The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-10-01

Kelley Of the Bostons and other IA
nous stars. The Brotherhood pledge
was signed by practically every Ma
tional league player.
In all more than 100000 was sub
scribed to start the stupendous under
taking. and when the season Of 1890
opened there were new clubs in Bos-
ton. New York. Brooklyn, Philadelphia.
Buffalo. Chicago, Pittsburg and Cleve-
land.
Bereft of first class players. but with
fortune to spend in fighting the
movement, the National league gather
ed in raft Of young talent and then
proceeded to take the reserve rule into
the courts. Wards case was tried in
New York county. and the decision was
in his favor. There were conflicting
games all along the line
The conflicting schedules soon killed
public interest. and the crowds every
way dwindled until deadheads predom-
mated. In midseason 1t was a fore
gone conclusion that the rival leagues
would lose all kinds Of money The
Boston Players league club won the
pennant easily
Players League Goes Down.
In September the Players league as
\ unit bought the Cincinnati National
league club for $4,000. but the Redlsnd
fans turned their backs. The PLAYERS
league hackers now had cold feet and
were ready to capitulate, although as
matter of fact they did not know that
they had the old league beaten to
frazzle. A. G. Spalding and c. H. Byrne
were the big men in the National
league in those days. and as soon as
they got the Players league hackers
into conference the fight was at an
end. The National league knew how to
play baseball politics with the usual
shrewdness, and in the following Win
ter the Players league was sold out.
The players ran to cover as fast as
they could. and when the season of
1891 opened the rival clubs in New
York. Brooklyn. Pittsburg and Chicago
| Buffalo had been purchased, while the
Boston and Philadelphia Players league
clubs We're turned over to the American
association. This arrangement lasted
one year. when the National league or
ganized a twelve club circuit and alb
sorbed the American association.
| Andrew Freedman became dictator Of
| the National leagues policy in the
course Of time and proceeded to order
reduction Of the big circuit to eight
clubs. Accordingly Baltimore and
Washington were Topped off in the east
and Cleveland and Louisville We're drop
ped in the west. This fatal move was
made in 1900 and afforded the American
league, headed by Johnson and Comis-
key. a chance to grow. johnson and
Comiskey had changed the name Of the
Western league and forced the Ma
tional league to grant them a Chicago
franchise. AS result the American
league circuit that year was made up
of Chicago. Milwaukee. Indianapolis.
Detroit. Cleveland Buffalo. Kansas City
and Minneapolis. The league was so
successful that johnson and Comiskey.
backed by c. w. Somers of Cleveland.
proceeded to ask the National league
for the Washington and Baltimore ter
ritory. The request was colby turned
down. and the American league prompt
ly withdrew from the National asso-
citation.
War was declared. and new Ameri-
can league circuit was arranged with
clubs in Chicago. Boston. Detroit. Phila-
delphia. Baltimore. Washington. Cleve-
land and Milwaukee The National
league clubs were raided for players
and barrel Of money was lost by the
older organization. In 1902. with the
war still raging fercely, McGraw sold
the Baltimore club to the National
league and signed with the Giants. also
bringing Bresnahan, McGinnity. Gilbert
and Mccain to the Polo grounds. This
was a body blow for the American
league. but another club was placed in
Baltimore. and the schedule was COM
pleted with much success.
Invasion Of New York.
Bent upon making clean sweep. the
American league men decided to invade
New York. They found a hacker in
Frank ]. Farrell who spent $4,000 for
new grounds before he could play
game of ball. Beaten all along the line
then. the National league before the
season of 1908 began was ready to sue
for peace. Garry Hermann had pur-
chased the Cincinnati National league
club and was big factor in bringing
about a settlement. The peace pact
was signed, and the two leagues then
settled down in perfect harmony. Since
that incident professional baseball has
enjoyed wonderful popularity. Practi
cally all of the major league clubs have
coined money The worlds series each