Читать книгу Spalding's Baseball Guide and Official League Book for 1895 - Various - Страница 6

From the year 1876, when base ball was established in this country on a substantial and responsible basis by the disbandment of the so-called National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs and the organization of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, down to the present time, the duty has been imposed upon some body or organization to uphold and enforce the objects for which base ball was established, to wit:

First—To perpetuate base ball as the national game of the United States, and to surround it with such safeguards as to warrant for the future absolute public confidence in its integrity and methods.

Second—To protect and promote the mutual interests of professional base ball clubs and professional base ball players.

The National League formed in 1876 found a difficult task before it in undertaking to carry out the objects above referred to. Interest in base ball was at a low ebb. Gamblers were in possession. The game was without discipline, organization or legitimate control. The sport was conducted with dishonest methods and for dishonest purposes, and had neither the respect nor confidence of the press or public. Heroic methods were absolutely necessary. At a meeting of the National League, held in Cleveland December 5, 1877, the League directors unanimously ratified the action of the Louisville club in expelling from the professional ranks James A. Devlin, W. H. Craver, A. H. Nichols and G. W. Hall "for conduct in contravention to the object of the League."

These men had been charged with and convicted of willfully selling a game of base ball. At first the action of the League in taking such an extreme course was strongly denounced. The League, however, foresaw that any condonation of fraud or crookedness meant death to the national game and remained firm in its position. Public opinion soon turned, and to-day it is universally conceded that the course then taken did more to establish the honesty and integrity of base ball than any action taken or legislation since enacted. From that day to this no charge of crookedness or dishonesty has been made against a professional ball player. Repeated attempts have been made to reinstate these men or those of them now living, but their expulsion was final and irrevocable.

That the League was earnest in its efforts to purify the game was further demonstrated by its action taken at a special meeting held at the Russell House, Detroit, Mich., on June 24, 1882, when Richard Higham, a League umpire, was, upon charges preferred by the Detroit club, expelled for "crooked" work as an umpire. From that day to this no such charge has ever been made against an official umpire. The rapid increase in the compensation of ball players soon opened up another avenue of trouble for the League, which needed and received prompt attention. This was flagrant and open dissipation in the ranks at home and abroad. While this was confined comparatively to a few men, the innocent suffered largely from it, and the National League was brought into disrepute. Heroic measures were again adopted, and several players were indefinitely suspended, with excellent effect. It is safe to say that to-day there is less dissipation and drunkenness in the ranks of professional ball players in proportion to their number than in any other organized or unorganized body in this country identified with outdoor sports.

The success achieved by the National League in its efforts to develop base ball as the national game became apparent in its rapid growth in popular favor, and the establishment of clubs and associations throughout the various States. It became evident soon that something must be done to foster and protect the rights and interests of these various bodies, and "that there was a recognized need of some central power in base ball to govern all associations, by an equitable code of general laws, to put the game on a prosperous and lasting basis."

To accomplish this purpose a meeting was held in the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, February 17, 1883, at which delegates were present representing the National League, the American Association, and the Northwestern League. At that meeting the so-called Tripartite Agreement was drawn up and agreed to, which substantially was an offensive and defensive alliance, embodying a mutual respect of all contracts and other obligations, and all rights of the parties to the agreement to territorial rights, players under contract or held under reserve.

The adoption of the tripartite agreement opened a new era in base ball, and it was so readily recognized as being a step in the line of progress that when the committee which drew up the agreement was called together in New York city in October, 1883, they decided to call the instrument they had framed the National Agreement of Professional Base Ball Clubs, the purpose being to open the door to all clubs, leagues and associations desiring to live under the conditions, rules and regulations of the agreement. Immediately several leagues and associations applied for the protection assured the, and readily pledged themselves to abide by the requirements designated in the agreement.

The action of the committee in framing the new national agreement was subsequently ratified by the signatures of the Presidents of the parties thereto, viz.:

The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, A. G. Mills,

President, November 22, 1883.

The American Association of Base Ball Clubs, H. D. McKnight, President,

December 13, 1883.

The Northwestern League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, Elias Mather,

President, January 10, 1884.

The Eastern League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, William C. Sedden,

President, February 19, 1884.

The fundamental principle of the national agreement as originally drawn, and which is now in operation, is a respect for territorial rights. This, in fact, is the corner stone of the structure.

It contemplates and provides for the organization of cities into leagues or associations, with one club, and one only, in each city, and a contest between the respective cities for championship honors. The interest which base ball arouses in any city is based absolutely on local pride. The essence of value to a championship is entirely to the city to which the victorious club belongs.

Experience has demonstrated that whenever and wherever territorial rights have been invaded and rival clubs established, the element of local pride is absent and interest in both destroyed. It is this which makes a respect for territorial rights a principle which we must uphold.

It is true, nevertheless, and we so declare that we will gladly welcome and shall encourage the formation of leagues and associations who desire to operate under the national agreement, and consent to abide by the fundamental principles of that document.

Reference has been made above to the difficulties and the obstacles which at times have presented themselves and which have been by severe but just methods removed.

To-day the future of base ball is confronted by a new condition, a condition which in every particular is as harmful and in many respects far more dangerous than open dishonesty or flagrant dissipation. That is, treachery within the lines. To-day, and for months past we have had men identified with professional base ball who for years have been the beneficiaries of the game, have received liberal compensation for the work they have done, earned their livelihood entirely and absolutely from the opportunities afforded them by clubs and organizations operating under the national agreement, and we find and now know that these men, during this time, have persistently been identifying themselves with schemes and combinations the objects and sole purposes of which are to weaken and perhaps destroy the splendid fabric of our national game, which it has taken years of effort, anxiety and large outlay of capital to construct.

To-day we have the confidence of the public and the press of the country in the methods and the integrity of base ball in larger measure than at any prior period in the history of our national game. It devolves upon us to continue to deserve and retain this confidence. We must endeavor to do it.

The interests of clubs and professional ball players are identical. One cannot succeed without the other. Success means mutual benefit. The moment any suspicion attaches to base ball, public confidence lost or even chilled, the occupation of the ball player is gone. We must all stand or fall together. There is no middle ground. We stand by the fundamental law, our national agreement, which guarantees protection to players as well as to clubs, or we destroy it. One road leads to the perpetuation of the national game, the other to its decline. There should be no place, no standing room in base ball for any anarchistic element which never aids in building up but is ever ready to destroy.

The time has come when some action should be taken to place this element without the pale of our ranks. The National Board, operating under the national agreement, was created to protect and guard the interests of all players, clubs and associations identified with the agreement. Any attempt to encroach upon that, to nullify or affect any of its provisions, is of direct and material concern to all alike.

The obligations of contracts, the right of reserve, and the territorial rights of clubs, associations and leagues must be upheld, and shall be, at any cost.

It is a matter of public rumor and is also a fact which has come to our knowledge that men identified with clubs, members of the national agreement, have been co-operating in the formation of clubs or organizations whose purpose is to conflict with the national agreement. In view of this knowledge, the National League and American Association of Professional Clubs in convention assembled respectfully suggests to and requests the National Board to declare A. C. Buckenberger, William Barnie and Fred Pfeffer ineligible to be employed either as manager or player or in any capacity whatever, by any club or organization operating under the national agreement, and they be forthwith suspended. Such suspension to remain in force until such time as they or either of them can satisfy the National Board that they have in no way been engaged directly or indirectly in the organization of any club, league or association formed or to be formed in conflict with the principles of the national agreement. And in the event of their failure to relieve themselves from this suspension within such time as your Board may direct, they shall be expelled and forever debarred from any connection with clubs or organizations identified with the National Agreement of Professional Base Ball Clubs.

We furthermore request that your Board take like action in the case of any player, manager, umpire or club official who in the future identifies himself with a similar movement.