[RMc]

In 1901, the American League, having been told that they needed twelve teams to be considered a "major league", became a twelve-team league. And the way they did it outraged new NL president Albert Spalding.

"This will not stand!" Spalding fumed after finding out the AL secretly built ballparks in Boston and Philadelphia. "We let them have a team in Chicago, as long as they referred to them as simply the White Stockings with no city name attached. They reneged on that promise, and now have the gall to invade the National League territory!" Oh, and the AL again asked for major league status, and even wanted their teams to compete for the cherished Temple Cup; the NL denied them by a 12-0 vote.

The biggest shock came just before Opening Day, when four of the biggest stars in the National -- Nap Lajoie and Big Ed Delahanty of Philadelphia and Jimmy Collins and "Slidin' Billy" Hamilton of Boston -- all "crossed the street" and joined their American League counterparts, with Hamilton being named player-manager of the new Red Sox. The NL attempted to get injunctions against the wandering players, but were denied in the courts. There was nothing left to do but...PLAY BALL...!