would not be allowed to play baseball
with any team except the Cubs. King
often declared he never would return
to Chicago. Now If it develops that
King goes to Philadelphia 1t will be
further evidence that Murphy is in
the deal that resulted In the purchase
of the Quaker City team. Murray, the
manager of the Phillies. still has an
other year to serve under his con-
tract, but according to good informa-
ton he will get the salary and be
allowed to drop out when another
man is agreed upon for the place.
Mordecai Brown, the most reliable
Of Cub pitchers, may join the hold
outs unless President Murphy comes
through with the figure named by the
three-fingered wonder. Brownies con.
tract expired at the close of the last
season.
It is said he received $4,50) straight
salary for the seasons work, with q
promise Of $1,000 more II he made
good" He certainly did that and the