Evening star., 1914-07-30
ONCE RICH LEAGUE MAGNATE
NOW WATCHING TURNSTLES
John B. Day of Old New York Club Lost Fortune
Fighting the Brotherhood
in l8QO
in 1890.

NEW YORK, July 3O.-Once the richest
and most powerful magnate in the Ma
tional League, John 3. Day, founder OF
the New York base ball club. which has
controlled the Giants since 1855, now
draws a small salary for supervising the
turnstiles at the Polo Grounds. Mr..
Days fortune, made in 1883 and 1889,
when the Giants won two worlds cham
pionsh,ps from the st. Louis Browns and
the Brooklyns. respectively, was swept
away in vainly fighting the brotherhood
revolt Of 1880. He sacrificed all to remain
loyal to the National League. which with
out his allegiance would have been crush
ed in 4nidseason. In fact, MIR. Day re-
fused a half interest in the New York
brotherhood club, together with $25.OOU
salary to serve as president.
The story Of Mr.. Days ruin is an old
one, but his wonderful faith In the ball
players who threw him down never has
Mutrie Mr.. Day organised the old Met
ropolitans, who won the American Asso-
citation championship in 1884. He leased
the Polo Grounds then located at 9Th
League was the parent body, Day and
Mutrie soon applied for a franchise to
operate New York club. The team was
nicknamed the Giants in 1887 because the
Roger Connor Tim Keere. Jim O'Rourke,
Mike Slattery and others.
During that season the New York club
made 100000, while in 1888 Mr.. Days
amount. John NJ. Ward, George Gore,
Mike Tiernan. Mickey Welch Ed Crane,
Danny Richardson. Bill Brown. Arthur
Whitney. Gil Hatfield. Pat Murphy and
from time to time. so that when the pen
nant was captured in 1889 Mr.. Day was
literally rolling in wealth. He paid more
than $4,000 to the players In salaries.
pocket the New York clubs entire share
Of the receipts.
Desert the Giants.
It was during the following winter that
the Giants. with the exception Of Tiernan,
WEIGH and Murphy, agreed to desert Mr..
Day. They had Joined the brotherhood,
which had formed a secret agreement
with various financial hackers to or
ganize rival circuit called the Players
League. When Mutrie informed Mr.. Day,
therefore. that all but three of the Giants
had decided to jump the New York mag
nate replied:
IT do not believe word of it. I have
| treated my boys literally and fairly
You cannot make me believe that they
are not real IlleLs IHdt lney are Simply
a lot OF ingrates. Why. they haven't
said word to me about this Brotherhood
because they have no grievances that
| cannot adjust in few minutes
| week later Mr.. Day learned that hi
had been terribly deceived. Buck Ewing
and Tim Keefe, who had been his per.
sonal friends led the revolt. Severa
Wall Street brokers who had rendered 8
banquet to Mr.. Day just after the world:
series were among the hackers OF thu
New York Brotherhood club. They in
vited Mr.. Day to join them, but HI
promptly refused.
In the summer Of 1880 Mr. Day. wht
had obtained a new team and also hat
paid $4,000. to the late John T. Brusl
for Glasscock. Denny, Rusie, Buckley
Rassett. Boyle and scanlon Of the In
dianapolis team. began to ny signals o
distress His games at the Polo Grounds
which he had built on the plot at 155tl
street and 9Th avenue, had attracted al
average Of 100 paid admissions. SO tina
his losses footed up close to $1,000 eacl
day.. H.,
Left Without Dollar.