July 4, 1903 - The New York Times - BASEBALL PEACE THREATENED.
BASEBALL PEACE THREATENED.
Legal Battles Promised in the Cases of- Davis, Delehanty, and Elberfeld.
Beginning with two games to-day, at American League Park, the Greater New York baseball team will hold the local boards for over three weeks to come. Since Manager Griffith and his players left for their tour of the Western circuit, nearly three weeks ago, the fact of Elberfeld's playing with them as short stop has brought about a renewal of the old feud which kept the American and National Leagues embroiled in a hard-fought struggle for nearly two years, and which may develop into a much fiercer warfare in the near future if legal measures enjoining at least two players are adopted.
George Davis, Ed Delehanty, and Norman Elberfeld were assigned respectively to the Chicago, Washington, and Detroit American League clubs, during the peace session of joint committees from both leagues which was held at Cincinnati six months ago. The New York National League Club claimed that these three players had signed contracts with the local organization. but for the sake of peace and harmony, the representatives of the National League agreed to the disposition which the Peace Committees had made of the players.
Elberfeld played with the Detroit team from the beginning of the season. Delehanty demurred for some weeks,-but finally went to Washington, after $4,500 of advance money which he had accepted from Mr. Brush had been paid back to the New York Club. Not so with Davis, how- ever, as he went South during the time that Manager McGraw and his men were having their Spring practice there and he played with them right along. When the season opened Davis was the only malcontent in either league, and he persisted in disobeying the ruling of the Peace Commit- tees.
Four weeks ago Elberfeld was transferred from Detroit to the New York American League team, and last week President Brush of the local National League Club then appealed to President Pu??iam. asking permission to play Davis on his team, and the National League executive granted the request, saying the spirit if not the letter of the peace agreement had been violated when Elberfeld was released by the Detroit Club to play with the Greater New York team.
On June 26 Davis played the position of short stop with the Polo Grounds contingent and took part in all the subsequent games. A day or two ago the legal representatives of Charles Comiskey and other owners of the Chicago American League Club obtained an injunction restraining Davis from playing in Chicago, and as the New York and Chicago Nationals are scheduled for two games in that city to- day, the legal ban may deprive New York of the services of Davis.
A rumor to the effect that Elberfeld would be enjoined by the New York National League organization from playing at American League Park today was persistently circulated yesterday. but no confirmation of such action could be obtained. If any injunction were secured. the proceedings must have been transacted very quietly, as no record of them was to be found last evening. Should such a retaliatory measure be decided upon by Mr. Brush or any other representative of the local National League club, there is no telling the extent of the legal troubles and entanglements which may follow, and possibly the peace agreement which has been so beneficial to both leagues may be disrupted.
Legal Battles Promised in the Cases of- Davis, Delehanty, and Elberfeld.
Beginning with two games to-day, at American League Park, the Greater New York baseball team will hold the local boards for over three weeks to come. Since Manager Griffith and his players left for their tour of the Western circuit, nearly three weeks ago, the fact of Elberfeld's playing with them as short stop has brought about a renewal of the old feud which kept the American and National Leagues embroiled in a hard-fought struggle for nearly two years, and which may develop into a much fiercer warfare in the near future if legal measures enjoining at least two players are adopted.
George Davis, Ed Delehanty, and Norman Elberfeld were assigned respectively to the Chicago, Washington, and Detroit American League clubs, during the peace session of joint committees from both leagues which was held at Cincinnati six months ago. The New York National League Club claimed that these three players had signed contracts with the local organization. but for the sake of peace and harmony, the representatives of the National League agreed to the disposition which the Peace Committees had made of the players.
Elberfeld played with the Detroit team from the beginning of the season. Delehanty demurred for some weeks,-but finally went to Washington, after $4,500 of advance money which he had accepted from Mr. Brush had been paid back to the New York Club. Not so with Davis, how- ever, as he went South during the time that Manager McGraw and his men were having their Spring practice there and he played with them right along. When the season opened Davis was the only malcontent in either league, and he persisted in disobeying the ruling of the Peace Commit- tees.
Four weeks ago Elberfeld was transferred from Detroit to the New York American League team, and last week President Brush of the local National League Club then appealed to President Pu??iam. asking permission to play Davis on his team, and the National League executive granted the request, saying the spirit if not the letter of the peace agreement had been violated when Elberfeld was released by the Detroit Club to play with the Greater New York team.
On June 26 Davis played the position of short stop with the Polo Grounds contingent and took part in all the subsequent games. A day or two ago the legal representatives of Charles Comiskey and other owners of the Chicago American League Club obtained an injunction restraining Davis from playing in Chicago, and as the New York and Chicago Nationals are scheduled for two games in that city to- day, the legal ban may deprive New York of the services of Davis.
A rumor to the effect that Elberfeld would be enjoined by the New York National League organization from playing at American League Park today was persistently circulated yesterday. but no confirmation of such action could be obtained. If any injunction were secured. the proceedings must have been transacted very quietly, as no record of them was to be found last evening. Should such a retaliatory measure be decided upon by Mr. Brush or any other representative of the local National League club, there is no telling the extent of the legal troubles and entanglements which may follow, and possibly the peace agreement which has been so beneficial to both leagues may be disrupted.
