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seth70liz76 · 06-07-2005, 02:57 PM

Excerpt from “The History of Professional Base Ball” (1941)
When the Columbia Association was formed in 1879, it began what old timers refer to as “the first base ball war.” The fan of the time would have thought it to be a short war, as the CA was beset with problems.

Saint Louis and Louisville were in full revolt early on, chaffing under the edict banning alcohol sales at the games. “If the St. Louisan can not have his bucket of beer, he has no reason to go a game,” owner Johan Hansferd pleaded with Temple’s hand picked commission. When the commission upheld the ban, they sold beer and whisky anyway. When the commission fined Hansferd (and Louisville and Cincinnati) the clubs refused to pay. Hansferd threaten to either form another league or join the Empire, the commission revoked the fines; a move that allowed the remainder of the owners to violate the league charter any way they saw fit.

The three men, all prominent members of the New York sporting community and personal friends of William Temple, did not carry much respect with the other owners. Clubs cut admission, paid players beyond the set salary, and generally carried on business in a manner befitting the pre-Empire association days. By mid-season, all but one of the commissioners had resigned his position.

The lack of authority further plunged the CA into chaos. Teams withheld visitor shares and openly attempted to woo players from other CA clubs to jump contract. Temple, who even in the collapse of order continued to obey the league charter, realized in his zeal to topple the Empire he had made serious lapses in the quality of owner allowed to join.

Making matter worse talent the CA did lure from the Empire were those with a taint of gambling. Rumors of fixed games ran rampant, and the various clubs showed no interest in cleaning up the game as McCormick’s owners had. To the disgust of the genteel William Temple, the CA was a worse situation than he had experienced in the Empire. And it was all on his head.

The Empire, under the firm hand of James McCormick, kept their owners in line. In three of the four cities the leagues were directly competing, a friendly press further underminded the CA’s efforts to build a league. It appeared the Empire would vanquish it’s first rival in less than a season, but fate had other plans.

06-07-2005, 02:57 PM	#210
seth70liz76 All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,634	1879--WAR!: False Beginnings Excerpt from “The History of Professional Base Ball” (1941) When the Columbia Association was formed in 1879, it began what old timers refer to as “the first base ball war.” The fan of the time would have thought it to be a short war, as the CA was beset with problems. Saint Louis and Louisville were in full revolt early on, chaffing under the edict banning alcohol sales at the games. “If the St. Louisan can not have his bucket of beer, he has no reason to go a game,” owner Johan Hansferd pleaded with Temple’s hand picked commission. When the commission upheld the ban, they sold beer and whisky anyway. When the commission fined Hansferd (and Louisville and Cincinnati) the clubs refused to pay. Hansferd threaten to either form another league or join the Empire, the commission revoked the fines; a move that allowed the remainder of the owners to violate the league charter any way they saw fit. The three men, all prominent members of the New York sporting community and personal friends of William Temple, did not carry much respect with the other owners. Clubs cut admission, paid players beyond the set salary, and generally carried on business in a manner befitting the pre-Empire association days. By mid-season, all but one of the commissioners had resigned his position. The lack of authority further plunged the CA into chaos. Teams withheld visitor shares and openly attempted to woo players from other CA clubs to jump contract. Temple, who even in the collapse of order continued to obey the league charter, realized in his zeal to topple the Empire he had made serious lapses in the quality of owner allowed to join. Making matter worse talent the CA did lure from the Empire were those with a taint of gambling. Rumors of fixed games ran rampant, and the various clubs showed no interest in cleaning up the game as McCormick’s owners had. To the disgust of the genteel William Temple, the CA was a worse situation than he had experienced in the Empire. And it was all on his head. The Empire, under the firm hand of James McCormick, kept their owners in line. In three of the four cities the leagues were directly competing, a friendly press further underminded the CA’s efforts to build a league. It appeared the Empire would vanquish it’s first rival in less than a season, but fate had other plans. __________________ It was a mistake to come back.