The United Baseball Association

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Reading's Witman Draws Up Plans for New Outlaw League


PHILADELPHIA, PA. December 21, 1911 - William A. Witman, formerly of Reading, issued a statement last night announcing the formation of a new baseball league that will begin play in April of 1912.

Witman, 52, is a former City Councilman of Reading that is well known in that area for his political career as well as other ventures. The first of six children to a father who was a master mechanic for the Reading Railroad Company, Witman is a prominent builder and contractor in eastern Pennsylvania.

After finishing his education, William and his brother John created Witman and Brother, a company that started as a coal yard that later became a quarry and then a construction business. In 1886, he entered the political world as a Common Councilman of the Eighth Ward. Over the next twenty years, he rose up the ranks of city government.

However, in 1906 he was accused of defrauding the city in a garbage and sand contract. He was found guilty, and was forced to leave the political arena.

His next endeavor was quite ambitious. After receiving a post-card from the Philippines, he became inspired by the Asian architecture. He decided to stop scarring the mountainsides with his quarry business and build a Japanese pagoda to use as a luxury hotel and resort.

In 1908, he finished the Pagoda, a 72 ft. tall brick and tile structure on Mt. Penn's southwest slope. Witman dreamed that it would be Reading's most glamorous luxury hotel, 886 feet above the city.

However, when Witman applied for a liquor license, he was denied. The hotel was a flop. In 1910, the Pagoda was sold to Jonathan Mould, a prominent business man. Earlier this year, Mould sold the Pagoda for a total of $1.

Witman's next challenge could prove to be just as difficult. No other details have been announced, be we expect to hear more in the next two weeks.

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Another New Outlaw League Rises from Ashes of Failed Columbia League


NEW YORK, NY. December 27, 1911 - Six former owners and executives from the failed Columbia League have announced a new venture called the Federal League. The proposed six-team circuit will begin play in May of 1912. The news comes just six days after William A. Witman announced a new outlaw league.

Last month, John Powers, President of the former Columbia League met with former league owners, executives, and investors in Grand Rapids to discuss a new league venture.

Details have not been announced, but it will be interesting to see if the new Federal League stays in the Midwest like the Columbia League or pushes eastward to compete with the American and National Leagues.

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"No Reserve Clause," Says Federals


NEW YORK, NY. January 2, 1912 - Federal League President John T. Powers announced in a statement yesterday that his new venture wanted "Nothing to do with the reserve clause."

"We have no intention of raiding teams," he said. "We will respect the National Association and only go after semi-pros, free agents, and unsigned youngsters. We will develop our own players."

Powers also announced that plans called for a six-team circuit in 1912. The initial cities are Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. Five of the cities are already occupied by major league teams, and two of them already have two established franchises.

The Federals may not plan on raiding the rosters of major league teams, but this announcement may get a rise out of the American and National League executives.

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Witman Reveals Plans for United League


PHILADELPHIA, PA. January 21, 1912 - William Witman has revealed his plans for his new league that he calls the "United League."

"I'm currently in discussions with fourteen potential owners to fill twelve spots," the former politician said. "At this point, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Washington, Richmond, Cleveland, Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Buffalo, Baltimore, and Boston are the cities we want to be in. 120 games in each of those cities is what we need for long-term success."

When asked what he thought about the new Federal League, Witman responded positively. "I have no issue with the Federal League. We are both trying to compete against the major leagues. For us to work against each other would be fatal to both of us, so no. I have no issue and wish them luck."

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Federal League Meeting Ends With Fisticuffs


NEW YORK, NY. February 2, 1912 - Federal League officials needed to be separated last night as John Powers refused to leave peacefully after being ousted as league president.

After Powers failed to move the league forward financially over the last month, league executives and franchise owners voted 15-4 in favor of removing him from his position.

Will the Federal League become another failed attempt at challenging the major leagues? With no announced team ownership and now no league president, things are not looking good for this outlaw league.

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James Gilmore Named President of Federals


CHICAGO, IL. February 10, 1912 - Federal League officials announced yesterday that James A. Gilmore of Chicago has been named president of the outlaw league.

In a press conference, Gilmore spoke about the future of the Federal League.

"We consider ourselves a major league. Frankly, I don't care what the National Commission says about us. We do not want a war, but if they want to bring a war to us, we will fight it. And we will win."

"I hear the rumblings around Chicago. People wonder if three teams can exist in one city. I believe they can. We will do our best to avoid scheduling conflicts, because it's in our best interest. If we cannot avoid it, then let the best team have the highest attendance. That is our only battle against those teams."

"Our biggest concern right now is ownership. The quicker we know how many teams we have on board for this season, the better. Our plan has not changed. Six teams, 120 games. We have four owners who are still on board. The other four are products of the old regime and are considering backing out. It's a concern, I will not lie. But I can promise that I will do everything in my power to have this season begin by May 1st with a full circuit of franchises."

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Witman Says "League is Ready to Play"


PHILADELPHIA, PA. February 13, 1912 - The United League announced yesterday that twelve owners are on board for the 1912 season.

Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Washington, Richmond, Cleveland, Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Buffalo, Baltimore, and Boston were announced as potential locations for the twelve franchises, and as of now that hasn't changed.

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Millions Injected Into Federal League Coffers


NEW YORK, NY. February 18, 1912 - The removal of John Powers may end up being the best move the Federal League ever makes.

James Gilmore, the league's new leader, announced ten days ago that the biggest issue was ownership. He vowed to work tirelessly to find two more owners and finalize a six-team circuit.

Yesterday, Gilmore announced that four new owners have been confirmed for the 1912 season, making the Federal League an eight-team contest.

"I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but our recent hard work has paid off. Four amazing owners have committed to the 1912 season. Charles Weeghman of Chicago, Robert Ward of Brooklyn, Harry Sinclair of Indianapolis, and Phil Ball of St. Louis have not only committed to the season, but they have been incredibly generous. They have gone above and beyond, contributing capital to our business that will be invaluable in the coming months. They all have my thanks."

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Sinclair Says Federal League is "Interesting Opportunity"


INDIANAPOLIS, IN. February 19, 1912 - Harry Sinclair, West Virginia born and Kansas raised, is an oil magnate. The son of a pharmacist, he studied to become one himself and worked in that profession until 1901, when an opportunity arose in the rapidly expanding oil industry. He became a lease broker and made his fortune by acquiring an interest in the White Oil Company.

Now the owner of a baseball franchise in a brand new league, many wonder what convinced Sinclair to take this risk.

"It's an interesting investment opportunity. Fifty-thousand dollars bought me a franchise. I'm happy to inject more capital into the business because it's like investing in any other business. More capital means a better product and healthier company, if it's run the right way. I do enjoy baseball, but this is a business."

"I consider this no different than my investment into the oil industry. The league organized as a single corporation with stock divided up among ownership. There will be incentives for players, a percentage of profits generated by the league will be set aside to be divvied up among the players after the season. If the players do well, we do well. If we do well, the players do well. Just like employees at a factory, or coal miners working in a mine. It's business."

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Robert Ward Loves Bread and Baseball


BROOKLYN, NY. February 20, 1912 - Robert Ward, famous for his Ward Bread Company and their Tip-Top Cakes comes from a long line of bakers, and while the 65-year-old will continue to operate his Brooklyn store, his newest business involves no flour, butter, or yeast.

“I am in baseball because I like the game, am interested in it, and always have been interested in it. To my mind it is a wholesome, clean game that appeals to most people and should appeal to most people."

It's no different when an owner is a steel magnate, a hotel owner, the owner of a shipbuilding company, or a bakery owner. Fans always want to know one question. "What do they know about baseball?"

“I never knew there was any black art about baseball. Judging from some of the men I have met in the profession and the success they have made, I would not say that intelligence of the first order was necessary to a rather complete mastery of the game."

"For myself, I was always interested in baseball more than most things. When I was my father’s foreman and working nights, I always set apart a sum of money to buy a season’s ticket to the old Pittsburgh grounds and attended practically every game of the season. That showed how much interest I used to have in baseball, for money at that time was a distinct object, and I had none too much at my command."

"Furthermore, I might say I have never ceased to have an interest in the game. I am a member of golf clubs, but the only athletic pursuit in which I have ever had any concern has been baseball. Busy as I have been, I have always appropriated time when I could to go to a
ball game."

"As for my knowledge of baseball, that mysterious thing they talk so much about, I guess I can learn what I don’t know that I need to know. There was a time I didn’t know anything about the bakery business, but I learned; I am not worrying about baseball.”

When asked about how Ward was roped in by Federal League President James Gilmore, he responded:

“I was at Toronto, visiting a friend, and it so happened that Gilmore was also in the city at the same time. A friend of my son’s knew Mr. Gilmore and introduced us. The next day Mr. Gilmore wished to see me. He outlined his proposition. I said to him, ‘Mr. Gilmore, if you will put all your cards on the table and things are as you represent them, I will go into this scheme with you.’ He did as I suggested. I investigated carefully and took the Brooklyn franchise."

"I don't expected to make any fortune in baseball. No business man who has been in business as long as I have is carried off his feet by the visionary schemes of any promoter. Mr. Gilmore had a concrete proposition and I took it. I took it because I was interested in baseball, had always been interested in baseball. I like the sport above all others. It appeared to me that the time had come when major league baseball might logically expand. The organized majors would admit of no change. Any expansion plainly must come from without the ranks. Baseball interest had grown, numerous cities outside the big league ranks had grown. Everything had grown but baseball. Major league baseball was stationary and would always remain stationary if the organized magnates had their will. I know of no business or of no public movement of the magnitude of baseball that can safely be curtailed or hidebound by the will of sixteen men."

“The major league magnates are asleep at the twitch, in my opinion. When I built my bakeries in Greater New York, the dealers already in the field had their arms folded, waiting for something to happen. It happened. The major league magnates are in the same boat. They are waiting for something to happen. They won't be disappointed. This is a free world and no one owns the people’s game. We are in the game to stay, to give the people the best baseball we can buy for money. And we are improving and establishing our large interests in the Federal League as fast as any one could reasonably expect, considering the difficulties with which we have had to contend.”

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New Outlaw Leagues Surprisingly Quiet


NEW YORK, NY. February 22, 1912 - With the new Federal League slated to start in May, and the United League set to begin in April, there have been relatively few details announced.

The Federal League have announced a group of eight franchise owners, but have only released the names and locations of four. The United League have announced that owners have been found for twelve franchises, but names have not been announced and locations have not changed since the initial league announcement.

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Federal and United League Executives Meet


NEW YORK, NY. February 23, 1912 - League executives and owners from the United League and Federal League are meeting at the Hotel Imperial in New York City today at noon.

The subject of the meeting has not been confirmed, but sources say they may be meeting to discuss conflicts in scheduling as well as a plan to deal with the National Commission. American League commissioner Ban Johnson has stated his displeasure with the two outlaw leagues, saying that their plans to put teams in American League cities is "an act of war."

The commissioners of the two new leagues have not yet met before today, but both have publicly announced their support of the other.

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Witman, Gilmore Announce Pact


NEW YORK, NY. February 24, 1912 - United League commissioner William Witman and Federal League leader James Gilmore called a press conference yesterday at the Hotel Imperial in Manhattan to announce a joint venture.

The United Baseball Association, the name of the new collective, was announced yesterday as a new pact between the two leagues. Each side will be an eight-team circuit, with the best team advancing to the Presidents Cup Series, a nine-game affair to determine the United Baseball Association Champion.

"We shall go ahead as we would if were a single league," Witman said. "Our teams won't travel to Federal League cities to play, and they won't travel to ours. Currently, we have agreed to follow the same rules as far as roster sizes and things of that nature, but we both reserve the right to change them for our league if we see fit."

"As far as players go, trading between each league is fair game. After 10 years of service, players will be granted free agency if they do not have a contract. They are free to sign with both leagues, regardless of where the accumulated their ten seasons," the Federal League's James Gilmore added.

Witman concluded the press conference with a discussion on the franchise locations.

"Originally, we had a twelve-team circuit planned. Four of those franchises needed to be dropped, however, due to conflicts with the Federal League franchises. For example, we had a Brooklyn owner on board, but after Mr. Ward joined the Fed's, we decided to go with a different location. If you do the math, you'll realize we lost four franchises. I'm currently not at liberty to discuss the final eight locations for the United League, but we will have another press conference tomorrow with all sixteen franchise owners present."

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New York will be Five-Team City; UBA Announces Franchises


NEW YORK, NY. February 25, 1912 - The Trolley Dodgers, Highlanders, and Giants will have two new neighbors starting in April.

The United Baseball Association, the new joint venture between the Federal and United Leagues, held a massive press conference today. In attendance for the Federal League were: James Gilmore, Commissioner; Harry Goldman, of Baltimore; Robert Ward, of Brooklyn; Walter Mullen, of Buffalo; Charles Weeghman, of Chicago; S.S. Gordon, of Kansas City; Harry Sinclair, of Indianapolis; William Kerr, of Pittsburgh; and Phil Ball of St. Louis.

For the United League: William Witman, Commissioner and owner of Philadelphia; Jack O'Connor, of Chicago; W.L. Murphy, of Cleveland; Frederick Holland, of Cincinnati; Charles White, of New York; E.C. Landgraf, of Richmond; and Hugh McKinnon, of Washington, D.C.

Also announced was the new 154 game schedule which starts on April 6th.

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Oil Magnate Sinclair Moves Team to Newark


INDIANAPOLIS, IN. February 27, 1912 - In a bulletin released by oil magnate and baseball owner Harry Sinclair, it was announced that the Indianapolis franchise will be moved to Newark. Sinclair stated that he desired to get into the New York City market.

With the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, New York Highlanders, New York Giants, and the New York and Brooklyn UBA franchises already in the area, time will tell if Sinclair made the right business decision.

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E.C. Landgraf Moves North


RICHMOND, VA. March 1, 1912 - With no announcement or fanfare, E.C. Landgraf, the Richmond native famous for his rail company, has moved his team north to St. Paul, Minnesota. The move is the UBA's second in the last week.

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Frederick Holland Leaves United League


CINCINNATI, OH. March 3, 1912 - Citing "instability within the league ownership," Frederick Holland has withdrawn his franchise from the United Baseball Association.

The decision was met with harsh reactions from league president William Witman, who was angered by the fact that Holland made his decision less than a month away from the start of the season.

Two moves within the last week have concerned many of the franchise owners.

"I'm trying to plan the next six months, making travel plans fit the schedule. The schedule was made to make travel easy. With Richmond moving north, and Indianapolis moving East, things are tough for us now," said Boston owner Marshall Henderson.

Holland's withdraw leaves the United League with seven teams. Commissioner Witman has said applications from Detroit, New York, Jersey City, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Providence, Louisville, and Rochester are being looked at for a replacement.

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Teams Meet for Spring Camp


PHOENIZ, AZ. March 4, 1912 - The newest state admitted to the union will host the fifteen (soon to be sixteen) United Baseball Association teams this spring.

Players will begin arriving today and will continue to trickle in until Thursday, March 7th, when the first exhibition games begin.

League executives decided on Phoenix after realizing a camp in the southeast, such as Virginia or Florida, wouldn't provide a safe location for the team's black athletes.

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Detroit Becomes Eighth United League Team


DETROIT, MI. March 5, 1912 - After Frederick Holland and his Cincinnati ball club left the United League three days ago, William Witman and other league owners began weighing the pros and cons of nine franchise applications submitted by potential owners.

Detroit, New York, Jersey City, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Providence, Louisville, and Rochester all had owners lined up, but Witman's final say was Detroit.

A.W. Hussey, a real-estate developer in Michigan's largest city, is the league's newest owner. Hussey, 36, was born in San Francisco, California. His grandparents, part of the 1849 California gold rush, sailed from New York to Panama, rode canoes and mules through the jungle, and then sailed the Pacific Ocean up to San Francisco.

Hussey used the inheritance is grandparents left him to invest in real-estate, and his business boomed. Now, he'll have the new challenge of owning a baseball club and bringing them to success.

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Spring Games, Stadium Construction Underway


NEW YORK, NY. March 7, 1912 - The United Baseball Association's spring exhibition games begin today in Phoenix, Arizona. Today will be the first look at the youngsters and semi-pros that will make up the 19-man rosters.

Throughout the home cities of UBA teams, stadiums are either under construction or getting prepared for opening day, which is less than one month away. Fourteen stadiums (Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Kansas City, Newark, St. Louis, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, St. Paul, and Washington) are brand new constructions for the 1912 season. Brooklyn's Washington Park, which will be shared during the 1912 season with the National League's Brooklyn Dodgers club, is currently undergoing renovations. Pittsburgh will play in the Pirates old stadium, Exposition Park. The ball field has been vacant since 1909.