Evening journal., 1918-12-03
PLAYERS
DATES BACK TO sos
.Chicago's "Stolen Four
Stunt of 1875 Started
the Ball Rolling
-$l0,0 900 WAS PAID
FOR MIKE KELLY

The custom Of buying ball players
dates back TO the early sos. Although
the deals and prices paid were not as
large as at the present time, IL may
Interest some of the present day fans
10 recall some Of the famous deals OF
searly days as the old time records
show. They created much interest
then and the. press OF that decade had
much to say pro and con. The sale
custom followed the scandal OF 1870,
and rules were made that players
should sign contracts and couud not
Jump from team to team.
Chicago started something in 1876,
TIE opening year Of the National
League. and Stole al spalding, pitcher
Jarves White, catcher; Ross Barnes,
second basemsn, and Cal McNey. flrst
baseman, from the champion Boston
team Of 1875. They were known as the
"stolen four" This deal created such
a row in baseball that teams had TO buy
players afterward.
The Detroit team paid a large sum
for the franchise and players OF the
Buffalo team at the end Of the season
of 1885. The 'big four" Dan Brouthers,
Hardy Richardson, Jim White and w.
Rowe, were secured. The Tigers, how
ever had TO wait until 1855 to win their
first National League pennant.
The Boston club wanted TO land tho
National League pennant in 1887 and
startled the baseball world by paying
$4,000 10 Chicago for Catcher Mike
Kelly who helped tho White Stockings
to win in 1885 and 1856. This deal
created as much OF a sensation at that
time as some Of the present day sales
and trades. Boston did not land the
pennant with King Kelly. the $4,000
beauty, as he was called by-th press.
Boston wanted The pennant badly. and
as the club had plenty OF money In
1893. $4,000 was paid for pitcher
Clarkson Of Chicago. Here was another
big sensation. Kelly and Clarkson
worked hard that season, but Boston
got no higher than fourth place.
In 1885 the Detroit club paid Fred
Dunlap a bonus OF $1,000 for signing
with Pittsburgh. Dunlap had played
first base for the champion Tigers In
1887. Pittsburgh paid him 5000 and
with $1,000 bonus he was top price
player.
Another big deal during the season
Of 1887 was the purchase OF the ST.
Louis Maroons for $4,000 by the In
dlanapolis team, which Joined the Ma
tlonsl League that season.
Manager Chris Won der Abe Of the
st. Louis Browns sold five players OF
The champion teams OF 1885, 1856 and |
1851 FOR $4,000 at the close OF the sea-
son OF 1887. Pitchers POui5 and Ca |
ruthers with Catcher Bushong went 10
Brooklyn IN the American Association.
Bill Gleason shorlsiop and Curt Welch
fielder, were sold 90 the Athletics This
was the biggest sale on record at this
stage.
In 1856 Manager Arthur Irwin Of the
Giants gave $1,000 and Harry Davis TO
The Pittsburgh team for Beokley. Later
he got $1,000 and Scrappy Bill Joyce
OF the Washingtons for Pitcher Flynn
and Catcher Duke Farrell. Pitcher
Meekin Of the Giants was bought for
81 900 in 1899 by the Boston team.
In 1899 Charles Ebbetts president OF
the Brooklyn team, paid $4,000. large l
sum, for the Baltimore orioles and l
consolidated the two teams. w. Rob- |
inson and John Muggsy McGraw would |
not play with Brooklyn and their re- /
lease was sold TO St. Louis for si5,OOO |
In 1892 the National League and |
American Association consolidated and |
until 1900 ran a twelve club league. In |
1900 the National League went back
10 eight teams and paid Si0,O05 for the
Louisville players. most OF them going
TO Pittsburgh. Twenty-Five thousand
dollars was paid for the Washington
team and $4,000 for the Baltimore Orl-
oles. The Cleveland franchise and
players cost $4,000.