I Didn't Earn It But I Get It

John Clapp

Shaffer told a Cleveland gentleman last week that he received $2,300 a year in St. Louis.  "I didn't earn it," said the Orator, "but I get it, and everything goes."  Dunlap told the same party that he held spite against Cleveland since John Clapp played here, for an alleged slight, and that he was playing Appleton for his release.

-Cleveland Herald, April 8, 1884


That's a great line by Shaffer but I think the more interesting thing is the information about the root of Dunlap's unhappiness in Cleveland.  I always assumed, this being Dunlap, that the problem was money and Dunlap was unhappy about his salary.  A lot of the evidence does point that way.  But this being Dunlap, nothing is ever that simple.

Clapp spent one season with Cleveland, in 1881, which was Dunlap's second year with the club.  Dunlap had a great season that year.  He was easily the best player on the club and was the best second baseman in the league.  But Cleveland had a disappointing year.  After finishing third in 1880, they finished seventh in 1881, with a record of 36-48.  Jim McCormick had been the captain of the club the previous two seasons but, for some reason, it looks like he was replaced by our old friend Mike McGeary to begin the 1881 season.  McGeary was quickly replaced by John Clapp, his former teammate on the 1876 and 1877 Brown Stockings.

So, if this source is to be believed, Dunlap's unhappiness in Cleveland dates back to 1881, when he had some kind of problem with his manager, John Clapp.  This being Dunlap, it looks like he carried that grudge, whatever it might have been, for several years.  While money was a factor in Dunlap's decision to leave Cleveland, it also appears that he was unhappy with Cleveland management in some way that had nothing to do with how much he was paid.  Dunlap said several times during the 1883/1884 off-season that he was unhappy with the way he was treated by Cleveland management and I always translated that as him wanting more money.  But it looks like he was being sincere in his statements and whatever happened between him and Clapp had a lasting impact on Dunlap's opinion of Cleveland management.    

The Recreants

Dunlap, Shaffer and the other deserters who failed to turn up for duty yesterday with their respective clubs are now black listed under the Day resolution. None of the recreants weakened.

-Cleveland Herald, April 2, 1884

I have to admit that I love the Herald's use of "recreant." Very impressive. While the Herald's editorial stance had mellowed a bit in March, as the season approached and they focused more on the Cleveland club, the still had plenty of bitterness and anger left.

The Jumpers

The following is a list of the League and American Association players who jumped the reserve rule and had the good sense and honor to stand by their written contracts with the Union Clubs: Bradley, with the Cincinnatis; Dunlap, Shaeffer and Jack Gleason, St. Louis; Hugh Daily, Chicago; Buck Weaver, Philadelphia, with a strong probability that Gross will also play with the Chicagos. There are only three deserters, Mullane, Mansell and Corcoran. Mansell regrets his perfidy, and told Bill Harbidge, who met him in Pittsburg the other day, that he was sorry he had not lived up to his contract with Mr. Lucas. This is not a bad record for the Union Association, considering the disreputable fight that has been made to induce players to desert.-[Cincinnati Enquirer.]

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 2, 1884

So the Unions got six guys to jump from the NL and the AA. While the Enquirer didn't think that was a bad record, given the effort that Lucas put into getting players, I don't see how it can be seen as anything other than a failure.

Dunlap And Shaffer Arrive In St. Louis

President Lucas, of the Unions, was all smiles yesterday, and the occasions of his happiness was the arrival of Fred Dunlap and George Shaffer, the great second baseman and right fielder. "They are here," said he, "just as I knew they would be when I signed them. I never had a doubt about them, notwithstanding all the reports that have been circulated by the enemies of our association. The very first dealings I had with them convinced me that they were honorable men, ,who would honor any contract they signed. Now that they are here I think I can safely boast that I have the best second baseman and the best right fielder in the country. And you may say that as they have acted squarely with me I am going to do the same by them. If Mullane had done right with me he would never have had occasion to regret it, but now that he has jumped his contract, I will endeavor to make him sorry that he did so. Recently I learned he was willing to come here if I would give him a two years' contract at $3,000 a year. I have a prior claim on him and will not break a contract by taking him away from Toledo, so I sent him word that I would agree to his terms. When I got in direct communication with him what do you suppose he wanted? Only $3,000 in advance. Well, I don't think he'll get $3,000 of my money in his hands until he straightens out his record for trustworthiness."

Dunlap and Shaffer arrived at 7:30 a.m. on the Vandalia train, having come direct from Philadelphia, which they left on Saturday at 9 p.m. Apartments have been engaged for them on Jefferson avenue, near the Union grounds, and after a brief sojourn down town they repaired to their home for the season. In the afternoon a Globe-Democrat reporter met them at the club-room at the park. In reply to questions Shaffer said, "I came here because I signed to. The reserve rule don't worry me at all. I like Mr. Lucas' ways of doing business, and I am glad to see that he has such good grounds. I hope we will all be able to play good ball here and think we will. There is one thing sure: no other nine has such a nice club-house as we have."

Dunlap said he was somewhat tired after his long ride, but was glad he was here. "Our accommodations here," said he, "are the best that any club in the country has and then we have fine grounds, larger than three-fourths of the League grounds, and our grand stand is the finest I have seen anywhere. If the Cleveland Club had treated me right, I wouldn't be here."

"What are the circumstances of your engagement?"

"All there was to it was I named my terms to Mr. Lucas and he accepted them. Then when he was East this last time he came to me and asked me how I felt about being blacklisted by the Cleveland Club. I told him that I expected they would do something with me, and because base ball was my business I would like to play as long as I could, and for that reason would like to make a two-years' engagement with him. He said 'All right, I'll do it,' and did so, and I am here to play. I would have been here anyway to keep my first contract."

"Did President Appleton, of the Metropolitans, offer you $5,000 to play in New York?"

"Yes, but I never agreed to go there, nor even encouraged the offer. He asked me if I would not play in New York if he could get my release. I answered, 'You can't get my release.' He then asked, 'Will you give me the first chance if I get your release?' I answered again: 'You can't get my release.' 'I'll give you $5,000 if you will play in New York if I get your release,' said he. I repeated: 'You can't get my release.' He sent Lew Simmons to Cleveland, and Simmons found out just what I told Appleton, that they would not release me. Al Reach afterwards went to Cleveland without consulting me, and tried to get my release. I didn't know anything about it until Charley Mason told me of it a few days ago. Reach got the same answer that Simmons did."

"Did you name terms to Cleveland?"

"Yes, I asked $2,800 and they offered me $2,100."

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 1, 1884

Dunlap Arrives In St. Louis

President Lucas, of the Unions, was all smiles yesterday, and the occasion of his happiness was the arrival of Fred Dunlap and George Shaffer, the great second baseman and right fielder. "They are here," said he, "just as I knew they would be when I signed them. I never had a doubt about them, notwithstanding all the reports that have been circulated by the enemies of our association. The very first dealings I had with them convinced me that they were honorable men, who would honor any contract they signed. Now that they are here I think I can safely boast that I have the best second baseman and the best right fielder in the country..."

Dunlap said he was somewhat tired after his long (train) ride, but was glad he was here. "Our accommodations here," said he, "are the best that any club in the country has, and then we have fine grounds, larger than three-fourths of the League grounds, and our grand stand is the finest I have seen anywhere. If the Cleveland Club had treated me rightly I wouldn't be here."

"What were the circumstances of your engagement?"

"All there was to it was I named my terms to Mr. Lucas and he accepted them. Then when he was East this last time he came to me and asked me how I felt about being blacklisted by the Cleveland Club. I told him that I expected they would do something with me, and because base ball was my business I would like to play as long as I could, and for that reason would like to make a two-years' engagement with him. He said 'All right, I'll do it,' and did so, and I am here to play. I would have been here anyway to keep my first contract."

"Did President Appleton, of the Metropolitans, offer you $5,000 to play in New York?"

"Yes, but I never agreed to go there, nor even encouraged the offer. He asked me if I would not play in New York if he could get my release. I answered, 'You can't get my release.' He sent Lew Simmons to Cleveland and Simmons found out just what I told Appleton, that they would not release me. Al Reach afterwards went to Cleveland without consulting me, and tried to get my release. I didn't know anything about it until Charley Mason told me of it a few days ago. Reach got the same answer Simmons did."

"Did you name terms to Cleveland?"

"Yes. I asked $2,800 and they offered me $2,100."

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 1, 1884


"Base ball was my business." They should have put that on Dunlap's tombstone.