Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-05-25
CHAPTER X.
I Sign Win Chicago

In the fall of 1875, just before 'hs
National league came into existence. I
received an offer to sign a contract
with the Chicago club Four years
earller would havo Jumped at the
chance, but now that ! had the prom
ise Of a Philadelphia girl TO become
Mrs Adrian G. Anson as soon as
everything could be arranged salts,
factorily the Quaker burg seemed
good enough for me So / didn't evon
nibble at the Windy CITY bait, but
went right along with my self lfappont-
ed job Of getting the Athletics 10 do
better team work
The Chicago folks were In dead ear
nest. and my fondness for Phladel
phia and portion OF its contonts cut
no figure In their calculations For
one thing, they had made up heir
minds to organize championship
tenn before the opening OF he sea.
son of 1879 They had got weary OF
seeing Boston walk OF with the hon.
ors and were lying awake nights to
invent somo scheme 10 rlrcumveul The
beaneaters. and we're willing 10 part
with a lot of rhlno II It could be done
Az a starter the Chicago manage.
ment signed the biz four who had
made It possible for the Boston club
to win the peunant so many times in
succession Cal McVey, first base:
James White, catcher, Ross Barnes.
second base, and Albert @ Spaldlng.
pitcher II was coup that fairly took
the Breath OF the sporting fraternity
all over the country Nothing no on.
terprising In the way OF baseball tao
tics had ever before been pulled OF
in America
When spalding landed In Chicago
about the first thing he did was to
propose to the Chicago management
TO send for me- He told the Chicago
folks that the new organization was
lacking only In one point-that with
A c, Anson TO play third base they
might expect TO float the pennant
from their clubhouse so It seemed
that the good impression | had made
on AL at our Nrst meeting in Marshall.
town had been confirmed by subse-
duent records, | rather think II had
myself
Not at all discouraged by my IN.
"a Ia al haF l..
liam A Hubert, president OF the Chi.
cago Baseball club and shortly after
ward founder OF ne National league.
accompanied by All Spalding. came on
20 Philadelphia TO present their case
In person At our frat meeting was
most tRyorably Impressed by MIR HUI
bert although learned atterwGrd
that he didn't take a violent fancy to
me He was hno looklng man, stand
ing In the nelghborhood OF six feet
and weighing about 2l5 pounds with
rather a stern expression OF counter.
ancs, he made II evident right from
the start that no was u business man
and would tolerate no loollshness Att
or We were better acquainted found
that he was big hearted and convlylal
after business was over, and that he
was the soul OF honor aud wouldn't
stand for orookedness In any form
want TO say, too, that as an executive
he had few equals and no superiors
lie was mighty quick TO get on TO Il
situation, and when he had made up
his mind to ac' It took whole lot to
prevent him
Al that visit ! was 20 moved by
spaldings entreaties and Mr. HUI
berts arguments that agreed 10 play
with the Chicago team at a salary OF
$4,000, an advance Of 5000 over what
was getting with the Athletics. |
hardly know how I happened TO sign
tho contract without consulting the
little woman who was about to 80 into
partnership with me, but when | told
her what | had done realized that
I had made the bmnder OF my life
She simply stood mp very straight In
hor small shoes and declared that II
shouldn't be.