The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-17
PLAYING BASEBALL
As 4 PROFESSION
A. G. SPALDING TELLS ABOUT IT
IN "REMINISCENCES OF Ma.
TIONAL GAME.

We" IonAs jan. lb.-A. ".
Spaiding, who gained fame forty
years ago as the invincioie pitcher
OF the session club. previous 10 the
formation OF the National League, has
written q beck, americas National
Game" an interesting record Of events
dating from tho beginning Of the
great American pastlme. Ii 10 in no
sense history. but deals largely with
incidents during MIR. Spaldings career.
which Is practically contemporancous
with professional baseball.
MT. spaiding was q player OF rc-
nown In the late Sos and early ties.
helped to found the present National
League In ls7s. playing for Chicago
and leading the league pitchers of
that year, subsequently, becoming
president Of the Chicago club and the
foremost figure In the government Of
baseball for many years.
In dealing with the subject OF pro-
fessionai baseball. Mr.. SpaIding writes
concerning the birth Of professional
Ism In the national eame:
AS pertinent to the question Of
professionalism, recall very distinct-
ly bit OF controversy with Harry
Wright, when, In 1871. he came to
Rockford to secure the services Of
Roscoe Barnes, Fred Cone and my
self for the Boston club. The pro-
fessional Red Stockings. OF Cincin-
natl. the pioneer professional club.
had disbanded. That organization.
under Mr.. Wright's management. had
demonstrated that professionalism not
only stood for marked Improvement
in playing, but that the dread OPP
position on the part Of the public did
not materialixe. since the simple an
nouncement that the Red Stockings
were to appear had been sufficient
always to attract crowds.
But the experiment had not yet
been tried In an Eastern city. Hence,
when Wright came with his over
lures to Barnes. Gone and myself. II
was to Join q club ostensibly amateur
but really professional: Tor al were
to receive good salaries ] knew that
the manager OF the Bostons felt
exactly as did with regard to the
subject; but I could zee that he was
reluctant to break over tho custom
in vogue in New England and OPP
pose the honest prejudices existing in
that section and all over tina East
against professional baseball.
However. I was inclined to be OBJ
stinate In my views Of the matter.
l had determined to snter baseball ~
q profession ! was neither ashamed
OF the game nor OF my attAchmsnt to
II. Mt. Wright Was there offering VI
adequate. cash Inducements tn play
on the Boston team. We were willing
to accept his otter. Why. then, 80
before the public under the false
prstsnse Of being amAteursf The
assumption Of MISREPRESENTATION
would not deceive anybody. It waa
not possible that any could b. found
90 simple AZ to believe that George
and Harry Wright. Cal Mcvey and
the rest were In the game merely for
healthfful or philanthropic reasons.
Then why engage In Auplicityf
.t4s we went over the wasoae sus3ece.
threshed It out In all M bsarings. and
finally agreed to come out opsnly ana
aboveboard a. professional organi-
sation. The result Mas even more
gratifying than We had hoped. Up-
posttion In the East faded rapidly
AWAY Soon aftArI tia ORGANIZATION.
in 1871. Of the National Association
% Professional HasseaiI tIsysss
.pTafesGioRAllnm WaJ 1fmly r6otsd &nd
established"