Dickey Pearce Sues The Brown Stockings

Richard J. Pearce, one of the oldest professional base ballists in the United States, who for the last twenty years has followed the profession for a living, has had some trouble with the "St. Louis Base Ball Association." Yesterday he filed a suit against that corporation, stating that on the 15th of September, 1875, he obligated himself by written contract to play base ball for defendants from the first of November, 1875, to the first of November, 1876, the stipulations of the contract being that he should receive $1,500 for his services, $100 of which was to be paid in advance. A supplemental contract was also made at the same time, by which it was covenanted that in the event of plaintiff being called upon to act as captain of the club, he should receive an additional compensation of $300. That subsequently the plaintiff did act as captain of the club during the month of May, 1876. The petitioner states that the Association is indebted to him in the sum of $350, $50 of which sum is due on the original contract, and $300 due on the supplemental contract.

The plaintiff is better known as Dick Pearce, the celebrated short-stop, and his pitching into the Association will attract the attention of all who go for home runs. He may catch a hot one when the answer is filled, and may be put out with a foul.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, January 21, 1877