Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-06
BASEBALL HAS EXPERIENCED
ROUGH VOYAGE THRU LIFE
Only Stem Determination Of National League Officials
Has Nursed National Sport to
Its Place

difficulties were experienced when st.
Louis and Louisville quit and Hart
ford was dropped. This blow was coun-
tered by indianapolis, Milwaukee and
Providence being admitted as mem
bers. In the progress of time league
games began slowly to become popu-
lar and from a financial failure in 1876
there was profit in 1873.
In the interim there had been a men
acc steadily growing which was con-
trarv to the best principles of clean
sport: this was the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors on the grounds of the diff
ferent clubs. AT the league meeting
preparatory to the beginning of the
1881 season, there was rule passed
prohibiting this practice. Cincinnati ii
kicked over the traces and withdrew
Detroit took the place of Cincinnati
There was always that endeavor to
clean the game of every influence
which deteriorated in any manner from
clean baseball.
Persistent efforts of tho gamblers
never ceased and they were constantly
approaching umpires and players. The
second affair of which there is any
record so far as the parent organiza-
ton is concerned, was the expulsion
of Umpire Higham. There was spe-
cial meeting of the league called and
he was expelled on n charge of collu-
sion with pool gamblers. The charge
was preferred by the Detroit club. 1t
Is shown clearly that officials of
leagues and clubs were persistently on
the alert against evil influences. The
hardest blow to the league at this time
was the death of its founder. William
II. Hubert He was strongly imbued
with tho necessity of reform in the
National league and his whole effort
was directed to this end. He was
man OF striking individuality, strong
force OF character and original in his
ideas. 1t is doubtful IL any other man
could have been found so well fitted 70
this position, and 1t was undoubtedly
due to his energy and firm determine
ton that the existence of the league
was possible. and brought to its pres
ent magnificent and mighty standard.
The power and prosperity of the
league gradually Increased as years
passed. The season of 1883 was event
full not alone for the big boom in at
tendance hut the league materially
the small towns. The metropolis was
now crying for representation. Troy
and Worcester were rclegated to the
discard and New York and Philadcl-
phia taken in. And It Us significant
to know that this was the year OF tho
adoption Of the "Tripartitc" agree
mont, which afterwards was to be
known as tho national agreement. The
evil OF player-piracy was becoming
more and more prevalent. and the dou-
JIG were teCpfn-
inC common. There was that continu-
Gus fight for existence which only the
firm determination OF resoluto men
could overcome. Success OF one party
or organization is considered incentive
sufficient for others. There were dis
Gruntled players and dissatisfied mag
mates and capitalists who believed they
saw the way to immense dividends,
and so the parent organization fought
for tho life of the league and success
for the future.
Contract jumpers were numerous and
even went 20 far as TO make the dis
solution OF the Cleveland club ueces-
ssry. In midsummer OF 1884 tho stara
OF that organization Glasscock. Nc
Cormick and Briody jumped and at
the start OF tho season Dunlap and
Shaffer deserted. The Union nssocia-
ton was organized which had TO do
with tho reservation OF players. 1t
was a long time before the reserve
rule of the National agreement would