[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY
V 13.5

May 1883

Off Field Dispute Converges On League

As professional baseball advances itself and continues to gain popularity around the country, the humanity of the game still has significant implications.

In recent years the position of catcher has seen enhancements especially to the equipment used to prevent injury. Recently Al Spalding of the Chicago White Stockings who also owns a nationwide sporting good company with his name, has signed a contract with the National League that they would use the new "catchers mask" for all their teams and catchers. The contract is said to be fairly lucrative for Spalding ans many are voicing concern that such a deal is a conflict of interest between one of the players and the league itself.

Al Spalding

The story gets even more difficult as some are saying the idea and patent of the "mask" didnt come from Spalding. In fact former teamate of Spalding George Wright claims that he came up with the concept two years ago and that Spalding stole the idea when the players played together in 1881. Wright who now plays with the St. Louis Browns made it no secret that he and many of the White Stockings, especially Cap Anson and Spalding, didnt get along at all.

George Wright

Wright is threatiening to sue the league and Spalding for their new agreement and sources are saying that lawyers have been contacted.

Spalding had downright mean words when asked about his former teamate, "he is a vluture" said the pitcher with the most wins in baseball history, "he wants to make money out of nothing and inpeded good old American business."

Details are to definately follow as in the midst of this a good baseball season is about halfway through.
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American Association Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Philadelphia Athletics	33	17	.660	-
Baltimore Orioles	30	20	.600	3.0
Boston Americans	26	24	.520	7.0
Chicago White Sox	25	25	.500	8.0
Cleveland Blues	25	25	.500	8.0
Louisville Eclipse	25	25	.500	8.0
Detroit Wolverines	21	29	.420	12.0
Washington Nationals	15	35	.300	18.0

National League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Cincinnati Red Stockings	33	17	.660	-
Boston Beaneaters	32	18	.640	1.0
Philadelphia Quakers	26	24	.520	7.0
Brooklyn Atlantics	25	25	.500	8.0
Chicago White Stockings	25	25	.500	8.0
New York Gothams	22	28	.440	11.0
St. Louis Browns	21	29	.420	12.0
Pittsburg Alleghenys	16	34	.320	17.0

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League Tidbits

• The Chicago White Sox and the Pittsburgh Alleghenys made a trade as Pittsburgh sent 28 year old Whitey Ritterson to the Sox in echange for reliever Pidgey Morgan.
• Pitcher Mike Golden of the Browns suffered a leg strain and will miss 5 to 6 weeks. Golden was having a good year at 8-8 and a 1.97 ERA.
• Race for 300. Cy Bentley and Al Splading are both closing in on the 300 win mark. Both pitchers would love to be the first to ever win 300 games, currently both pitchers are sitting at 298 wins.