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NYY #23 · 09-27-2009, 11:12 PM

Player League votes for merger
January 31, 1891

Reports out of the Players League meeting have indicated that after hours of discussions and several tie votes the Players League has decided to rebuff the National League's purchase offer and have agreed to merge with the American Association.

In the end it came down to a battle between the financial backers and the Brotherhood, and in the end the Brotherhood made several key concessions that swayed the financial backers to accept the merger with the American Association. In an effort to help recoup the investors initial investment sooner, the players agreed to the following items:

• The schedule would be increased to 150 games, with 10 games against each of the remaining opponents.

• Each player was to be assigned to an initial two year contract. Any new player entering the league will be under team control for five years. After five years the player may sign for any team.

• Sunday baseball games would be played, but no sale of alcohol would be permitted on Sundays, but allowed other days of the week.

• The top two teams in the league would meet following the season for a postseason championship series that would last seven games.

• The league would retain the name of the Players League, with Colonel Edwin A. McAlpin remaining on as commissioner, with Allan Thurman becoming assistant commissioner.

• The 8 Players League teams would remain in place, and be joined by the former National League Cincinnati Reds, and five American Association teams, along with the reinstated American Association teams in Syracuse and Rochester, to form a 16 team league.

• An annual meeting will be held in November of each year, and any changes to league rules or the league structure must be approved by the League's Board of Directors, which will be made up of 6 player representatives, and six financial representatives. The commissioner will break any tie.

The war between the National League and the Players League will continue for another year, and the announcement of the merger shook the baseball world, but especially the National League. The battle over players will continue to be fought, with each league trying to lure top talent. To that end, the Players League came out on top, but with 16 teams, growing debt, and a National League that was holding strong, the battle was far from over.

09-27-2009, 11:12 PM	#31
NYY #23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 13,112	Player League votes for merger January 31, 1891 Reports out of the Players League meeting have indicated that after hours of discussions and several tie votes the Players League has decided to rebuff the National League's purchase offer and have agreed to merge with the American Association. In the end it came down to a battle between the financial backers and the Brotherhood, and in the end the Brotherhood made several key concessions that swayed the financial backers to accept the merger with the American Association. In an effort to help recoup the investors initial investment sooner, the players agreed to the following items: • The schedule would be increased to 150 games, with 10 games against each of the remaining opponents. • Each player was to be assigned to an initial two year contract. Any new player entering the league will be under team control for five years. After five years the player may sign for any team. • Sunday baseball games would be played, but no sale of alcohol would be permitted on Sundays, but allowed other days of the week. • The top two teams in the league would meet following the season for a postseason championship series that would last seven games. • The league would retain the name of the Players League, with Colonel Edwin A. McAlpin remaining on as commissioner, with Allan Thurman becoming assistant commissioner. • The 8 Players League teams would remain in place, and be joined by the former National League Cincinnati Reds, and five American Association teams, along with the reinstated American Association teams in Syracuse and Rochester, to form a 16 team league. • An annual meeting will be held in November of each year, and any changes to league rules or the league structure must be approved by the League's Board of Directors, which will be made up of 6 player representatives, and six financial representatives. The commissioner will break any tie. The war between the National League and the Players League will continue for another year, and the announcement of the merger shook the baseball world, but especially the National League. The battle over players will continue to be fought, with each league trying to lure top talent. To that end, the Players League came out on top, but with 16 teams, growing debt, and a National League that was holding strong, the battle was far from over.