Prologue

[seth70liz76]

I'm pretty sure most of you don't need this, we mostly conduct ourselves as thoughtful adults here, but there are some who will read the next post and be unable to seperate the post from the poster.

As in 'real' baseball history, there are some issues of race that loom large in my world--this is the first time it will be 'out in the open' so to speak. You of particularly overly sensitive natures would be best to skip on to another thread--not that I think there is anything 'shocking' or 'scandalous' in the post, but I understand that race is one of those areas it is easy to step on someones toes without meaning too.

Race will come up again, and the views expressed by players and excutives will, on the whole, not be very enlightend. That's just the way it was: History is not good or bad, it just is.

[seth70liz76]

The idea was simple, take Frank Richardson to a game between Buffalo and Toronto of the ONYL and let him comment about the inferior play through the Dispatch reporter accompanying him. Richardson, who had taken over the Cincinnati club as field manager, was the biggest star in base ball and was more than willing to oblige. He harbored great animosity towards League President McCormick, but understood if the Empire could not show itself the strongest league in the nation the retreat to six clubs would only be the start.

Both Buffalo clubs were drawing an equal numbers, but the battle against the ‘interlopers’ league had trickled to the local press. Several of the Buffalo papers would not even carry mention of the Empire, in favor of Winfred Siemens’ ONYL entry. War was brewing between the EL and a regional league, and it was a war the Empire could not afford to lose. The legal battle would strech well beyond the season; any edge a team could get to push the other out of business was sought. Admission was slashed at both parks; Buffalo would trade for established stars to dum up attendance, but Frank Richardson would fire the killing shot early. This late May afternoon would set in motion events with a long tragic reach.

From “The Base Ball Memories of Cappy”
“I looked out across the diamond and what I saw made me ill. Two --- wearing the uniform of Buffalo with pride. I asked my companion if these were mascots or some sort of support figure, and he casually admitted they were the starting second baseman and right fielder for the Buffalos. Then, perhaps the most degrading thing I have ever seen on the diamond in all my years occurred. One, identified to me as Tarrin Lawrence, crept over to the boxes and began to converse with a white woman. My outrage as an American male began to boil over, and I started to shout at the offensive scene with all the passion I could muster. As if awakened from a deep sleep, the good citizens of Buffalo became aware of the race-mixing before their eyes. I heard a voice saying, “it’s Cappy,” and took great satisfaction my force of personality was enough to show these good people the way back home. It filled me with joy to see the two --- being guided off the field by plainclothesmen as the volleys of fruit and whiskey bottles fell upon their heads.”

The Dispatch had their angle to ruin support for the O-NYL, and they ran with it. For the length of time the Cincinnatis were in Buffalo, the front page was ablaze with sordid, but unproven, stories about the actives of the two Buffalo ONYLs. Siemens saw the press support quickly swing towards the Empire, as he tried to ‘defend’ his action, but only allowed the Dispatch and its newfound allies more ammunition. Siemens simple statement of “I would hire any qualified man, be he Negro, Chinese or Irish,” lead to stories on how he would “put the native white American out of work in favor of the inferior races.” Within a month of Richardson’s bombshell, the ONYL team in Buffalo’s attendance had fell to last in their league, and it was now the ignored team by the legion of press. The Empire League’s Buffalo Eries were now the choice of the “true fan, who values country as much as sport.” The fact the Eries would finish a distant 6th (the ONYL club was a close 3rd in their league) and could trump a more competitive club at the box office firmly establish what the top circuit in base ball was.

By the end of the season, Siemens only hope to stay in business was a favorable ruling in court. To the joy of the Empire, the courts ruled they had every right to conduct business where ever they saw fit. A rival league could not dictate where a club could be located. Lower level leagues held their breath, knowing the Empire was seeking two new cities to move to, and there was nothing they could do to stop them.

[ifspuds]

Hey, baseball history is littered with stuff like this. The fact is that the time period you're reporting on is well over 100 years ago, and this kind of thing was commonplace. You deserve credit for not flinching away from the more vile aspects of baseball -- and human -- history.

[Matt from TN]

This looks really great. Can't believe I just came across it today. I hope I'll have time to go back & read everything because this looks very interesting. Excellent job so far! Keep it up.

[seth70liz76]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

Hey, baseball history is littered with stuff like this. The fact is that the time period you're reporting on is well over 100 years ago, and this kind of thing was commonplace. You deserve credit for not flinching away from the more vile aspects of baseball -- and human -- history.

Like I said, I don't think there is anything too shocking or over-the-top there, but it is an issue where it is easy to have meaning misconstruded. Just thought it was in my best interest to have a disclaimer. Yeah, it would have been easy to make the league intergrated or pretend not to notice the color barrier, but I know where I want the story to go, and, unfortunatly, need items like this.

Thanks for the kind words ifspuds.

[seth70liz76]

Originally Posted by Matt from TN

This looks really great. Can't believe I just came across it today. I hope I'll have time to go back & read everything because this looks very interesting. Excellent job so far! Keep it up.

Thank you Matt, i'm in the 7th season (1/10 the way to my goal!) so it shouldn't be to hard. There is a primer on key characters on page 6 which should help too.

[Dark Horse]

You handled that well, Seth.

Frankly, it's insulting when someone does a period piece like this and pretends that the racism didn't exist.

Keep up the good work.

[seth70liz76]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

You handled that well, Seth.

Frankly, it's insulting when someone does a period piece like this and pretends that the racism didn't exist.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks Dark Horse. I know I've been shy about compliments before, but both your and ifspuds post are welcome after that one. It is an issue that will come up again and knowing my regular readers think I did ok in handling it makes me more confident for the next time.

[goroyals]

Well done seth. "Prolouge" is a great model for anyone who wants to do a classy, well-handled period piece. I have nothing but respect for your work.

[seth70liz76]

Originally Posted by goroyals

Well done seth. "Prolouge" is a great model for anyone who wants to do a classy, well-handled period piece. I have nothing but respect for your work.

If you haven't checked out goroyals' PABA thread, please do. Oddly enough, I think he and I (and Eck4Prez) are all dealing with the 1877 season right now--different takes on the same era! (And I'm not just saying that because of the nice words ) He has some great stories about the characters in his universe.

No slight intended to my other readers, but it is the same time period so I thought it warrented extra mention. I'm a fan of ifspuds Northwest League too!

[ifspuds]

Originally Posted by seth70liz76

If you haven't checked out goroyals' PABA thread, please do. Oddly enough, I think he and I (and Eck4Prez) are all dealing with the 1877 season right now--different takes on the same era! (And I'm not just saying that because of the nice words ) He has some great stories about the characters in his universe.

No slight intended to my other readers, but it is the same time period so I thought it warrented extra mention. I'm a fan of ifspuds Northwest League too!

I didn't even begin to think you were slighting your other readers, but thanks for the nod nonetheless! I think goroyals' thread needs more publicity than the Northwest League anyway.

[goroyals]

Originally Posted by seth70liz76

If you haven't checked out goroyals' PABA thread, please do. Oddly enough, I think he and I (and Eck4Prez) are all dealing with the 1877 season right now--different takes on the same era! (And I'm not just saying that because of the nice words ) He has some great stories about the characters in his universe.

No slight intended to my other readers, but it is the same time period so I thought it warrented extra mention. I'm a fan of ifspuds Northwest League too!

Thanks for the plug Seth. It is quite rare to see three in the same season, especially because of the era.

I too enjoy the Northwest League, but I've got some catching up to do. I highly recomend it.

[seth70liz76]

Despite the personal triumph in Buffalo, it was a very trying season for Richardson. Signed by Cincinnati and given the field captaincy of the defending champion, Cappy was taking over a team just a hair more talented than his last club. “When you win, players ask for more money,” owner Max Von Schriber was found of saying, “it is a fine edge between winning enough to sell out—and not often enough to have to pay top dollar.” As long as Tory Claessens and Rodney Stollings were finishing at the back of the pack, they could stay Kings. The deal was mutual beneficial: Von Schriber had the biggest draw in base ball, and Richardson could extend his appeal and earning opportunities over a larger stretch.

Early in the year, before Brooklyn started their runaway, Richardson did not think a second title was out of reach. He was having a typical Frank Richardson season, hitting for high average and power. But the rest of the line up was not producing. An exhibition game was quickly arranged with Ohio State University players still in Columbus that summer. On a play at third, a freak accident occurred; the young player came in high and spiked Cappy. The wound was deep, but no major veins or arteries were nicked—still there was a lot of blood. A reporter dutifully noted “strong men fainted and wept as women.” When he returned to the line up, he was not the same player.
Weakened by infection, the great star of the diamond hit well under .200 during the hottest months. The power was gone as fever and heat sapped his strength and the average hovered around .240 for the season. “Without Cappy to worry about,” Edwin Huber said, “there was nothing to fear.” Still Richardson would not sit down, “I can not, in good conscience not play while there is still a chance for us to win the pennant, honor will not allow it.”

To compound matters, Richardson’s personal life was in ruins as well. His new bride was not adjusting to life in the Midwest and felt ignored by Cappy obsessive attention to his team. “I’ve not the constitution to be a ballplayer’s wife,” Eloise Richardson wrote her mother that summer. Unable to convince her sick husband to stop playing, she left for New York.

When Cincinnati was finally eliminate, Richardson finally sat down. His once thoroughbred legs had turned to swollen trunks from the infection. Because of that determination, the press forgave him for his all around worst season since the first year of the Empire. The Kings finished in 5th, but only 2 games under .500.

Max Von Schriber was happy; he did not have to offer Cappy a raise.

[pat]

Nice story about Cappy. Hope all is well with him.

[seth70liz76]

“It is said that Aubrey Faire does two things better than any man: one is play baseball, the other drink,” –common saying among Chicago sporting gentlemen.

At 19, the common crank regarded Aubrey Fraire as a failure. Despite his age, Owner Obie McCormick described him as “the man who’ll lead us to a pennant.” Instead, both he and the Browns took a huge step backwards. Over the first 1/3 of the season, Fraire had only managed 1 hit in 13 at bats. He had become so unsteady on defense; field captain Aron Mousser had nowhere to hide him.

Aubrey then came under the influence of Horacio Pfahlert, the career wins leader. Mousser let the Charmer know the drinking and late night womanizing needed to stop, Pfahlert refused declaring he “was a star and no broken old man will dictate my life. I joined a base ball club, not the ladies auxiliary.” Instead of releasing him, Mousser punished the Charmer by not using him—only 7 appearances and 3 starts in the first ½. Disgruntled, Pfahlert began drinking on the bench and sharing whisky with the young star. The more Mousser tried to separate the two, the more Pfahlert conspired to get the King his drink. The conflict began to weigh on the club as the pitching and hitting became more erratic. Mousser demanded McCormick take action.

Pfahlert was offered to Buffalo in exchange for Valentin Gauani. The Charmer was still a draw, and the Eries needed a star to help in their battle for Buffalo—the move was made. Buffalo also acquired Tory Claessens from Philadelphia in their quest for star power.

The King suddenly found his hitting stroke, batting near .300 for the rest of the season. Staying sober through a game seemed to agree with him.

[seth70liz76]

“It is almost vulgar what Mr. Hamilton has done with this year’s squad. Like a cheap western novel his has hired out men as adherents to his cause. He, of course, rejects the notion there is danger is placing one’s faith at the whim of those who chase ‘greenbacks’ over any type of personal allegiance . . .

“He now owns the most expensive toy in the history of mankind; showcased in a shiny new box on Washington Street. He cares not their fidelity to him or Brooklyn, just they have a price he could meet. If they should fail, I fear the harm to his body and spirit”

--Personal Diary Wm Frederick Adams, Thaddeus Hamilton’s personal secretary

The race started out as a three-team battle between Brooklyn, Boston and Chicago. The amount of talent loading the rosters was impressive, as they all seemed to have followed the ‘picked nine’ strategy Thaddeus Hamilton was so open about with his Brooklyn franchise.

Some stars, like Norman Lent, stayed with their club; comfortable with the role they know they have. Others, like Frank Richardson in Cincinnati, were facing new crowds and new expectations. But Brooklyn had the two most important players signed in the off-season: Rodney Stolling and Marquis Nicolet.

Stollings had been the regular right fielder for Cincinnati since the 1869 tour. Others may have hit the ball better, but none hit it harder. In 1876, adopting the theories of Alton Emch, Stollings exploded setting records in doubles (41), home runs (12), and runs scored (70), leading the Kings to their first title. Emch had advocated the idea of the long hit, Rodney Stollings perfected it. Released by Cincinnati for making too much money, Hamilton offered not only the chance to make the league maximum but to play along side Emch.

Nicolet had been a premier hurler for the first five seasons, but his 1876 season was a lost one. Squabbles with teammates, particularly Horacio Pfahlert, and club officials relegated him to substitute and exhibition work. “If Mr. Nicolet feels he still can contribute to anything other than a muffins squad, he shall do so outside of Chicago,” said Obie McCormick. At 25, he appeared washed up; Nicolet knew better.

Brooklyn had made improvements with their line up, but the pitching was a question mark. Everett Waugh had just turned 21 and Elmo Broenneke was more known for wildness than winning ball games. Nicolet made Hamilton a proposal: $60.00 a win, 20 wins would mean the maximum salary was his. Hamilton bit. By the mid-point, Nicolet was 12-3 and leading the charge to first for the Atlantics.

While the rest of the clubs battled each other to draws, the Atlantic started building a sizeable lead. Five, six, seven, up to eight games on second place. The four middle clubs were packed incredibly tight. The sporting press was glowing in their coverage, “McCormick’s dream of a small, but talented, league, is providing cranks in Empire League cities better base ball than has ever been exhibited in this nation,” wrote the Boston Post. The only thing spoiling was the lack of a tight race; that would change soon.

The Philadelphia squad ran off a 14-game winning streak; which appeared to only separate themselves from the pack, not challenge the Atlantics. Franklin had built a strong rotation with Leghorn Sapp, Chester Jackman and Edwin Huber, and the offense was lead by the superlative hitting of Henry Panell and Flyer Montalvan. When Brooklyn began to slip, the Quakers continued to win. With 11 games left, the two clubs were tied. With 9 left, Philadelphia had the lead. As the Brooklyn crowd clamored for an answer, Thaddeus Hamilton was forced to make a move to not only save the season, but also save his club.

[seth70liz76]

Rube: I'm going to the ball game to-day
Slicker: Care to put some money on the game?
Rube: I don't know . . .
Slicker: I'll even let you take the home team.
Rube: Do you know something I don't?
Slicker: Trust me (pause) I'm from Brooklyn! (Audience laughs)
--Part of old vaudeville routine


Gambling had been a part of sport since the beginning of time. The Empire League was no exception. "At some parks, the Saint Louis biergarten, for example," Scott Arnold recalled, "they'd have a huge chalkboard with current odds-on the game, on the players, everything." Some early owners encouraged the gambler's interest, as it brought people to the park. "People need more than sport, they need entertainment," Petre Goethe said during his time in the league.

But over the seasons, it was not the gambler's influence that attracted attention-it was the influence of other owners. In 1875 charges that Keokuk was throwing games to benefit McCormick's Chicago team were levied in the press. After the Temple/Avery Hartford arrangement was discovered, many writers and EL officials speculated games were thrown to benefit New York and Boston. The Boston Post writing, "as close as all of the races involving our beloved Unions, the possibility of an unfair advantage contributing to victory must be considered."

This is to say nothing of the conspiracy by players to 'throw' games. "A guy would come up to you, not in games that meant anything mind you, and ask if you'd 'lay back' a bit," Damon Hopf would tell in later years, "with what we were paid, you'd sometimes have to supplement your income with some bets on the games. And if a guy had a baby or new wife, or some kind of trouble, you'd do what you could to help him out-knowing he'd do the same for you." As open as the influence of gambling was, as disturbingly accurate the accusations of thrown games were, no action was taken. The owner's had not acknowledged the depth of the infection on the game. Among the players, the mood was changing however.

After the 1876 season, four members of the Atlantics, Alton Emch, Bennie Kafka, Everett Waugh and Clarence Walters, confronted owner Thaddeus Hamilton about the curious play late in the season by three fellow teammates: Pitcher Elmo Broenneke, First Baseman Bennie Zoellner and Right fielder/Field Captain Bryon Mosholder. Hamilton dismissed the idea of a gambler's influence outright, even after the players went public with their charges with a letter to the Brooklyn Sun. At the beginning of the 1877 season, all had returned to the Brooklyn roster.

Bryon Mosholder was a well know figure in baseball, staring for many clubs prior to the formation of the EL. While his skills had eroded, he was respected enough to be made the field captain of the Atlantics in 1876 and declared himself the starting right fielder. With Rodney Stollings joining from Cincinnati, Mosholder was becoming one of the many 'decision only' field captains. Many writers, and executives, questioned how much an influence on the game this new breed of captain could have, Mosholder would discover quickly even without playing the outcome could be determined by a few subtle moves.

As the Atlantics built their lead, to the surprise of no one, the charges by Alton Emch and company were know viewed as "jealous cries with no merit." Tension was growing between the accused and accusers. "Every time I drop a ball, Kafka says I'm tanking," Zoellner would complain to the press, "maybe he's the one tanking games with his lousy throws." When their lead had reached 8 games, it began to fall apart.

Zoellner stopped hitting, especially in situation to bring the man home; Broenneke's wildness became more pronounce and he was failing to keep any lead, and Mosholder's decisions with the line ups became more and more erratic. Bennie Kafka, one of the accusers would barely play in the second half, despite hitting .340 for the season and nearly .500 when he was in action the last half. Stollings sat in two critical games with Philadelphia as Mosholder made key errors in his place. Even to the casual observer, something was not right with the Atlantics.

[seth70liz76]

From the Brooklyn Sun
“Every season there are whispers of late games which do not appear to be entirely on the up and up. And every season a blind eye is cast, as the games have no matter beyond the rooting interest of the involved locales. But this summer, the concern is different as the chase for the pennant is involved. The denials from Thaddeus Hamilton notwithstanding, clearly the Atlantics are a team playing not for a title, but for the coins dropped by some of the city’s less upstanding citizens.”

[seth70liz76]

From the diary of Wm Frederick Adams, personal secretary to Thaddeus Hamilton
“The tension of the long campaign has always drained Mr. Hamilton terribly; more than he really should bear. This summer, I fear, has been the worst yet. The unbridled joy of the Atlantics’ early successes now replaced with despair. Not at the losses, those are accepted as part of the endeavor; but at failing to heed the warnings of those who share his concern and love for this team. Despair that men he entrusted to uphold the ideals and honor of his beloved Brooklyn have betrayed him.

“A man who has made a fortune with risk and daring, finds himself unable to make the most basic decision necessary to advance this club. A decision that would not only admit error, but culpability in the sad sad matter. No matter the outcome, I fear he will be a lost spirit as long as the body remains.”

With the season on the line, two occurrences forced Hamilton to finally address the season spiraling away. The first was Elmo Bronneke, the pitching third of the cabal, going down with an injury. Bryon Mosholder tried to compensate by inserting journeyman Aron Boday into the rotation. To Mosholder, and Brooklyn’s combined surprise, Boday became the Atlantics best starter down the stretch. Desperate, as the Brooklyn syndicate stood to lose upwards of $40,000.00 if the pre-season favorite Atlantics won the Empire, Mosholder was forced to make increasingly erratic decisions as field captain.

The day Philadelphia took the lead; Mosholder had placed Alton Emch, now a valuable substitute hitter whose defensive skills were all but gone, in the starting line up. Emch refused to take the field. “The Silky kid is our best option at third—if you want to win,” Emch told his captain in clear view of the gathered crowd. “You only start me if the outcome of the season has already been decided.” Brooklyn lost with Jonathon Goodstein starting; and Mosholder announced he was to suspend Emch “for the duration.” Hamilton would have none of it.

With 9 games left in the season, Hamilton finally took action against the head of the conspiracy. Regretting not listening to Emch’s warning of the year before, Thaddeus Hamilton felt he could right a terrible wrong. Mosholder was stripped of his captaincy and released from the roster. Alton Emch, the man who had sounded the warning, was appointed field captain. “I don’t know if we can win this,” Hamilton told Emch, “but with you in charge, we at least have a chance.”

Before his first game, Emch confronted First Baseman Bennie Zoellner, “your blood money has been cut off; play honest and you may still have a career.” With four games left in the season, Philadelphia was up by 2 games and the season seemed over. To have a chance, Brooklyn needed to win out and the Quakers needed to split. To the amazement of everyone that is exactly what happened.

To settle the issue, President James McCormick announced a single game would be played to determine the League Champion. On the basis of a coin flip, Brooklyn would host. The largest crowd in the history of base ball descended on Washington Street Park for the biggest game the League had known to date.

[Dark Horse]

On the edge of my seat... as usual.