The 1884 Maroons: Tempting Offers

Reports to the effect that Baker and Dickerson, of the St. Louis Unions, had jumped their contracts, the former going to the Athletics and the latter to the Baltimores, but they played with the Unions yesterday at Baltimore.  It is well understood, however, that both have been approached with tempting offers.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 13, 1884


So the established leagues poached Bill Taylor and were after George Baker and Buttercup Dickerson.  We already have seen that, because of just this kind of thing, Lucas was talking about going after players under contract, which he had never done before.  And that would lead to him offering a contract to Old Hoss Radbourn.