1883 Winter Meetings: Boom and Entry

Introduction

The 1884 professional baseball season demonstrated the nationwide baseball boom then underway.1 It was an exciting time to be a lover of baseball. The 1883 season concluded with most professional clubs in acceptable financial condition, with plans for higher salaries and improved baseball grounds for 1884. Like 1882, the 1884 season offered new associations, new clubs, and a lot of baseball. Unlike 1882, baseball entrepreneurs overshot the amount of money available to be made selling baseball to a nation that was baseball-mad.

There were a multitude of professional baseball associations, state baseball associations, clubs, and players competing for baseball dollars. Among the leading professional associations, four were admitted into the 1884 National Agreement, the law of organized professional baseball, and the compact amending the 1883 Tripartite Agreement that ended the 1882 baseball war between the National League (NL) and American Association (AA).2 Of the four professional associations, only the National League completed the season intact, and that in itself was not a given. A third major organization, the Union Association (UA), organized to enter the 1884 professional season and sought to be the leading association by offering players large salaries. It rejected two established sections in the National Agreement: exclusive territories, and the reserved-men policy. In their competition for baseball talent and baseball dollars, many of the NL, AA, and UA clubs carried a reserve team, which played home exhibitions when the first team traveled.3

This chapter covers the business meetings of the three leading associations, NL, AA, and UA, and generally summarizes those for the Northwestern League (NWL) and the Eastern League (EL), which were parties to the new National Agreement.

National League Annual Meeting, November 21-22, 1883, Washington, D.C.

The NL Board of Directors gathered on November 20, 1883, at the Riggs House in Washington, D.C. The championship was awarded to the Boston club and Nick Young was reelected secretary.4

The convention began on November 21, 1883, presided over by A.G. Mills. The representatives first discussed the report submitted by the Arbitration Committee.5 The National Agreement between the NL and the AA amended the Tripartite Agreement, which organized the conduct of baseball associations in 1883. The National Agreement, summarized in greater detail in the 1882 chapter, welcomed all professional associations, institutionalized the reserved-man policy, enforced exclusive territories, and extended the privilege for mutual recognition of contracts by all National Association clubs.6 Importantly, it provided a framework to formally settle disputes between member associations and between clubs from different associations. W.G. Thompson sought to exclude the NWL, at one point exiting the room, but the NL adopted the National Agreement, 7 to 1, with Thompson (Detroit) opposed.7

Next, the convention amended its constitution and bylaws. The NL repealed its alliance clause, and removed the alliance from the constitution and bylaws.8 Its alliance was previously used to disrupt competing professional associations by providing affiliated clubs with privileges and the potential admission to NL membership. The NL was bound with the AA and NWL through the Tripartite Agreement which was acknowledged to serve satisfactorily as the framework for relations between professional clubs. The NL no longer had a need for its alliance.

Under section 37, a released player was eligible to play if his club continued to pay him compensation.9 However, if the NL secretary received notice of a contract but the player refused to sign the contract, then the club was required to expel the player.10

Importantly, the NL recognized territorial privileges. In 1883 the NL had moved franchises out of Troy, New York, and Worcester, Massachusetts, but it did not recognize the reserved players or contracts of those clubs. The 1884 constitution was amended so that if a member club resigned from the NL and joined an association party to the National Agreement, the NL would continue to recognize the reserved players and player contracts.11

Section 45 was amended to permit a reserved player the right to file a complaint with the NL Board of Directors if his salary was in arrears, or his club refused to extend a contract with the minimum salary. Depending upon the response of the player’s club, the Board was empowered to release the player from reserve. If the salary owed remained unpaid, the club could have its NL membership forfeited. Similarly, section 46 was amended to extend a player the right to file a complaint to the Board if he was under current contract and his salary was in arrears. The Board could release the player and forfeit the club’s membership.12

Under section 50, the NL recognized the Arbitration Committee as the sole arbiter between the NL and other baseball associations that were party to the National Agreement, and between NL clubs and member clubs in associations that recognized the National Agreement.13

Section 64 was amended to empower the NL secretary to appoint a staff of umpires. The secretary was empowered to remove umpires from their appointments for cause.14

Disagreement arose over the limits to each franchise’s exclusive territory. The exclusive territory policy provided each club with the privileges to approve exhibitions by NL clubs within five miles of the limits to the city where the home club was located. Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, and Providence opposed the five-mile territory when they observed that the New York club had refused their requests to play the AA Brooklyn club in Brooklyn.15 Both New York AA and NL clubs shared the Polo Grounds during 1883.16 Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia favored the five-mile limit. When A.H. Soden did not provide his support, Cleveland’s Buckley proposed that the NL accept Boston’s resignation and invite Brooklyn into the NL. The NL split its vote, 4 to 4, to remove the five-mile limit, maintaining the limit. The effect was that Brooklyn must continue to request the New York club’s consent to play exhibition games with NL clubs.

Union League (UL) representatives appeared to seek mutual recognition of their player contracts.17 The NL informed the UL that as a member of the National Agreement, the NL could not enter into any bilateral agreement with the UL.18

On November 22, 1883, the NL agreed to extend its championship season to October 15 from October 1, and increase championship games from 98 to 112. Its stated goal was to maintain interest as long as possible.19

Some important changes were made that concerned the playing rules. Pitchers were not restricted in their delivery of the ball to the batsmen. The pitcher was permitted to throw the baseball above the shoulder and overhand. Also, an automatic $5 fine was to be assessed on any player, other than the captain, who addressed the umpire regarding any decision he made.20 The first change addressed the fact that umpires did not enforce the 1883 pitching rule because they could not identify clearly when the ball was delivered from above or below the shoulder.21 The NL sought to cease the general practice of “kicking,” when a player disputed an umpire’s call, and to increase the authority and respect for the umpire’s official role.

Al Reach proposed to reduce admission fees to 25 cents, but there was no support. The NL adopted the Spalding League Ball as its official ball for 1884.22

A.G. Mills was reelected president, Nick Young secretary and treasurer. J.E. Allen (Providence), W.G. Thompson (Detroit), A.J. Reach (Philadelphia), and A.G. Spalding (Chicago) were elected to the Board of Directors.23 Committees were then appointed.24

In other business, a proposal to increase the NL president’s salary to $4,000 was put aside.25 Nick Young was instructed to invite the AA schedule committee to confer with the NL schedule committee, presumably to coordinate to prevent conflicts at New York and Philadelphia. The schedule committee slated its meeting for March 1884 at Buffalo. The uniform committee recommended that the 1883 uniform be retained. New York was selected to host the 1884 annual meeting.26

Finally, the proposed Union Association was indirectly addressed. John Day introduced a resolution to make ineligible any player who either was reserved by or had contracted with an NL club and played a game with any other club. After some discussion, the resolution was tabled to the March meeting.27

American Association Annual Meeting, December 12-13, 1883, Cincinnati, Ohio

During Tuesday evening, December 11, 1883, the AA Board of Directors met to review its report and conduct its business. The championship was awarded to Philadelphia’s Athletic Club. Both The Eclipse and St. Louis withdrew their protests of disputed games. At the request of their clubs, the directors reinstated Frank Gardner (Baltimore) and John Milligan (Anthracites). The board denied Rooney Sweeney’s request for reinstatement after he was expelled by Baltimore for drunkenness. Columbus and the Metropolitan club settled their disputed game, with the Mets awarded $225 for unfit grounds but Columbus recording a win. The board refused to consider requests to join the American Alliance, clubs that received mutual recognition of contracts from the AA, because the AA had determined to repeal its alliance. Secretary J.A. Williams outlined $7,000 in AA expenses and listed the players suspended or expelled during the 1883 season.28

Over December 12-13, 1883, in Cincinnati, Denny McKnight convened the AA convention, the third annual meeting of the association. After the delegates were recognized, the report of the board of directors was read.29 Four new clubs were admitted to membership, increasing the number of clubs in the circuit to 12. The new members were Brooklyn, Indianapolis, Toledo, and Washington. Brooklyn was the champion of the Interstate Association, recognized as an 1883 American Alliance member. Toledo was the top club from the 1883 season of the Northwestern League, party to the 1883 Tripartite Agreement.

Praise was received for the quality of the 1883 Reach official ball, and the AA awarded A.J. Reach a three-year contract to supply the official ball.30

The convention elected McKnight as president, Lew Simmons as vice president, and Wheeler C. Wyckoff as secretary and treasurer. William Barnie (Baltimore), Charles Byrne (Brooklyn), Lee Dinkelspiel (Louisville), Lew Simmons (Athletic), Chris Von der Ahe (St. Louis), and J.B. Whipple (Toledo) were elected directors.31

The AA amended rules related to contracts, releases, and expulsions, exactly as the NL had, to match the language in the National Agreement. Any player who signed two or more contracts was to be expelled. Managers of AA clubs were not required to sign written contracts.32

The salary of the secretary was increased to $800 and he was required to post a $3,000 bond.33

The AA adopted the NL’s five-mile rule. The Brooklyn club gained leverage to obtain NL exhibition games by its ability to prevent the NL New York club from playing an exhibition game with any AA club.34 Both the Metropolitan and Brooklyn clubs agreed to allow each other to arrange exhibition games with NL clubs.35 The policy expanded the physical size of monopoly control of Organized Baseball for each AA club.

The AA “declared war” on any association that opposed any part of the National Agreement. Within the AA, the AA promised to expel any club that played a game with any club that either employed an unreleased and reserved player or was located in a place where another club belonged to an association which was party to the National Agreement.36 The irony was that the AA successfully practiced such an independence policy against the NL when it was an entrant to demonstrate its strength. But when the AA was more entrenched in 1884, the AA adopted its former policy in response to the entering UA. In conference with Mills over the New Year, McKnight acknowledged that this resolution was more harmful to the AA clubs and he intended to work to rescind this policy.37

Unlike the NL, which tabled it, the AA adopted John Day’s resolution, which made ineligible any player who played in any game with any club other than the club that had reserved him.38

For 1884, the AA extended its championship season from October 1 to October 15. Each club was to play each other club 10 times, for a total of 110 games, 55 home games.39

Turning to the playing rules, the AA did not make changes that the NL made. Upon a poll, two-thirds of its clubs preferred to maintain the foul bound rule, which the NL had abolished for 1883.40 The AA also maintained the restriction on the delivery of the ball by the pitcher to the batsman, requiring that the ball be delivered from below the pitcher’s shoulder. The AA resolved that its umpires were to enforce its balk rule, giving the batter a base when the pitcher delivered the ball above the shoulder. One rule the AA changed was to award the batsman a base when “solidly and bodily hit by a pitched ball when he cannot apparently avoid it.” Another rule amended was to make the batter a baserunner after three strikes.41

Among the final business, the AA appointed six umpires for 1884, appointed members to a schedule committee, assigned the date March 5, 1884, for the spring meeting to be hosted at Baltimore, and decided on Washington, D.C., as the host of the 1884 annual meeting.42

Union Association Annual Meeting, December 18, 1883, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Union Association (UA) convention is covered in the chapter by Barney Terrell. The UL delegated Robert Ferguson to appear at the UA meeting.43 The AA and NL had refused to recognize the UL at their annual meetings, because it was not party to the National Agreement, and it proposed franchises in locations where one of their clubs existed. Ferguson noted at the meeting that the UL was not in opposition to the National Agreement, and in particular, the reserved-man rule, so it decided to affiliate with the NL and AA.44 The UL decision was important because without an ally, the UA was isolated from almost all professional clubs.

Eastern League Organization Meeting, January 3-4, 1884, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Eastern League (EL) organized at Philadelphia’s Bingham House over January 3-4, 1884, the date the UL originally called for its meeting. The EL was the combined interests of the new proposed Interstate Association with those of the Union League.45 The change in name was to reduce confusion with the UA.46 Delegates were present from Richmond (Virginia club), Baltimore (Monumentals), Wilmington (Quickstep), Reading, Allentown, Trenton, Newark (Domestic), and Harrisburg.47 The new association favored being admitted into the National Agreement.48

The delegates elected officers and directors. W.C. Seddon (Virginia) was elected president. S. Reineman (Trenton) was elected vice president, a position he also had held with the Interstate Association. Henry Diddlebock of Philadelphia, who was the UL’s secretary, was elected secretary and treasurer. Directors elected included W.S. Miller, Dr. G.W. Massamore, Felix J. Moses, and John T. West.49

Among the business conducted, a schedule committee was appointed and a meeting was scheduled for March 15, 1884, at Philadelphia’s Bingham House. The EL agreed to divide receipts as did the NL. An umpire corps was to consist of four men, each to receive a salary of $100 per month, and two substitutes, to receive $5 per game. The salary of the secretary was set at $500. The EL adopted the playing rules of the AA.50

At its special meeting held March 15, 1884, at Philadelphia, the EL appointed umpires, adopted a schedule, and appointed members to its Arbitration Committee.51

Northwestern League Annual Meeting, January 9-11, 1884, Chicago, Illinois

Six member clubs sent delegates to the annual meeting of the NWL, held at Chicago over January 9-11, 1884.52 Two clubs, neither present, resigned – Springfield and Toledo, the latter of which joined the AA. Although Toledo had the best record, the Saginaw club was awarded the championship. After finding no evidence that the Fort Wayne club was in arrears of player salaries, six clubs were admitted to membership.53 With 12 clubs, the NWL planned two circuits, East and West, each with six clubs. Officers and directors were elected. The secretary’s salary was increased from $300 to $600. Rust (Saginaw) and Stout (Peoria) were appointed to the Arbitration Committee. Clubs were permitted to play outside clubs and exhibitions on Sundays, and sell alcohol in their grounds. They increased their guarantee to visiting clubs from $65 to $75. The secretary was to hire umpires to earn $100 per month. The Spalding ball was adopted for 1884.54

The NWL schedule meeting was held at Chicago on March 11, 1884. Notably, it adopted the AA rule that restricted the pitcher to delivering the ball to the batsman from below the line of his shoulder.55

National League Meeting, March 4, 1884, Buffalo, New York

Young first recorded the delegates, then Mills had the schedule committee report. After the NL unanimously adopted the 1884 championship schedule, Mills reconvened the NL’s annual meeting.56

First, an amendment was made to the playing rules. The number of balls necessary for a walk was reduced from seven to six.57 Second, the NL returned to the Day resolution.58 The resolution made ineligible any reserved player, or player under contract, who played in a game with any other club. The resolution effectively barred employment for those players by any NL club, and by extension, any club in an association party to the National Agreement. It was unanimously adopted.59 The final NL business included adopting the contract form recommended by its contract committee. The NL appointed Mills, Young, and Day to its Arbitration Committee.60

American Association Meeting, March 5, 1884, Baltimore, Maryland

The AA met at Baltimore’s Carrollton Hotel on March 5, 1884, to continue its work from its December annual convention.

President H.D. McKnight called the meeting to order at 10:30 A.M., when he was assisted by Secretary and Treasurer Wheeler Wyckoff and ex-Secretary James A. Williams. Delegates from all 12 AA clubs were present.61

The playing rules were discussed. Williams proposed removing the restriction on overhand pitching, stating that the AA umpires had difficulty enforcing the prohibition. A majority of clubs believed that the restriction could be enforced by the umpires, and the restriction was maintained. The AA decided that a ball hit foul was dead until returned to the pitcher, to prevent tricking the baserunners. The AA decided to award a base to the batsman if he was hit by a pitch. The AA noted that the NL reduced the number of balls for a walk to six, but the AA decided to maintain the number of balls at seven.62

The umpire rules were removed from the playing rules and incorporated into the AA constitution. One notable change was that the AA schedule committee was authorized to assign umpires to AA games, rather than the AA secretary. To remove an umpire, six of 12 clubs had to make a request in writing.63

The secretary was instructed to call the AA umpires to a meeting at Columbus, Ohio, on April 1, 1884, when they were to “agree upon a regular interpretation of the rules” for the 1884 championship season. The men appointed to be AA umpires were John Kelly, Charles Daniels, George F. Seward, Brennan, John G. Valentine, and T.J. Connell. The substitutes appointed were McQuaid in the West and John Daily in the East.64

The AA changed the composition of its representation to the Arbitration Committee under the National Agreement. The AA president was appointed chairman of the AA committee. He was empowered to appoint two members, one from the East and one from the West. Kramer from Cincinnati opposed the change being directly made into the AA constitution, observing that the NL had not provided the Arbitration Committee any authority in the NL constitution. After the meeting approved the constitutional amendment, 11 to 1, McKnight appointed Barnie and J.A. Williams.65

Mutrie proposed that the Metropolitan be exempted from the five-mile rule. Byrne noted that the rule provided the Brooklyn club the right to refuse to allow NL clubs from playing exhibition games with the Metropolitans. If Brooklyn were exempted, Byrne observed, the Metropolitan Exhibition Company, which controlled both the NL New York and AA Metropolitan clubs, could continue to prohibit NL clubs from playing exhibition games at Brooklyn. The AA delegates voted 11 to 1 against exempting the Metropolitan club from the five-mile rule.66

The AA reinstated the expelled Interstate Association players J.J. Grady and B. McLaughlin of the Anthracite club, and Harry Pyle of Wilmington, and also reinstated William Welsh of the Kenton Club from Covington, Kentucky.67

In support of the National Agreement and a strike against the UA, the AA voted to admit the Keystone Association into the National Agreement. However, first the Chester club had to cancel its scheduled games with UA clubs.68

The schedule committee report prepared by O.P. Caylor was discussed for 30 minutes, then the AA adopted the 1884 schedule.69

Union Association Meeting, March 17, 1884, Cincinnati, Ohio

This UA meeting on March 17, 1884, was held at Cincinnati, Ohio, and closed to the public. Among its business conducted, it appointed umpires, increased the number of championship games played by each club, decided the win percentage would determine its champion, and adopted its ball. The UA resolved to recognize all baseball contracts, but no rights to services of players reserved by clubs.70 The collection of club locations was set by this time to the eight locations that began the professional season. The UA placed franchises in direct competition with the AA in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Washington. The UA directly competed with the NL in Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The UA had only Altoona, Pennsylvania, to itself.

Arbitration Committee Meeting, April 19, 1884, New York City

The Arbitration Committee met on April 19, 1884, in the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City. Representatives from the NL, AA, NWL, and EL were present.71 A.G. Mills was elected chairman; H.D. McKnight, vice president; J. Rust, secretary; and W.C. Seddon, treasurer.72

The committee approved a circular specifying that any player who was reserved and played in a game with any other club was ineligible. Furthermore, any National Agreement club that employed that player lost its rights and privileges under the National Agreement.73

For a club or association to lose its rights and privileges provided by the National Agreement, a two-thirds vote of the Arbitration Committee was necessary.74

Several disputes between clubs and associations were considered. Generally, the Committee decided it lacked jurisdiction and failed to provide a decision. For instance, Trenton complained that Harkins signed two contracts, one with Trenton and one with Cleveland. In a complaint brought by the NWL, Dick Pearce was appointed an umpire of both the NWL and EL.75

The Midseason Business of the Championship Season

One common occurrence of the 1884 season was that clubs would “disband,” or shut down. The usual reason provided was insufficient home patronage to cover club expenses. Often travel expenses exceeded the road receipts. When home attendance was insufficient to cover player salaries, any surplus funds of the investors quickly ran down because salaries were reported to be higher during 1884. An association was a network of clubs, and when one club retired, the remaining clubs were weaker because the network shrank. To maintain the network, new clubs had to be recruited.

For the affected association, a club was lost, its championship schedule was thrown into disarray as clubs had open playing dates while traveling, and the standings and legitimacy of the association championship were also open to question. Clubs had completed unequal numbers of games with the disbanded club. Other clubs insisted games scheduled with the disbanded club were forfeited and counted in their records.76 An association offered a championship, and its directors had to find consensus when at midseason clubs withdrew and others were found to join.

Among the four associations party to the National Agreement, the first club to disband was the Monumental Club of Baltimore, an EL member, which enjoyed an exemption within the National Agreement, as it was permitted to play games within five miles of Baltimore.77

The UA soon suffered the loss of the Altoona club, which disbanded after a 5-3 loss to Baltimore. Lucas had spent several days at Altoona, and he refused to provide the club any financial assistance.78 Kansas City was soon admitted as a member of the UA.

The next major club to fail was Harrisburg, another EL member, on July 4, 1884.79 The EL admitted the Atlantic club of Long Island City, which played its first EL game on July 14, 1884.80 However, at its special meeting on July 16, 1884, the EL expelled the Atlantics, then admitted two clubs, a combined Lancaster club from the Lancaster and Ironsides interests, and York.81 On August 4, 1884, the Actives of Reading disbanded and released its players, and the Virginias resigned to join the UA.82

Union Association Special Meeting, July 1, 1884, Baltimore, Maryland

The UA met July 1, 1884, at Baltimore, Maryland.83 The Kansas City club was directed to play the Altoona part of the schedule through July 22, 1884, or until the UA rearranged its schedule to account for differences in location for purposes of travel and to avoid schedule conflicts.84 The schedule was altered so that four-game series changed from one game, a day off, then three successive games, to three successive games, a day to make up a game if necessary, and a game day. The financial condition of clubs was reviewed, and except for Boston, all clubs reported either breaking even or favorable prospects.85 The matter of the UA standings was addressed by removing all the Altoona games, but counting Kansas City games. The UA expelled a player from the National club and six players of the Chicago club, and extended to three others a deadline of July 10 to return $750 advance money paid them. After a lengthy discussion, the UA resolved not to recognize AA and NL contracts. UA managers were permitted to sign any player from any association under any circumstance.86 The directors decided to expel any player who signed a Union contract and then jumped to another outside club.87

The schedule committee met on July 20, 1884, at Cincinnati, Ohio. The UA schedule was adjusted to extend trips in the West to account for the admission of Kansas City.88

American Association Special Meeting, July 19, 1884, Columbus, Ohio

The AA met for a special meeting on July 19, 1884, at Columbus, Ohio. Representatives from 11 clubs were present, only St. Louis was absent. The meeting was held behind closed doors. In one report, the meeting reorganized the official umpires.89 Another report detailed that four of the six umpires and one substitute were released. Four new men received umpire appointments, and five men were appointed substitutes.90 The AA emphasized that umpires must give the batsman a base when he was solidly struck by a pitched ball.91

Almost two weeks later, the AA had to manage the midseason retirement of its Washington franchise. On August 2, 1884, Moxley informed his players that his club could not pay the $1,500 in salaries due that day and he personally lacked property in that amount. The players proposed and Moxley agreed to split the money paid by the Cincinnati club for Frank Fennelly’s release.92 The other players were released and almost all quickly entered into new contracts. The AA quickly enrolled the Virginia Club of Richmond to take the place of Washington.93

Summer Club Retirements and Special Meetings

During August 1884, the National Agreement associations managed the ongoing challenges from the rumors of and retirements by disbanded clubs, a July practice that accelerated. September brought the effective failure of both the NWL and the EL, a combination of failing clubs and clubs moving up a level to enter the UA or the AA. The season also featured considerable player movement. The papers reported regular releases, either requested by the player or because the club decided to change the composition of its team due to player availability and/or player performance. Some of the movement was the result of players “jumping,” leaving one club for another while still under contract with the initial club. Sometimes, it was not clear whether a player was under contract. For instance, the Arbitration Committee held that Indianapolis (AA) could not expel Brown and Manlove because it could not show that either player was under contract.94

The NWL had avoided the early problems of the EL. However, the Bay City club retired at the end of July. The NWL held a special meeting at Milwaukee on July 30, 1884, to rearrange the schedule. There, the NWL admitted Evansville without rights to the championship.95

The Fort Wayne club paid its players their salaries and disbanded on August 4, 1884. Although its investors broke even, a lack of funds and spectators led the directors to retire and release its players.96 Ominously, its Muskegon club sought subscriptions in the aggregate of $7,000 to cover its $3,900 debt and complete the season.97 On August 9, 1884, the NWL board of directors met at Chicago. The NWL decided to drop the Grand Rapids and Muskegon clubs. John J. Rust resigned as president and W.D. Whitmore was elected in his place.98 Although Whitmore was an officer in the Quincy club, that club disbanded on August 15, 1884, after Lucas would not admit it to the UA.99

The NWL reorganized at Milwaukee. From its initial 12 clubs, it reduced its numbers to four when it threw out Saginaw and added Winona, which was close to Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Milwaukee. It adopted its old rules, and reset the championship season to 24 games each.100 Soon, the NWL would fold.

The EL officers and directors met at Philadelphia’s Bingham House on August 5, 1884. They filled vacancies in the Board and the Arbitration Committee. At this time, the EL consisted of six clubs: Allentown, Domestics of Newark, Ironsides of Lancaster, Trenton, Quicksteps of Wilmington, and York.101 Returning on August 7, 1884, new directors were elected, and the Actives of Reading and the Virginias of Richmond were expelled for dues in arrears. By that time, the Virginia club had entered membership with the AA.102 On August 21, 1884, at Philadelphia’s Bingham House, the EL reorganized its Arbitration Committee and the schedule committee scheduled a meeting at Trenton for August 26, 1884, when it was expected that Jersey City would be admitted to replace the Quicksteps.103 Jersey was not admitted, because its grounds were insufficient.104

As August turned into September, clubs in the EL were recognized to be in financial difficulty.105 Its organization underwent so many changes, that the leader for its championship was difficult to discern.106 The EL authorized Secretary Diddlebock discretion to form an 1885 organization.107 The EL was effectively done for 1884.

On August 7, 1884, the UA Keystones of Philadelphia disbanded, paying its players in full, but suffering losses of $12,000.108 To fill this hole in its schedule, the UA gave a trial on August 14, 1884, to the NWL’s Quincy club, which apparently did not meet Lucas’s expectations.109 Instead, the UA admitted the Quicksteps, the EL leader, on August 18, 1884.110 On August 19, 1884, the Chicago club was transferred to Pittsburgh by Pittsburgh’s Exposition Park Association.111

On September 13, 1884, Pittsburgh (UA) decided to disband and transfer its best players to Baltimore (UA).112 The Quicksteps (UA) incurred losses of $4,000 and disbanded on September 15, 1884. Milwaukee from the NWL sought entry into the UA to replace them.113

The Indianapolis (AA) shareholders met August 18, 1884. It was reported that their finances were break-even at that date, but that a $3,000 deficit was anticipated for the remainder of their season. After the shareholders agreed to finish the season, each share was assessed 50 percent.114

The NL was not immune. The Cleveland club suffered from a poor record and low home attendance, and the New York Clipper reported a rumor that it would disband.115 Then a bombshell exploded. On August 8, 1884, the UA Cincinnati club signed three of Cleveland’s stars, Briody, Glasscock, and McCormick.116 Although the Cleveland directors insisted that they would finish the 1884 season, all NL clubs agreed to waive the 10-day rule if Cleveland disbanded.117 Detroit also played poorly and operated with a deficit. It, too, announced its intention to remain in the NL, but its shareholders agreed to increase the club’s capital from $5,000 to $10,000.118

Reviewing the state of the national pastime at the beginning of September 1884, the New York Clipper noted that while the AA and NL featured exciting pennant races, and the UA had a contest for second, the feature of the season was the disbanded clubs. The AA lost one club, the UA two, the NWL nine, and the EL three. The Clipper editorialized that the experiences of 1884 showed that there was room for not much more than two or three leagues, and their size should be eight or fewer clubs. It advocated several changes for Organized Baseball. If the EL reorganized for 1885, it should place a Western limit at New Jersey. The NWL should not return for 1885. Clubs should organize into state associations rather than leagues that required expensive trips. With respect to the playing rules, the AA pitching rule was unenforceable, and pitchers should be permitted to deliver the ball overhand, as in the NL.119

Union Association Special Meeting, September 19, 1884, Washington, D.C.

When the UA club representatives gathered on September 19, 1884, they reorganized again.120 Quickstep’s games were thrown out.121 Milwaukee and Omaha were substituted for Pittsburgh and the Quicksteps. As an association, it was increasingly taking a Western tilt. They agreed that Milwaukee was to follow Pittsburgh’s schedule, and Omaha the Keystone’s (then the Quickstep’s) schedule. Planning ahead to 1885, the UA committed to place clubs at Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Washington, and one other Eastern location, and pledged at least $10,000 to financially maintain that club. They resolved to change from a game fixed-sum guarantee to sharing 30 percent of the gate receipts. They agreed to reduce the 1885 salary list. The UA gave the appearance of rapprochement when they announced that any terms the NL offered they would meet at least halfway and proposed a conference committee to address a reduction in salaries and abolishing the reserved-man rule.122

Arbitration Committee Meeting, November 7, 1884, New York City

Chairman A.G. Mills convened the meeting and recognized members of the Arbitration Committee, which consisted of representatives from associations – AA, EL, NL, and NWL – party to the National Agreement.123 The NL and AA addressed the EL membership in the Arbitration Committee. They resolved that if the EL had no fewer than six active members by the Arbitration Committee’s April meeting, the EL would forfeit its privilege for representation in the committee.

Section 3 of the National Agreement was amended to require that all reserved players were to receive a minimum salary of $1,000.124 Section 5 was amended to prevent a released player from playing with any club between the date of the release and for 10 days from notice to the association secretary.125 Section 7 was amended to strengthen monopoly territories, by removing the exception at Baltimore for the Monumental Club.126

The Arbitration Committee decided that it would not reinstate a player who while under contract had left his club to play with any other club, when his former club was subject to the privileges of the National Agreement. It issued a statement to reinforce its view, which read in part, “This committee will never consent to the reinstatement of any player who has deserted, or may hereafter desert, any club identified with the National Agreement.”127

Other items of interest to the AA and NL were generally discussed. These included general dissipation of baseball players during 1884, Mills’s expected retirement as a baseball executive, and strengthening the offices of president for both the NL and AA.128

Conclusions

In reviewing the completed 1884 championship season, the New York Clipper observed that there were exciting pennant races in the NL and particularly in the AA, where seven clubs bunched together for most of the season. The UA St. Louis club led from the start, and the public lost interest for “uneven matching.” The EL and UA suffered from disbanded clubs, midseason additions, and rearranged schedules. The NWL collapsed before the season’s end. More spectators than ever paid to watch baseball played at its highest level, but with three associations, their patronage was divided in shared markets.129 Finally, the leading clubs in the AA and NL played a three-game series for the “championship of the United States,” the first regularly arranged postseason championship and proto-World Series.130

The business experiences from 1884 led to a desire for retrenchment and concentration by the AA and NL. Their conflict with the UA over exclusive territories and the reserved-man rule remained outstanding. NL, AA, and UA all endorsed the five-mile rule, but their territories overlapped, notably at St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Boston. As clubs desired to improve their rosters, the reserved-man rule as then written prevented reserving clubs from realizing the value of a player under contract. Trades were not possible. A sale of reserve rights was costly due to the uncertainty of player performance: Under the National Agreement, a club release extended to the released player an effective free-agency right. It was clear that clubs valued these rights, as several rumored sales when clubs disbanded were reported.

Other notable aspects were the growth in salaries, rosters – the number of players under contract – and the breaking of contracts by players. All of these business elements would be addressed and readdressed for the following decade. An entrant led to higher offers for player services. In general, club sizes increased from the minimal numbers of 1882 (11-12) toward several batteries and substitutes (16 or more). Under the National Agreement, clubs that could afford to stocked up on pitchers and catchers. Where Providence ran a spare operation, Boston maintained enough players to field an NL club and a Reserve team for the entire season. Where there were few conflicts over player services during 1883, a general carelessness existed in the contracting of player services as the 1884 season progressed. Reasons included competition for services due to the entry of the UA, and the opposition of National Agreement clubs, the disbandment of clubs the resulting impact on the affairs of the affected baseball association, particularly for the NWL and EL.

 

Sources

The author consulted Spalding’s Base Ball Guide and Reach’s Official American Association Base Ball Guide. He relied upon the New York Clipper as his primary source of information.

 

Notes

1 See, for instance, “Among the Baseball Players,” New York Clipper, May 31, 1884: 162.

2 The Tripartite Agreement recognized associated clubs’ reserved players and their contracts. The NL remained unchanged at eight clubs, the AA expanded from eight to 12 clubs, the Northwestern League, also from eight to 12, and an eight-club Eastern League was organized out of the old Interstate Association and the proposed Union League.

3 The NL’s Boston Reserves consisted of those players not considered Boston’s starters. Members of the championship club played in the Reserves, although its players were generally local to Boston. The Reserves played exhibitions at home and away, and competed for the championship of the Massachusetts State Association. It was notable, since it lasted longer than any other reserve team, and it continued to compete for the Massachusetts championship as other Massachusetts State clubs disbanded. See “Boston Gossip,” New York Clipper, March 22, 1884: 2, March 29, 1884: 21, “Matters at the Hub,” April 19, 1884: 69.

4 “The League Convention,” New York Clipper, December 1, 1883: 609.

5 The delegates listed in the New York Clipper were A.H. Soden and A.J. Chase, Boston; Josiah Jewett and G.H. Hughson, Buffalo; A.G. Spalding and J.H. Brown, Chicago; C.H. Buckley and G.W. Howe, Cleveland; W.G. Thompson, Detroit; John B. Day and O.T. Dillingham, New York; A.J. Reach and J.J. Rogers, Philadelphia; and J.E. Allen and H.T. Root, Providence. “The League Convention.”

6 O.P. Caylor, member of the 1882-1883 Arbitration Committee, defended the reserve rule. It maintained players in markets where they became spectator favorites and discouraged entrants in markets served by an entrenched club. “The Reserved-Men Rule,” New York Clipper, January 12, 1884: 727.

7 “The League Convention.”

8 Ibid.

9 Ibid.

10 “Changes in the League Constitution,” New York Clipper, January 5, 1884: 714.

11 Ibid.

12 “The League Convention”; “Changes in the League Constitution.”

13 Ibid.

14 “The League Convention.”

15 The Metropolitan Exhibition Company controlled both the NL New York and AA Metropolitan clubs.

16 “The League Convention.”

17 The representatives were Dr. B.W. Massamore of Monumental, J.S. Hollingshead of Washington, D.C., and Felix Moses from Richmond, Virginia. “The League Convention.”

18The discussion occurred the next day. “The League Convention.” The UL held a special meeting on November 20, 1883, at Baltimore, where it decided to send its representative to the NL convention, because it wished to be accepted into the National Agreement. When the Arbitration Committee met in the fall, it denied membership to the Interstate Association, which was the antecedent to the UL. “Union League Base Ball,” Philadelphia Inquirer, November 21, 1884: 1.

19 “The League Convention.”

20 Ibid. The Clipper also noted that the batter was no longer in play on the third strike. Previously, the batsman became a runner on the third strike and was required to run to first base. The rule sought to address the situation when a runner was at first and the catcher dropped the third strike and threw to second base for the force out and the double play. However, Rule 52 in the 1884 Spalding Guide stated that the batter becomes a runner after three strikes. It does not appear that the rule was changed from 1883.

21 The writer observed that the NL rules favored the pitcher. To improve the odds of the batsman, the writer encouraged an equal number of balls and strikes allowed, and to call a strike when the batsman failed to swing at a good pitch. “The Work of the Convention,” New York Clipper, December 15, 1883: 647. One argument for restrictions on the delivery of the ball by the pitcher to the batsman was that the umpire had difficulty observing whether the ball was delivered above or below the pitcher’s shoulder. There was one umpire in the field during the games in this era. The batsman could request a high ball or a low ball from the pitcher. The umpire often stood to the side of the batter’s box rather than directly behind the catcher, to watch the pitcher and the placement of the ball.

22 “The League Convention.”

23 Ibid.

24 The printing committee was Allen, Hughson, and Root. The uniform committee was Day, Howe, and Reach. The schedule committee was Day, Soden, and Spalding. “The League Convention,” New York Clipper, December 1, 1883: 609.

25 “Base-Ball,” Cincinnati Enquirer, November 23, 1883: 2.

26 “The League Convention.”

27 Ibid.

28 “The American Association Convention,” New York Clipper, December 22, 1883: 672.

29 The New York Clipper listed the delegates as H.D. McKnight and W.A. Nimick (Allegheny), Lew Simmons and William Sharsig (Athletic), William Barnie and A.T. Houck (Baltimore), Charles H. Byrne (Brooklyn), O.P. Caylor and Louis Kramer (Cincinnati), H.T. Crittenden and J.B.K. Connolly (Columbus), Dan O’Leary and Joseph Schwabecker (Columbus), W.L. Jackson and Lee Dinkenspiel (Louisville), W.S. Appleton and James Mutrie (Metropolitan), Chris Von der Ahe and D.L. Reid (St. Louis), J.B. Whipple and W.J. Colburn (Toledo), and L. Moxley and J.S. Hollingshead (Washington). Felix Moses from Virginia was late and the AA declined to seat him since his club would represent a 13th member. Mike Scanlon sent a telegram from Washington seeking membership for his Washington Nationals which was denied in favor of Moxley’s Washington Club. Robert Ferguson was present as a representative from the UL, but the AA offered the UL no privileges. “The American Association Convention.”

30 Ibid.

31 Von der Ahe nominated Wyckoff, O’Leary nominated Wright, and Barney nominated Moore. Through three ballots, Wyckoff, T. Moore of Baltimore, and F.B. Wright of Cincinnati could not obtain a majority of the votes. On the fourth ballot, Moore was dropped from the ballot, and Wyckoff was elected, 7 to 5. “The American Association Convention”; “Base-Ball,” Cincinnati Enquirer, December 13, 1882: 2.

32 “The American Association Convention.”

33 “The American Association Convention.”

34 “Base-Ball Notes,” New York Times, December 21, 1883: 2.

35 “The American Association Convention.”

36 Ibid.

37 “What President M’Knight Says,” Cincinnati Enquirer, January 5, 1884: 2.

38 “The American Association Convention.”

39 Ibid.

40 Ibid. The reason given to maintain the rule was business. The AA’s customers preferred it and found the catch exciting to watch. “The Work of the American Convention,” New York Clipper, December 29, 1883: 694.

41 “The American Association Convention.”

42 The AA reappointed from 1883 as umpire both Charles Daniels and John Kelly. Among 30 applicants, the AA also appointed John G. Valentine from Brooklyn, George F. Seward from St. Louis, T.G. Connell from Philadelphia, and John Brennan from Indianapolis. The substitute umpires appointed were J. McQuaid from Chicago and John Daily from Brooklyn. Caylor, Hollingshead, and Williams were appointed to the schedule committee. “The American Association Convention.” Appleton was cited to express disappointment that the Mets had representation in the officers, directors, or committees. The issue was location of Decoration Day and Fourth of July games and their opponents. Holidays represented opportunities for large receipts. Sunday games mattered as well, and some of the Eastern clubs wished to receive a share of the receipts from Western Sunday games rather than the game guarantee. “Notes,” Cincinnati Enquirer, December 16, 1883: 16.

43 “The Union Association Convention,” New York Clipper, December 29, 1884: 694.

44 “The League War,” New York Clipper, January 12, 1884: 726.

45 The Interstate Association met January 2, 1884, at Philadelphia’s Girard House where it elected officers, admitted six clubs, and adopted the AA playing rules. It stated it would sign the National Agreement. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, January 12, 1884: 733. The two clubs admitted to the Interstate Association on January 2 – Altoona and Lancaster – met February 1, 1884, at Philadelphia, and decided to admit at least four clubs east of Lancaster. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, February 9, 1884: 797. That the Altoona club was reported to retire its membership for entry into the UA gives us an idea today of the fluid and uncertain state of baseball affairs for that time. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, March 1, 1884: 843.

46 “The Union League Meeting,” Cincinnati Enquirer, January 5, 1884: 2. The association took the name Union League on January 3, 1884, then accepted additional members and changed its name to the Eastern League, on January 4, 1884. AA President McKnight was present and provided Organized Baseball’s support for admission into the National Agreement. “The New Baseball League,” Boston Globe, January 4, 1884: 1. “Eastern League of Professional Baseball Clubs,” Boston Globe, January 5, 1884: 4.

47 Delegates included H.J. Dehlman (Allentown), Dr. G.W. Massamore and Robert Ferguson (Monumental), Thomas Porter (Newark, and proxy for Harrisburg), W.S. Miller (Reading), W.C. Seddon and Felix I. Moses (Virginia), P.T. Powers and J.H. Klein (Trenton), and John T. West and Joseph Simmons (Wilmington). “An Eastern League,” New York Clipper, January 12, 1884: 732.

48 The 32 member clubs from the NL, AA, and NWL voted unanimously to admit the EL. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, March 1, 1884: 843.

49 “An Eastern League,” New York Clipper, January 12, 1884: 732.

50 Ibid.

51 The EL’s Arbitration Committee consisted of Seddon, Massamore, and Diddlebock. “The Eastern League,” New York Clipper, March 22, 1884: 3.

52 E.T. Bennett (Bay City), Max Neidlinger (Fort Wayne), Elias Matter (Grand Rapids), John Stone (Peoria), W.D. Whitemore (Quincy), John J. Rust (Saginaw). “The Northwestern League,” New York Clipper, January 19, 1884: 745.

53 Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Muskegon, St. Paul, Stillwater, and Terre Haute. “The Northwestern League,” New York Clipper, January 19, 1884: 745.

54 Ibid.

55 “The Northwestern League,” New York Clipper, March 22, 1884: 3.

56 The New York Clipper recorded the following representatives as present: A.H. Soden (Boston), Josiah Jewett and Spencer Clinton (Buffalo), A.G. Spalding (Chicago), George W. Howe (Cleveland), John C. Chapman (Detroit), John B. Day (New York), John J. Rogers and Harry Wright (Philadelphia), and Henry T. Root and J.E. Allen (Providence). “The National League,” New York Clipper, March 15, 1884: 877.

57 Ibid.

58 The resolution read, in part, “Resolved, That no League club shall at any time employ or enter into contract with any of its reserved players who shall, while reserved to any such club, play with an other club.” Ibid.

59 Ibid.

60 Ibid.

61 The New York Clipper recorded the following club representatives: Lew Simmons and William Sharsig (Athletic), A.T. Houck and W. Barnie (Baltimore), Charles H. Byrne and J.J. Doyle (Brooklyn), O.P. Caylor and L. Kramer (Cincinnati), C.A. Miller and P.J. Sullivan (Columbus), H. Barnes (Indianapolis), M.J. Jackson (Louisville), Walter S. Appleton and James Mutrie (Metropolitan), H.D. McKnight (Pittsburgh), Chris Von der Ahe and James A. Williams (St. Louis), M.M. Epstein (Toledo), and L. Moxley and J.A. Hollingshead (Washington). “The American Association Convention,” New York Clipper, March 15, 1884: 877.

62 Ibid.

63 Ibid.

64 Ibid. The umpires met on April 2, 1884. In reviewing the rules, Kelly argued that the rule that awarded a base to the batsman when the pitcher delivered a ball that hit the batsman “solidly” was too difficult to determine and enforce. Kelly changed the interpretation for the rule so that the umpire was to fine the pitcher $5 to $10 for delivering a pitch that hit the batsman. “American Association Umpires,” New York Clipper, April 12, 1884: 53. Naturally, the AA Board of Directors opposed this change to the rules. “American Umpires to be Disciplined,” April 19, 1884: 66.

65 “The American Association Convention.”

66 Ibid.

67 Ibid.

68 Ibid.

69 Ibid.

70 “The Union Association,” New York Clipper, March 22, 1884: 3.

71 The New York Clipper records A.G. Mills, N.E. Young, and John B. Day for the NL, H.D. McKnight, William Barnie, and J.A. Williams for the AA, J.J. Rust, S.G. Morton, and E.T. Bennett for the NWL, and H.H. Diddlebock and W.C. Seddon for the EL. “The Arbitration Committee,” New York Clipper, April 26, 1884: 82.

72 “The Arbitration Committee,” New York Clipper, April 26, 1884: 82. The New York Times referred to this committee as Committee on Trials. “The Base-Ball Field,” New York Times, April 20, 1884: 2.

73 “The Arbitration Committee’s Meetings,” New York Clipper, May 3, 1884: 101.

74 Ibid.

75 Ibid.

76 “Base-Hits,” New York Clipper, October 18, 1884: 491.

77 “The Eastern League,” New York Clipper, May 31, 1884: 163.

78 “Altoona vs. Baltimore,” New York Clipper, June 7, 1884: 180.

79 “Eastern League,” New York Clipper, July 12, 1884: 258.

80 “Eastern League,” New York Clipper, July 19, 1884: 275. Byrne of the Brooklyn club objected to the EL. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, July 19, 1884: 277.

81 “A Special Meeting,” New York Clipper, July 26, 1884: 291.

82 “Disbandment of the Active Club,” New York Clipper, August 9, 1884: 330. “The Washington Club Quit,” New York Clipper, August 9, 1884: 330.

83 The New York Clipper lists the following representatives present: W.C. Henderson (Baltimore), F.E. Winston (Boston), A.H. Henderson (Chicago), Justus Thorner (Cincinnati), M.S. Porter (Kansas City), Thomas J. Pratt (Keystone Club of Philadelphia), H.V. Lucas (St. Louis), and H.B. Bennett (National Club of Washington). “A Special Meeting,” New York Clipper, July 12, 1884: 261.

84 Ibid. UA attendance at Boston was good when there was no conflicting NL game. “From the Hub,” New York Clipper, July 26, 1884: 293. The New York Times reported that the Altoona dates were to be played by Chicago and the Chicago dates to be played by the entering Kansas City. “Union Association Affairs,” New York Times, July 2, 1884: 2.

85 “Union Association Meeting,” Cincinnati Enquirer, July 3, 1884: 2.

86 Kent, McSorley, and Pinckney jumped their UA Chicago contracts to play for Peoria in the NWL. “A Special Meeting,” New York Clipper, July 12, 1884: 261.

87 “Meeting of the Directors of the Union Association,” Chicago Tribune, July 2, 1884: 7.

88 “A New Schedule,” New York Clipper, July 26, 1884: 291.

89 “A Special Meeting,” New York Clipper, July 26, 1884: 291.

90 “A Shaking Up among Umpires,” New York Clipper, August 2, 1882: 308.

91 “A Special Meeting.”

92 Baltimore and Cincinnati entered into a bidding war for the rights to the shortstop’s services. The amount reported paid for his release was $1,000. “The Washington Club Quit,” New York Clipper, August 9, 1884. A later report stated the salaries in arrears were in the amount of $1,300, and that the price paid for the release may have been $600. The UA Washington club played a benefit game for the AA Washington players which raised an additional $400. “Base-Hits Everywhere,” New York Clipper, August 16, 1884: 345.

93 “The Washington Club Quit.”

94 “Base-Hits,” New York Clipper, September 6, 1884: 393.

95 “A New Schedule,” New York Clipper, August 9, 1884: 331.

96 “Disbandment of the Fort Wayne Club,” New York Clipper, August 9, 1884: 331.

97 “Base-Hits Everywhere,” New York Clipper, August 9, 1884: 331.

98 “More Disbandments,” New York Clipper, August 16, 1884: 346. While the Grand Rapids club carried no debt, at the time of its disbandment it had an operating loss of $2,500. “Base-Hits Everywhere,” New York Clipper, August 23, 1884: 362.

99 “Base-Hits Everywhere.”

100 Each club was to play eight games against each of the other clubs, with four home games and four away games. “The Northwestern League,” New York Clipper, August 30, 1884: 379.

101 “Meetings of Directors,” New York Clipper, August 16, 1884: 346.

102 Ibid.

103 “The Eastern League,” New York Clipper, August 23, 1884: 361; “The Eastern League,” New York Clipper, August 30, 1884: 379.

104 “Baseball,” New York Clipper, September 6, 1884: 394.

105 “Short Stops,” New York Clipper, September 20, 1884: 426.

106 “The Eastern League,” New York Clipper, September 27, 1884: 444. Determining its champion was one of the primary purposes of an association.

107 The EL was reported to have applications for 1885 from Utica, Jersey City, Domestics of Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, York, and Ironsides of Lancaster. Diddlebock was reported to have three plans, one for an organization centered on upstate New York, another for an organization in the Northeast, and a third for an organization in New England. Of the 1884 members, Domestic of Newark, Ironsides of Lancaster, Trenton, and York wanted to remain with the EL, while Allentown did not. Tom Pratt wanted an EL club for his Keystone Park, and Wilmington planned to reorganize. Baltimore was expected to request membership. “Eastern League for 1885,” New York Clipper, October 11, 1884: 475. At its October 25, 1884, meeting, after leagues were announced for New England and upstate New York, the EL gravitated toward an association consisting of Albany, Bridgeport, Hartford, Jersey City, Newark, Philadelphia, and Trenton. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, October 25, 1884: 508, and November 1, 1884: 524. Allentown, Trenton, and York were soon expelled for failure to pay 1884 dues and Diddlebock sought interest from UA clubs at Boston and Washington, D.C. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, November 15, 1884: 557, and November 22, 1884: 572.

108 The club paid salaries close to the NL level, but could not financially continue with low home receipts and an expensive coming Western trip. “The Keystones Disbanded,” New York Clipper, August 16, 1884: 344. A nine reorganized under Malone to play under the co-operative plan at the $5,000 Keystone Park. “Short Stops,” New York Clipper, August 16, 1884: 346, “Base-Hits Everywhere.”

109 “Base-Hits Everywhere.”

110 “The Eastern League,” “The Championship Record,” “National vs. Wilmington,” New York Clipper, August 23, 1884: 361-362.

111 “Base-Hits Everywhere,” New York Clipper, August 30, 1884: 377. If Chicago paid its debts, its monetary losses were rumored in the range of $20,000 to $25,000. “Base-Hits,” New York Clipper, October 4, 1884: 460.

112 “Base-Hits,” New York Clipper, September 20, 1884: 425.

113 “The Wilmington Club Disbanded,” New York Clipper, September 20, 1884: 426. The New York Clipper reported that Lucas was rumored to renege on a promise to cover Wilmington’s travel expenses on its Western trip, because Lucas wanted Milwaukee to join after Wilmington decided to quit. “Short-Stops,” New York Clipper, September 20, 1884: 426. Pittsburgh disbanded September 19, 1884, following an exhibition game with Baltimore, because its receipts were insufficient. Six of its players signed contracts with Baltimore. “The Pittsburgh Club Disbands,” New York Clipper, September 27, 1884: 444.

114 “Base-Hits Everywhere,” New York Clipper, August 30, 1884: 377. By August 28, 1884, the accounts showed a $4,000 loss, but the shareholders decided to continue their season. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, September 6, 1884: 394.

115 “Base-Hits Everywhere,” New York Clipper, August 9, 1884: 331.

116 Ibid. The race for second in the UA was wide open. The Cincinnati club strengthened its lineup. It likely needed McCormick because it was reported that G.W. Bradley broke a small bone in his right forearm in a collision at home plate on August 7, 1884. See “Short Stops,” New York Clipper, August 16, 1884: 346.

117 “From the Hub,” New York Clipper, August 23, 1884: 361. Near the end of the season, the Cleveland directors announced the club would continue to be an NL member in 1885. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, October 11, 1884: 476. At the conclusion of the season, its operating loss was reportedly $1,300, a result largely attributed to its experiment with a reserve team. “Baseball,” New York Clipper, October 25, 1884: 508.

118 “Base-Hits,” New York Clipper, October 4, 1884: 460. At its shareholders meeting on October 7, 1884, the reorganization committee presented investors who subscribed $5,000, and were willing to assume the debts if existing shareholders agreed to give up their shares. The shareholders preferred to find other investors who were willing to purchase up to $5,000 in new shares in the existing franchise. “Base-Hits,” New York Clipper, October 18, 1884: 491.

119 “The National Game,” New York Clipper, September 6, 1884: 392-393.

120 The New York Clipper listed: B.F. Mathews and H.C. Henderson (Baltimore), F.E. Winslow (Boston), J.P. Sullivan (Kansas City), H.B. Bennett and M.B. Scanlon (National of Washington), and H.V. Lucas (St. Louis and Cincinnati proxy). “A Special Meeting,” New York Clipper, September 27, 1884: 443.

121 “Indications That It Has Come to Stay – The Meeting at Washington,” Cincinnati Enquirer, September 20, 1884: 2.

122 “A Special Meeting,” New York Clipper, September 27, 1884: 443-444.

123 The New York Clipper listed the representatives present as A.G. Mills, N. Young and John B. Day (NL), H.D. McKnight and William Barnie (AA), and Henry Diddlebock (EL). Elias Matter was absent from the NWL, which had disbanded. “The Arbitration Committee Meeting,” New York Clipper, November 15, 1884: 554.

124 Ibid. For 1884, players reserved by clubs in NWL or EL were to receive $800 minimum salaries.

125 Ibid. Some clubs used released players prior to the expiration following 10 days’ notice, because of a loophole a provision in their association’s constitution permitting a club to use a player not under contract for up to five consecutive games.

126 Ibid. The shared markets of New York City and Philadelphia were grandfathered and permitted.

127 Ibid.

128 Ibid.

129 “The Past Baseball Season,” New York Clipper, November 1, 1884: 522.

130 “The United States Championship,” New York Clipper, November 1, 1884: 523.