With two new clubs, the new AL demanded that the NL regard them as an equal, a fellow major league. After much discussion, the older circuit rebuffed Ban Johnson, et. al. by saying that a "major league" had to have at least
twelve clubs -- like the NL did. A mere ten was insufficient. Many thought the NL's proviso was cynical -- by forcing the AL to expand to an even dozen, the new league would be overstretched and promptly go out of business.
By the 4th of July, it was a hot race in the National: the Cubs were on top, with the Cards, Reds and Braves close behind. Surprisingly, the defending champion Phillies were struggling in tenth place; not so surprisingly, the Spiders, once again, really,
really sucked.
The Spiders traded their one good player, Ossie Schreckengost, to the also (if not equally) struggling Giants for Cy Bentley, who led the NL with 53 starts on the mound in 1899, and rookie Joe Delahanty, kid brother to "Big Ed" and the rest of the Delahanty clan:
In the AL, Detroit, led by star pitchers Ed Scott and Don Newton, pace the circuit, with Indianapolis and Columbus battling for a spot in the Cup playoff:
