Evening star., 1923-01-31
Cutting DO,Un the Big
League-McCra,U Sold
to St. Louis and Spurns
Managership-PIaying
Base BallandthePO
-What Happened to
One Umpire.

ID CMBLlNGS OF a coming up
n heaval in base ball-an up
heaval that was to really
change the base ball map-began
to be heard in 1899, the year ]
managed the Orioles. Though we
did not realize it for some time,
that was TO be the end Of the old
Orioles, the team that now lives in
history.
1t is not my intention 10 deal
much with the government of the
game, historically, in these memoirs.
But to make clear the exciting in
cidents of that year and the next il
is necessary that l give a little back
ground. Ny purpose in the rest of
the story is to be personal and in
cidental.
AS / have said, several offers had
been made for men during our lively
season Of 1899. At first Ned Hanlon
and Harry Won der Horst refused TO
consider any such offers. Soon their
attitude changed. There were rumors
OF the National League being cut
down TO eight clubs. This meant of
course. that Baltimore would be one
Of the clubs to be dropped. Business
had fallen off, due to the Spanish
American war, and it was quite a
struggle TO make both ends meet.
Though it was repeatedly denied. the
players had good reason TO believe
that the big cut was coming.
Baltimore Was Doomed.
The league heads hesitated to act
openly for fear the new American
League. then expanding, would grab
the territory. We played the season
out, but the owners knew that Balt;-
a Il el.-
only way to escape a heavy loss was
to sell the players before the balloon
burst.
was not surprised. therefore. when
notified during the winter that Rob
inson and myself had been sold to
purchase price exactly, but il was a
pretty good sum. In the meantime
the National League had been cut to
eight clubs. leaving Louisville. Wash
ington. Baltimore and Cleveland out
In the cold
AZ arst Robbie and refused to go.
! In fact we declined TO sign a con-
tract &C. a long time. We did not
report until May .. Neither OF us
had any enthusiasm about playing
with that team. On top of that. 1
was held up frequently from attacks
of malaria.
Never Jumped n Contract.
RiCh; hero want to correct an
impression that gained ground then.
and has stuck. that / jumped the
ST. Louis club to go into the Amer
lean League. I jumped no contract.
then or 1T any other time. To clear
this matter up will tell what really
happened at st. Louis, and later 1
will show why I left the Baltimope
American League Club and came to
New York.
The clause 1 objected to in my con-
tract with the st. Louis club was the
reserve clause Both Robbie and my
self refused 10 sign a contract which
RardIess of our wishes. On top of
that 1 demanded a salary of $1,000.
which Mr.. Robinson of st. Louis
finally agreed to. That, perhaps. was
the largest salary paid for a player
up TO that time.
from our contracts. This made us
free agents at the end Of the season.
giving us the right to go to another
club or anywhere we pleased. The
reserve clause at that tme was
bone of contention among managers
and players. We were determined not
to be tied by it. That contract is
have been easy for anybody to have
informed themselves as to is clauses.
Nobody did, however. They simply
accused US OF jumping. II probably
made a better story that way.
turned Down Managership.
] played third base for the 81. :.oIis
club, but at no time did / act Is man
ager as has been written in several
histories Of the game. AT on" time
Mr. Robinson, the owner. did offer me
the management, but refused to even
a hp =