OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

AcesFull · 03-06-2003, 10:25 AM

In January of 1901, a group of progressive, forward-thinking businessmen, looked at America's emerging pastime, and saw opportunity. They believed that the Reserve Clause in players' contracts was in direct opposition with the American Dream, and that, if players and owners were required to negotiate contracts with each other, the end result would be a better, more competitive game.

And so, on Tuesday, January 15, 1901 eight businessmen, from the eight largest cities in America, met and founded the Pastime League. The eight teams that emerged from those meetings are well-known today; the New York Titans, the Chicago Wind Machines, the Philadelphia Brotherhood, the St. Louis Pilsners, the Boston Colonials, the Baltimore Terrapins, the Cleveland Rocks, and the Buffalo Bisons.

Because of the Reserve Clause in the American and National Baseball Leagues, none of the players in those leagues were released from their contracts, and so on March 9, 1901, the eight teams held open weekend tryouts. From these players, each team was allowed to keep 40, and had only three weeks to practice and put together the teams that would take the field on April 2, Opening Day of the Pastime League.

Recently, a discovery of great interest to baseball historians and fans has been made. Tim Plummer, the Boston Colonials first manager, long rumoured to have lost all his marbles and lived as a cranky, muttering recluse for the last years of his life, kept extensive records of his time in the league. Newspaper articles and personal notes and letters were all kept. Recently, his great-grandchildren have contacted the Hall of Fame. Having inherited his house, they discovered it was nearly brimming with these records. They contacted the Hall of Fame to see if it would be of interest.

"We were just hoping that we could get someone to take all this crap off our hands. I mean, the house is full! You can't even walk around in the place without tripping on another stack of papers. He was just an old lunatic."

Unfortunately, the piles of papers and notes (three 24' box trucks full), were completely unorganized. As the records and documents are sifted through and organized, records of interest wlil be posted here.

03-06-2003, 10:25 AM	#1
AcesFull Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 76	Pastime League In January of 1901, a group of progressive, forward-thinking businessmen, looked at America's emerging pastime, and saw opportunity. They believed that the Reserve Clause in players' contracts was in direct opposition with the American Dream, and that, if players and owners were required to negotiate contracts with each other, the end result would be a better, more competitive game. And so, on Tuesday, January 15, 1901 eight businessmen, from the eight largest cities in America, met and founded the Pastime League. The eight teams that emerged from those meetings are well-known today; the New York Titans, the Chicago Wind Machines, the Philadelphia Brotherhood, the St. Louis Pilsners, the Boston Colonials, the Baltimore Terrapins, the Cleveland Rocks, and the Buffalo Bisons. Because of the Reserve Clause in the American and National Baseball Leagues, none of the players in those leagues were released from their contracts, and so on March 9, 1901, the eight teams held open weekend tryouts. From these players, each team was allowed to keep 40, and had only three weeks to practice and put together the teams that would take the field on April 2, Opening Day of the Pastime League. Recently, a discovery of great interest to baseball historians and fans has been made. Tim Plummer, the Boston Colonials first manager, long rumoured to have lost all his marbles and lived as a cranky, muttering recluse for the last years of his life, kept extensive records of his time in the league. Newspaper articles and personal notes and letters were all kept. Recently, his great-grandchildren have contacted the Hall of Fame. Having inherited his house, they discovered it was nearly brimming with these records. They contacted the Hall of Fame to see if it would be of interest. "We were just hoping that we could get someone to take all this crap off our hands. I mean, the house is full! You can't even walk around in the place without tripping on another stack of papers. He was just an old lunatic." Unfortunately, the piles of papers and notes (three 24' box trucks full), were completely unorganized. As the records and documents are sifted through and organized, records of interest wlil be posted here.