The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-10-21
biggest News

10 continue playing through
Biggest News
Probably the biggest news OF the
1899 season was the decision OF
Gus Greenlee, for five years presi-
dent OF the MIL. TO drop baseball
from his many activities.
The loss OF the Pittsburgh Craw-
fords and Mr.. Greenlee to the
league was offset by the re-entrarcc
OF Alex Pompez and the Cuban
Stars into organized Negro base
ball.
Best Financial Season
The 1889 season was the best A.
nancial season ever enjoyed by
the Negro National league. This
was due somewhat TO favorable
weather conditions, also receipts
from all-star games, but mainly
from the desire OF the owners to
pull together instead OF against
one another.
Not stree 1884, when the Home
stead Grays showed Buck Leonard.
Louis Dula. Ray Brown, Neal Rob-
inson. Jerry Benjamin and Lefty
Andrews TO the Eastern fans. has
so many raw newcomers showed on
team, as the Baltimore Elites
flashed during the second half OF
the 1889 season. II was the in
spired work OF these newcomers
which captured the Rupert Cup
for the Elites.
Stopped Grays
Various trades appeared TO help
all clubs. The acquisition OF Lefty
Gaines by the Elites from Newark
gave the Baltimore team a south
paw who effectively stopped the
Grays' left-hand barrage furnished
by Leonard, Whatley, Harris, Ter
reEce McDuffie had n great season
with the Black Yanks, many con-
sidering him the leagues best
pitcher for 1889.
The Hines OF Lefty Hill cost New
ark Eagles the pennant. The New
ark club placed the best balanced
club on the field. ard was aided
greatly by newcomers In Cozart,
Manning. and Irwin, and the return
TO form OF Big Mackey, IN best
receiver In the league.
Bill Wright. OF Baltimore. hit
ting almost 500 in league games.
had the best season ever enjoyed
by any player Of any league. Bill
is one player who is major leag-
ucr.
cnson. OF Philadelphia. was the
bright spot Of Ed Bolden's crew.
although McIIerry and Welmaker's
work promised great deeds for
1910.
Attendance Jumps
The attendance at Newark
jumped over 80 per cent over 1898.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh were
disappoiniments at the gate, while
Baltimore had a paying crowd at
all home games.
New York Black Yankees, team
without an outstanding stars, was
the surprise OF the league and came
within a half game Of getting into
the play-offs.
When Pompez brought the Cuban
Stars into the league, he was faced
with the difficult job of assembling
players as the leading Cuban play
ers had gone to Venezuela and Mex
leo.
The 1910 Cubans will have the
pick of the 1889 players, together
with stars of the Cuban Winter
league, strengthened by the ac-
quisition Of School Boy Taylor,
Barney Morris and Leroy Mat
lock. three breat pitchers who were
awarded the Cubans by the league.
The American Negro league ard
the Negro National league held
joint sessions in June and Sep
tember. and signed agreements TO
work together IL harmony. Some
OF the members of the American
league claim this agreement was
violated when Tom Wilson pur-
/ chased players from the Atlanta
club which had represented In
dianapolts In the first half OF the
American league season. The owner
Of the Atlanta club claimed they
had been dropped without ceremony
from the American league after
contributing great expense, and
when they were left holding the
bag they sold their players TO the
highest bidder.
The case OF Jerry Benjamin, who
jumped TO Toledo OF the American
league. will be decided at the Joint
meeting in Chicago in December.
The Negro National league shows
balance In their treasury for the
first time. the fans are again show
ing interest In Negro baseball, the
sports writers on the Negro papers,
with one or two exceptions, are
cooperating in every manner. The
1910 season promises to be the
best ever enjoyed by organized Ne
gro baseball.