July 5, 1903 -The St. Louis Republic, MO - American and National League
NORMAN ELBERFELD.
Both of these players bear the reputation of having pugnacious dispositions, which frequently gets them into trouble.
WAR'S THREATENING CLOUD HANGS OVER BASEBALL WORLD.
The National and American Leagues Seem to Be on the Eve of Another Conflict--Elberfeld and Davis the Cause of the Fracas
—The National League in Case of a Fight Would Be Split, While the American Presents a Solid Front.
Both of these players bear the reputation of having pugnacious dispositions, which frequently gets them into trouble.
WAR'S THREATENING CLOUD HANGS OVER BASEBALL WORLD.
The National and American Leagues Seem to Be on the Eve of Another Conflict--Elberfeld and Davis the Cause of the Fracas
—The National League in Case of a Fight Would Be Split, While the American Presents a Solid Front.
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
The dove of peace, which has nestled over the baseball situation since last December. seems to have jumped its contract. The peaceful bird's acrobatic feat apparently is the direct result of either a misunderstanding or preconceived plot on the part of the presidents of both leagues.
Primarily the cause of the present strained relations existing between the American and National leagues was the transfer of Norman Elberfeld, formerly of the Detroit club. to the New York American League club.
This transfer may have been justifiable, but Harry Pulliam thought otherwise and since the transfer has so expressed himself on several occasions. Pulliam's stand In the matter is certainly based on a foundation that is not altogether fanciful.
Under a charge by the management of his own team for conduct entirely unbecoming a ball player, Elberfeld was traded to the New York team without having a chance to prove his innocence. Manager Barrows of the Detroit club, in
an open letter. practically accused Elberfeld of throwing games to the St. Louis American League team and immediately after the alleged crooked work by Elberfeld laid him off without pay.
A deal was then fixed up whereby Elberfeld was turned over to the New York American League club in exchange for Long and Courtney. two Infielders.
ELBERFELD CHARGES
Manager Barrows never fully proved the charges against Elberfeld nor has the Iatter rid himself of the pointing finger of
suspicion.
When the transfer was made Pulliam made no open protest. but It was commonly understood that the exchange met with his heart y disapproval.
John T. Brush. who has caused more or less turmoil In baseball, finding Pulliam in this mood, instantly began to work on the National League's able president, and finally got the latter to consent to allow him to play George Davis, a player who has long been in dispute. with the New York National League team, of which Brush is president.
The playing of Davis by the New York club was certainly a display of poor judgment on the part of those concerned in the matter. Johnson. the American League's chief executive. loudly protested against the step. but the powers that be in the National League turned a deaf ear to Johnson's protest, and at least showed much discourtesy to Johnson in disregarding his protest.
Johnson's protest was well founded, even though he had made a slight mistake In allowing the transfer of Norman Elberfeld to the "Invaders."
At the peace Conference In Cincinnati last December the status of players was fully decided on, and George Davis was awarded to the Chicago American League Club. For some Inexplicable reason Davis refused to seriously consider the Chicago management and did not report to them for spring practice. Davis for nearly three months refused to do any business with the Chicago management. but continually showed a preference for the New York Nationals.
Although It has never been proven. it has been alleged many times that Davis has not suffered financially by his bullheaded stand. According to some. Brush has handed to Davis his pay envelope on every regular pay day. Whether this be true or not, Davis has been able to live handsomely without working.
DAVIS IN THE COURTS.
At the present writing It looks as though the matter will he taken to the courts. The New York club is out for an injunction restraining Elberfeld from playing in New York City. while the Chicago management is after a similar restraining order to keep Davis out of the fray in Chicago.
The peculiar phase of the whole situation is the fact that Pulliam, the National League head, is not backed up by all the club owners in the league.
Herrmann of Cincinnati. F. deHass Robison of St. Louis and Jim Hart of Chicago have openly expressed their opinion that Pulliam made a mistake in awarding Davis to the New York club. President Robison of the local National League club went further than his colleagues in expressing his disapproval by writing Pulliam a brief but pointed letter pointing out to the league's head its mistake.
In case of a rupture, this leaves the National League divided against itself, with Herrrmann, Robison and Hart against the head of the league. and Brush, Potter, Dreyfus, and Ebbetts and the Boston bunch on the side of the president of their organization.
The American League forces are practically a unit. Not a member has expressed disapproval of Johnson's action in the trouble.
So far the matter has only been a verbal and epistolary battle, each side indulging freely in the use of strong language.
If an open rupture happens the war probably will be the fiercest ever waged in the history of the national game. with neither aide giving or asking quarter.
This will not have a beneficial effect on the game. and may result in damaging the sport beyond repair.
PLAYERS MAY JUMP..
If the open fight comes, the players will indulge in jumping feats that will make the last baseball war look like 30 cents worth of liquid air.
Of course, the war will temporarily help the ball player by boosting salaries to a fabulous sum, but in the end the player
will be the loser, for, like all wars, the baseball war, if begun, will here an end and a reckoning, and the successful parties will then demand a return on the money Invested in their plants and foolishly wasted in a war.
Players' salaries will be chopped to an extent unheard of and a lower salary limit than has ever prevailed will be established. As in all such affairs, the public has not been consulted. Neither Johnson nor Pulliam has for a moment taken the patrons of the game Into consideration.
Both seem to be of the firm belief that shekels will flow into the coffers of the club owners of their respective organizations regardless of what kind of baseball is afforded.
In this they will soon learn that the public is not as easy as it looks, and that, with the war on, a large shrinkage in patronage will result.
For the good of the game, some plan should he devised whereby both Elberfeld and Davis could be taken care of and a war that will leave its lasting imprint on the game avoided.
Whether Johnson or Pulliam is in the right is a matter of small moment when weighed against the good of the game. and the only sensible course would he a compromise that would dispel the threatening clouds that overhang the baseball atmosphere.
The dove of peace, which has nestled over the baseball situation since last December. seems to have jumped its contract. The peaceful bird's acrobatic feat apparently is the direct result of either a misunderstanding or preconceived plot on the part of the presidents of both leagues.
Primarily the cause of the present strained relations existing between the American and National leagues was the transfer of Norman Elberfeld, formerly of the Detroit club. to the New York American League club.
This transfer may have been justifiable, but Harry Pulliam thought otherwise and since the transfer has so expressed himself on several occasions. Pulliam's stand In the matter is certainly based on a foundation that is not altogether fanciful.
Under a charge by the management of his own team for conduct entirely unbecoming a ball player, Elberfeld was traded to the New York team without having a chance to prove his innocence. Manager Barrows of the Detroit club, in
an open letter. practically accused Elberfeld of throwing games to the St. Louis American League team and immediately after the alleged crooked work by Elberfeld laid him off without pay.
A deal was then fixed up whereby Elberfeld was turned over to the New York American League club in exchange for Long and Courtney. two Infielders.
ELBERFELD CHARGES
Manager Barrows never fully proved the charges against Elberfeld nor has the Iatter rid himself of the pointing finger of
suspicion.
When the transfer was made Pulliam made no open protest. but It was commonly understood that the exchange met with his heart y disapproval.
John T. Brush. who has caused more or less turmoil In baseball, finding Pulliam in this mood, instantly began to work on the National League's able president, and finally got the latter to consent to allow him to play George Davis, a player who has long been in dispute. with the New York National League team, of which Brush is president.
The playing of Davis by the New York club was certainly a display of poor judgment on the part of those concerned in the matter. Johnson. the American League's chief executive. loudly protested against the step. but the powers that be in the National League turned a deaf ear to Johnson's protest, and at least showed much discourtesy to Johnson in disregarding his protest.
Johnson's protest was well founded, even though he had made a slight mistake In allowing the transfer of Norman Elberfeld to the "Invaders."
At the peace Conference In Cincinnati last December the status of players was fully decided on, and George Davis was awarded to the Chicago American League Club. For some Inexplicable reason Davis refused to seriously consider the Chicago management and did not report to them for spring practice. Davis for nearly three months refused to do any business with the Chicago management. but continually showed a preference for the New York Nationals.
Although It has never been proven. it has been alleged many times that Davis has not suffered financially by his bullheaded stand. According to some. Brush has handed to Davis his pay envelope on every regular pay day. Whether this be true or not, Davis has been able to live handsomely without working.
DAVIS IN THE COURTS.
At the present writing It looks as though the matter will he taken to the courts. The New York club is out for an injunction restraining Elberfeld from playing in New York City. while the Chicago management is after a similar restraining order to keep Davis out of the fray in Chicago.
The peculiar phase of the whole situation is the fact that Pulliam, the National League head, is not backed up by all the club owners in the league.
Herrmann of Cincinnati. F. deHass Robison of St. Louis and Jim Hart of Chicago have openly expressed their opinion that Pulliam made a mistake in awarding Davis to the New York club. President Robison of the local National League club went further than his colleagues in expressing his disapproval by writing Pulliam a brief but pointed letter pointing out to the league's head its mistake.
In case of a rupture, this leaves the National League divided against itself, with Herrrmann, Robison and Hart against the head of the league. and Brush, Potter, Dreyfus, and Ebbetts and the Boston bunch on the side of the president of their organization.
The American League forces are practically a unit. Not a member has expressed disapproval of Johnson's action in the trouble.
So far the matter has only been a verbal and epistolary battle, each side indulging freely in the use of strong language.
If an open rupture happens the war probably will be the fiercest ever waged in the history of the national game. with neither aide giving or asking quarter.
This will not have a beneficial effect on the game. and may result in damaging the sport beyond repair.
PLAYERS MAY JUMP..
If the open fight comes, the players will indulge in jumping feats that will make the last baseball war look like 30 cents worth of liquid air.
Of course, the war will temporarily help the ball player by boosting salaries to a fabulous sum, but in the end the player
will be the loser, for, like all wars, the baseball war, if begun, will here an end and a reckoning, and the successful parties will then demand a return on the money Invested in their plants and foolishly wasted in a war.
Players' salaries will be chopped to an extent unheard of and a lower salary limit than has ever prevailed will be established. As in all such affairs, the public has not been consulted. Neither Johnson nor Pulliam has for a moment taken the patrons of the game Into consideration.
Both seem to be of the firm belief that shekels will flow into the coffers of the club owners of their respective organizations regardless of what kind of baseball is afforded.
In this they will soon learn that the public is not as easy as it looks, and that, with the war on, a large shrinkage in patronage will result.
For the good of the game, some plan should he devised whereby both Elberfeld and Davis could be taken care of and a war that will leave its lasting imprint on the game avoided.
Whether Johnson or Pulliam is in the right is a matter of small moment when weighed against the good of the game. and the only sensible course would he a compromise that would dispel the threatening clouds that overhang the baseball atmosphere.
