The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-10-10
BASEBALL PLAYERS eANIsHED
Drastic Measures Adopted by League
Management IN 1877.

drastic measures Adopted ny LSd9uS
| Management IN 1877.
When John McGraw, manager OF the
New York National league club Tues
day quit the field at Brooklyn in dis
gust OF accusing his players of laying
down" against Brooklyn, it was the
| first time that the honesty of baseball
has been questioned since 1877 when
four players were expelled from the
National league for alleged crooked
ness and never reinstated.
Back in 1877 competition ran so
high that bribery, contract breaking,
dishonest playing pool room manipu-
laiions and desertion OF players he
came so shameful that the highly re-
spectable element OF patrons began to
drop out OF the attendance until
crowds that attended the games were
composed exclusively of men who
went to the grounds to bet money on
the results. The money was bet open
ly during the progress of the game.
This state of affairs continued dur
ing the early, years of the National
leagues career and eliminated in 1877
in the expulsion for life of four play
ers who have never been reinstated.
This drastic action had the desired
effect that the wise and clean sports
men behind 1t intended ii should have
on the other players of their time and
their successors, for from that day
on, no player has been convicted of
dishonest or crooked work ON the
diamond
The players involved in the crime
of 1877" were James a. Deylin, pit
cher; w. II. Craver. sto-t stop and
captain; G. w. Hall, left fielder and
A. II. Nichols. third baseman. All
were members of the Louisville club
and records OF the trial state they
were expelled "for conducts in con
travention of the object of the
league" In the language of today
they were found guilty OF throwing"
games.
When the Louisville club left home
on its final trip east in 1877 ii HAD the
championship almost as coed rs won.
Then. contrary to all expectations. it
suddenly began TO drop games. Tie
team failed to win a single game on
the trip. 1t was by margin OF seven
games that the club lost the champ
ionship to Boston Officials OF the
club were aroused and began an in
yestigation. The fact was that when
the team first played in Hartford pool
rooms laid heavily on Hartford, which
won the game TO /, increasing sus-
picion Hartford won the second
game to 0. Teh defeats We're all
the more suspicious because Devlin
the star pitcher. twirled both OF them.
When the team returned home the
directors summoned the players be-
fore them and each was asked to give
a written order on the Western Union
Telegraph company in Louisville for
duplicates of all kilograms received
or sent by him during the season. |
Captain Crayer was the only one to |
refuse and he was Immediately expell- |
ed search of the telegraph com
pany's files brought to light evidence |
that established the guilt OF the play |
ers beyond question. Hall. Devlin |
and Nichols were expelled and made
to share the fate of Craver.
1t developed that Devlin had been
the 'middleman" between the play
ers and pool room sharks. All the |
money he received for his wrong do
ing was 500 and for this he forfeited
his reputation and means of liveli-
hood.
Every year following this expulsion
the blacklisted players petitioned for
but received no consid-
GRAFTON whatever. Devlin died few
years later and on his death bed
pleaded for pardon, but even then it
was not granted.