The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-07
HOW DETROIT GOT rBIG FOUR"
BY Clever Trick, Tigers Secured Entire
Buffalo Infield

shook the four corners of the baseball
armament when the sale of the "big
four" leaked out. Talk of excitement!
The bottom falling out Of Wall street
would be mere circumstance, says
Hardie Richardson, a member of the
Detroit club of 1887. Every fan in the
country sat up nights specializing on
whether or not the gigantic deal would
be sanctioned by the authorities and
rival baseball magnates chagrined at the
coup that had been pulled at their ex-
pense, fought as hard TO annul the trans
action as magnates to-day would fight to
prevent any club gathering together
Cobb, Baioie, Wagner and Collins
One Sunday afternoon in August in
1885, the first wedge was inserted which
was eventually to pry the big four
loose from Buffalo A man whom ! had
never before seen strolled to the Laclede
hotel in St. Louis and asked to see either
Richardson or Dan Brouthers. We hap
pened to be together, so he talked to
us both He said he was w. H. Watkins
and that he wished to secure our services
for Detroit. He offered tempting sal
aries so tempting that We decided at
once to accept. Then we suggested that
White and Rowe be engaged also, TO
assure the transfer of an entire infield
With promise from us that we would
go to Detroit in case the deal came off
without hitch, Watkins departed
A wire awaited our arrival in Buffalo
1t was from Watkins. He said that
Frederick II. Stearns and Messrs. Edison
and Moore, of the Edison. Morse com
pany, would accompany him to Buffalo
on a certain train to talk business with
MS. They also requested that Rowe and
White be on hand. 1t didn't take the
four Of us long to sign up with the De-
troit club Then the quartet proceeded
to buy the Buffalo club for $780, The
Detroit people agreed to run the Buffalo
club at their own expense the balance
Of the season.
After the game next day, we settled
up so far as our dealings with Buffalo
were concerned. A hack was waiting at
the gate We bundled in and hurried
to the depot. We arrived in Detroit
early the following morning. New York
was to play that day But the news OF
our capture hai preceded us, and New
York absolutely refused to 90 on with
the game If any OF the four Of us were
permitted to take part Protests began |
to rain in from every quarter. Rogers
and Beach Of Philadelphia. Boston and |
Pittsburg. were all heard from in fig 1
time. The league officials tried to get I
hold of us 20 learn whether we had re.
ceiyed money from Detroit. So we were 1
told to separate and beat it before we 4
could be questioned We were instructed I
TO keep in communication with the office
in case we were needed
/ had no sooner doubled back to Utica. /
". " thaa | received word to report in I
Detroit at once. On my way to the train 4
! met letter carrier who handed me
well-flled envelope 1t was from J. j. \
Rogers of Philadelphia, and 1t made me
sit up and take notice 1t contained an
offer When I reached Detroit, found
that the Detroit officials were attend
inc hastily called league meeting in
New York. | gave the letter from Rog.
ers to those left in control at the Detroit \
office, and II was wired to the Detroit L
in New York. That letter
saved the day for Detroit, Rogers, who 4;
was chairman of the meeting, had de.
elared that he had neither approached
nor negotiated with or for PLAYERS after
April 80 The letter was sumner to
Rogers 1t killed his case. He was so
clustered that he accused Mr.. Maloney,
who represented Detroit, of having
robbed the United States mails
Meanwhile the Detroit people were
looking after the entertainment of the
big four all of whom had got back
to the city of the straits somehow. Judge
Durfee supplied us with guns, ammuni-
lion, rubber boots and fishing tackle
Frueman Newberry placed his handsome
Yacht at our disposal The yacht was
we'll stocked and we'll manned, and we
yet out upon an extended duck shooting
md fishing trip. We let the cook do
most OF the fishing. But he caught
particular Ned" If the meals were not
'eady when the clock struck ~. Tt
vas on this trip that the party danced
IN the brink of eternity Also IL was
me OF the few occasions upon which
Dan Bronthers waved eloquent and to
he point Eight of ms were across the
It. Clair fats in catboat for a blow.
There was not room for all to be seated,
'ut StaHuitlS ~ sAtNihs SNtt3oht hau l
o work like Trojan to bail out water
o prevent us from being swamped
Those who couldn't find tin cans or buck
is took their hats. The waves were ,
breaking in. on and over u.s. This stage !,
ettng made Dan Brouthers' speech all /,
he more melodramatic. Said big Dan
i will sell my life for 500, if anyone !,
will guarantee to deliver il to my wife, .
There were just owen more in that boat I.
Wiling to take the same chance De. /;
roit had some ball team after the /,
tanding Of the ''big four was estab-
ished,