Nothing Relating To The Project Could Be Learned

There are no new developments in local base ball affairs.  None of the parties interested in the effort to place the Union Club in the League were at home yesterday, and nothing relating to the project could be learned.  Base ball patrons generally expressed the hope that St. Louis would have a League member, and that games would be played between the local clubs.  It was also argued that games between the home clubs would be the most profitable of an entire season.  With respect to the Unions, a Globe-Democrat reporter was informed that the overtures for League membership came from the League and not from Mr. Lucas.  Four members of the League offered to vote for the admission of St. Louis, with the privilege of Sunday games, providing Mr. Lucas would apply.  It is conceded that Cleveland will not be in the field another season, and the position of Detroit is so doubtful that the league people have no faith in its existence, and they are consequently looking for new members that will be of value to them.  They know they can not get a member in a better base ball city than St. Louis, and that is why they are anxious to take in the Unions.  With Cleveland and Detroit out, the League can not do better than take in the St. Louis and Cincinnati Unions.

What The League Wants.

The League did not want Indianapolis or any place of its size if it could get a large place.  Public support being necessary for the maintenance of clubs, the League financiers were naturally calculating which would be the most profitable cities to take in, and but little figuring was necessary to prove that St. Louis was more desirable that any other point.  This is substantially the view expressed by one who is familiar with all the negotiations that have taken place.

Referring to the question of black-listed players, Vice President Espenschied said: "There is no possible way by which Mr. Lucas could be induced to go back on Dunlap, Shafer, Sweeny, Gleason, Rowe, and Dolan.  I know he is not that kind of a man, and I guess everybody acquainted with him knows it too.  I don't think we will go into the League.  They want us, but if they do get us it will have to be on our terms.  We don't want to quarrel with any association and have to fight them for another year, but we are not going to sacrifice any of the players that helped us in the fight last season.  We know for a fact that neither the League nor American Association want another such fight, and will not force us into another as they did last year.  If the Union Association becomes a strictly Western organization it will be all the better.  The West is a pretty good place for base ball to flourish in."

The situation at Indianapolis is unsettled.  The Cleveland Club is trying to dispose of its League franchise and reserved players to the Indianapolis Club, and President Lucas is trying to get Indianapolis into the Union Association.  A few days will determine its position.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 14, 1884

Sensational Base Ball Negotiations

A few days ago a Globe-Democrat reporter was advised that an effort was being made to get the St. Louis Union Base Ball Club into the National League.  The information was to the effect that the franchise of the Cleveland Club was in the market and, in view of the probable dropping out of that organization, other League representatives were anxious to take the St. Louis Unions into membership.  If Cleveland should disband Detroit would probably follow, and in that event both the St. Louis and Cincinnati Unions would join the League.  A gentleman interested in the local Unions was asked about this information and said it was substantially correct, but that he did not think anything would come of the negotiations because some of the league clubs were disposed to insist on the ostracism of Dunlap, Shaffer, Sweeny, Gleason, McCormick, Briody, Glascock and others, which the Union Clubs would under no circumstance consent to. 

The League The Dictator.

He was asked if Mr. Von der Ahe refused to give his consent would the matter be dropped, and answered that it would not; that it was understood that Mr. Von der Ahe was in favor of the project, and thought it would be a benefit to his club, but whatever might be his action the league was looking out for itself, and would dictate terms to the American Association instead of being dictated to...

President Lucas, of the Unions, was approached on the subject, but said he had nothing to say except that he was going right along preparing for the Union Association Convention to be held in this city on next Thursday.

Yesterday morning the following appeared in Caylor's special to the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, reporting the proceeding of the American Association Convention:

The Crank's Version.

"Over and beyond the proceedings of the Convention, the sensation to-night has been a rumor in the corridors of the hotel, which was traced to a certainty after the meeting adjourned.  It was no less a fact than that Mr. Chase, the attorney of Henry V. Lucas, was on hand arranging for the transfer of the Lucas Club to the League.  I understand that Messrs. Chase and Day, of the New York League Club, and Mr. Von der Ahe were in consultation in the matter, and the result has been altogether favorable.  Von der Ahe's consent is necessary to effect the new membership.  He will of course require that Dunlap, Shaffer and Rowe be dropped, and that under no circumstance shall they be made eligible to play."

"It is understood that the League rules will be strictly enforced, namely, no bar, no Sunday games and a 50-cent tariff.  It is understood that Mr. Lucas wants to cater to the high-toned portions in St. Louis, and believes it will pay with a League club, and Von der Ahe is of the opinion that such a club would benefit him, rather than do him injury.  If Von der Ahe keeps this opinion till his return the deal will certainly be made.  Whether it is or not, however, it is absolutely certain that the Union Association is a goner."

The Union's Association Will Go On.

Vice President Espenched of the Unions was seen last night by a Globe-Democrat reporter.  He said his attention had been called to the Commercial Gazette's report by a telegram from the Cincinnati Enquirer, to which he replied: "Mr. Lucas is in Indianapolis arranging for a Union Club.  Assure our players they need have no fear."

The Union Association, he said, would go right along and would certainly protect its players.  The thought that it was "a goner" probably delighted Caylor, but his transport of joy would be blighted by the painful reality that his tormentor still lived and would continue to live.

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


Somewhere, I think there has to be a record of a third game played between the Maroons and Louisville in October of 1884 but I can't find it.  The game was scheduled but there is nothing in the Globe about it.  But the Louisville exhibition series finished the season for the Maroons.  So we're moving on. 

And here we have the first mention that I've found of the possibility of the Maroons moving to the NL.  I don't think that the representation of Von der Ahe's attitude is correct or something, at some point, made him change his mind about supporting the Maroons move to the NL.  The process would not be an easy one.   

We Won The Fight

[From the Pittsburg Dispatch, August 25.]

President Lucas, of the Union Association, arrived in the city yesterday in company with his famous team of ball players from St. Louis.  During the conversation last evening he expressed himself as highly pleased with the turn of affairs in the base ball world, and serenely confident in the ultimate success of the association which he has created and now represents.  In response as to how the battle was progressing, he replied, with a smile and an air of refreshing confidence.  "Why, there is no battle; the strife ended some weeks since.  We won the fight against great odds and are now on top.  Next season the Union Association will be composed of eight clubs, representing an equal number of the best and largest cities in the United States."

"Will Pittsburg be down on the list?"

"Most assuredly, and I have every reason to believe with a better nine than has represented the city for years."

"What will be the attitude of the Union Association towards the older associations?"

"Well, we will force them to recognize the validity of contracts with players at least, by an agreement which will protect the interests of all.  The reserve rule will also become a thing of the past.  In fact, it is as good as overthrown at the present time."

"How about players' salaries?"

"The days of high-priced men are numbered.  With the breaking up of the Northwestern League a great many first-class players were thrown upon the market, and the demand will not be so great as heretofore."

"Will the old associations be as strong next season as heretofore?"

"I can not say positively as to that, but I am satisfied that at least four of the American Association clubs will drop out, while the existence of League teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Buffalo will depend largely upon the amount of money certain private gentlemen in each city are willing to put up.

"Do you expect a stampede of players to the Union ranks this fall?"

"Hardly a stampede, but we will be able to get all the first-class players we need.  There are very few men in the American Association that we want.  Our attention will be directed mostly to the League, and about the only material we want from that source is their batteries."

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 27, 1884


Well...

I guess I could sit here and, with the gift of hindsight, nitpick this interview apart.  But why bother.  Lucas was basking in the glow of his "refreshing confidence" which I think would have been more accurately described as self-delusion.  I can't really fault him for the Sunny Jim routine because, I guess, it's important for a salesman and a leader to project confidence. 

A Complete Reorganization

Arrangements were completed to-day for the immediate transfer of the Chicago Union Base Ball Club to [Pittsburgh.]  They will be taken in charge by the Exposition Park Association, which will divide the profits, if there are any, with President Henderson.  The club will be known as the Pittsburg Union.  Its first game in this city will be with the St. Louis club on the 26th inst.  A number of additional players will be signed, and the management say they will spare no expense to make the club one of the best in the country...

Arrangements were perfected yesterday by Messrs. Lucas and Thorner respectively, the Presidents of the Cincinnati and St. Louis clubs, for the complete reorganization of the Union Association in 1885.  Eight clubs are to form the association, together with an Eastern and Western alliance.  A large guarantee fund is to be placed in the hands of the Association Treasurer at the annual meeting, and this fund is to be used in assisting all clubs needing assistance during the season and to assist all clubs in strengthening their respective nines.  The seventy-five dollar guarantee is to be done away with and ll clubs will give 30 per cent of their gross receipts to the visiting teams.  Of the eight cities who are to admitted to membership three have a population of over 100,000 each, two have a population of over 200,000 each and the remaining three have a population of over 300,000.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 20, 1884 

Henry Lucas Kills The Quincy Club

The management of the Quincy Base Ball Club waited until this afternoon for an answer from President Lucas, of the Unions, as to admission into that association, and no answer having been received, the Quincy club this afternoon was disbanded.  Two years experience, this year with a first-class club which would have been certain of the pennant, and a dead loss of several thousand dollars, renders it safe to predict that the days of professional base ball playing in Quincy are over.  The Northwestern League was ruined 1, by too many clubs being admitted; 2, by too big salaries; 3, by the cities being too much scattered; 4, by the arrangement of the schedule requiring long jumps and doublings on railroads, making an enormous tax for fare.  There are some excellent base ball players here open for engagements.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 17, 1884

Lucas' State Of Mind

"I have nothing to say, except that I feel better over Thomas' success in getting McCormick, Glasscock and Briody than if some one had given me $10,000," said President Lucas to a Globe-Democrat reporter.  "I don't take any pride in contract-breaking as a regular business, but it is a good thing to succeed when self-preservation forces you to engage in it.  There is also great pleasure in going into the enemy's camp, capturing their guns and using them on your own side."

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 10, 1884

The 1884 Maroons Take The Day Off

The St. Louis Unions, with President Lucas and Vice President Espenchied, spent yesterday at Creve Coeur Lake fishing.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 5, 1884

The 1884 Maroons: I Want To Ride My Bicycle

Besides the ball game there will be bicycle racing at the Union Grounds to-day for gold and silver medals, the gift of the Union Club.  The first heat of the bicycle race will take place at 3:15 sharp, and the final at 3:40.

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

I thought this was pretty neat.  Lucas not only was putting a bicycle race before a Maroons' game but he was also putting up the medals.  It must have been a fun day at the ballpark.

The 1884 Maroons: Why Do You Build Me Up, Buttercup?

Dickerson played with the Baltimores yesterday at right field.  He will be expelled by the Unions for drunkenness.  Several days ago President Lucas announced that he was only waiting to locate him before expelling him.  He says there is now not a lusher on his nine and he will never have another.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 27, 1884


So Buttercup jumps the club.  He's gone.  Ain't coming back.  But, just as a matter of principle, we're going to expel  him for drunkenness.  Whatever.  And I love the part about how the Maroons on longer have any lushers on the club.  Without getting into the character of the players on the club on July 27, I will just point out that the newest member of the club got kicked off of his last team because he showed up late for a game, drunk and in the company of a couple of women of questionable character.  Just sayin'.

But, anyway, you should really watch this video.  It'll put a smile on your face:

 

That's just a great song.

Lucas Plays For The Union Blues

The Lucas who is to play at short field for the Union Blues in to-day's game is Henry V. Lucas, the President of the Union Association.  He is the first President of a professional club to don a uniform.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 26, 1884

Kid Baldwin Jumps To The Kansas City Unions

Ted Sullivan on yesterday signed Black and Baldwin, the "kid battery" of the Quincy Club, to play with the Kansas City Unions.  This jump will about break up the Quincy Club.  "Kid" Baldwin is one of the pluckiest catchers that ever stood behind a bat and will no doubt be valuable acquisition for the Kansas Citys.  Last Winter he signed with the St. Louis Unions and accepted $200 advance money, but afterwards signed a second contract with the Quincy Club, which had "reserved" him, and failed to return the advance money.  President Lucas says he is glad Sullivan has taken him away from the Quincy's, but Ted will have to settle that $200.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 25, 1884

While Baldwin was born in Kentucky, his family moved to St. Louis when he was still young.  He made a name for himself as a ballplayer while playing for various St. Louis amateur clubs, including one of the later incarnations of the Red Stockings.

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.  

The 1884 Maroons: Let The Rumors Begin

A gentleman identified with the St. Louis Unions says that when that club reappears on the home grounds, July 29, it will present a pitcher who is second to none in the country.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 12, 1884


You would think that they were talking about Sweeney but his problems with Providence didn't come to a head until July 22.  At the beginning of the month, Sweeney was nursing a sore arm and, although it looks like Lucas was after one of Providence's pitchers, it doesn't appear that he was originally after Sweeney.  And he wasn't after Ed Conley.

I'll have much more to say about all of this in the near future because Henry Lucas was a bit tired of the way the baseball establishment was treating his new league and, at the same time, there was an unhappy pitcher in Providence who was ready to listen to what Lucas had to say.

And if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm talking about Charles Radbourn.  So I guess I'm going to have to get Ed Achorn's book off the shelf and share some of that with you here soon.  

The 1884 Maroons: Taylor Jumps The Club (Again)

Handsome Henry Boyle

"Billee" Taylor has finally jumped the St. Louis Unions.  On his first jump he received $300 from Lew Simmons, of the Athletics, but, instead of joining the latter organization, spent the money and went back to the Unions.  He then asked Mr. Lucas to send Simmons $500, which he claimed to have received.  His request was not complied with, Mr. Lucas having satisfied himself that Taylor received but $300 and was trying to work him out of $200, declined to send a cent to Simmons.  Taylor urged that the $500 be remitted until he found that the scheme would not succeed, and then went to Simmons and squared matters by signing with the Athletics.  His place on the nine has been filled by the engagement of "Pudge" Boyle, formerly of the Actives, of Reading, Pa., who is reported to be a fine pitcher and strong batsman.  In yesterday's game at Baltimore he held the Baltimore Unions down to four hits.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 10, 1884


Check back tomorrow for the box score and game account of Handsome Henry's first game with the Maroons.

As to Bollicky Bill Taylor, the guy certainly had some nerve.  I'm not sure what to make of him as a player.  I can't decide if he was undervalued and underused most of his career (with his "personality" contributing to  that) or if his career numbers are inflated because of his 1884 season.  The guy looks like a homeless man's version of Bob Caruthers but eighty percent of his career value comes from 1884, when he went 43-16 and had 2.4 oWAR.  His age 27-29 seasons are interesting enough to wonder what his career could have looked like had he gotten more playing time but, after 1884, the guy only got into 17 more major league games.  And I think the Globe did a fair job of explaining why Taylor didn't get too many more chances in the majors.          

The 1884 Maroons: Humiliation And Retaliation (And Joe Quinn Really Couldn't Hit)

Quinn, the promising young first-baseman of the St. Louis Unions, was approached yesterday with an offer to jump his contract and join the Washingtons, of the American Association.  It was reported that Ted Sullivan, the former manager of the Unions, had exerted his influence to induce Quinn to break his contract, but Sullivan denies the story most emphatically.  He says, on the contrary, he advised Quinn to stick to the Unions, and claims that Quinn will corroborate his statement.  Mr. Lucas is very indignant over the matter, and declares that, having stood the dishonorable attacks of the League and American Association without retaliating until he feels almost humiliated, he will, on the 1st of July, propose to the Union Association to go into the contract-breaking business.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 23, 1884


Given that he was going to get another job in the UA in the not to distant future, I actually believe Sullivan.  I don't think Lucas would have let him have the KC job if he was trying to poach Quinn for the AA.

And speaking of Quinn, he has rather odd career numbers.  It looks like he was a pretty good defensive second baseman and was better defensively at second than he was at first, which is kind of weird.  Also, for a guy who was a regular in the major leagues until he was thirty, the guy really didn't hit much.  He lead the NL in games played in 1893 and had an OPS of 50.  Fifty.  He had -2.1 WAR that season and played every game (which, I assume, is one of the reasons the Browns finished 57-75 that year).  For his career, over 1769 games and 7352 at bats, Quinn had 1.6 WAR and -1.1 oWAR.

I've been sitting here thinking about putting up a negative oWAR over seven thousand at bats and I'm having trouble wrapping my head around it.  Guys who hit like Quinn shouldn't get 1700 games in the big leagues.  If  I had to guess, I'd say that Joe Quinn was one of the twenty worst hitters in the history of baseball (minimum 5000 AB).  The numbers suggest that he was a very good, but not a great, fielder but he had to have better than that.  Right?  He had to have been just an outstanding defensive second baseman or his career doesn't make any sense.          

The 1884 Maroons: Driven Out

Dunlap, Dave Rowe and Shafer have driven Ted Sullivan out of the St. Louis Unions, and as he is on the black list his lot is not a happy one.

-Cleveland Herald, June 18, 1884


Well...

You kind of have to take anything the Herald says about the UA or Dunlap with a grain of salt.  But this is the best piece of evidence we have about what went down between Sullivan and his players.

Regardless, Sullivan would land on his feet and be back in baseball, with the Kansas City Unions, in July.  And thinking about that fact, that Sullivan would get another job in Lucas' UA, leads me to believe that it really was the players, rather than Sullivan, who instigated the whole thing.  

The 1884 Maroons: Manager With .903 Winning Percentage Gets Fired

Ted Sullivan was released from the management of the St. Louis Unions last night.  Ill-feeling between Sullivan and some of the players had existed for some time.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 14, 1884


And there it is, short and sweet.  I just missed it when looking at the Maroons' June 13th game against Cincinnati.  Anybody want to speculate about which players had "ill-feelings" towards Sullivan?

*Cough*  Dunlap  *Cough*

Not that Sullivan was a saint or anything, as we'll see later, but how does the manager get fired when the club is 28-3?  I have to image that it would have something to do with the highest paid player in all of baseball going to the owner and saying something along the lines of "It's him or me."  But thinking about it a little bit, I can also imagine Sullivan going to Lucas and saying something similar about Dunlap.  Those two guys were serious pieces of work and it's impossible to say who was the bigger a**hole.  At the moment, I'm leaning slightly towards the idea that Sullivan got himself fired but, really, it's a pick 'em.

Honestly, I feel kind of bad for Henry Lucas.  He was just a guy who loved the game and had the resources to start his own team and league.  That's a noble thing.  But he made some bad decisions and got saddled with these two j*rk-*ffs.            

Consulting With President Lucas

Mr. A.V. McKim, manager of the Kansas City Union Base Ball Club, was in the city yesterday, consulting with President Lucas and engaging players.  Among those signed for the new club are Wheeler and Hickman, formerly of the St. Louis Reserves; Berry, Shafer, and Harris, formerly of the Altoonas, and Chatterton and Fisher, of the Lynn, Mass., club.  By to-night Mr. McKim expects to have eight more men under contract.  Harry Wheeler will captain the team.  The opening game will be played next Saturday and Sunday, with the Chicago Unions.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 5, 1884


It's interesting to see Lucas' involvement with other clubs.  We've seen it in the past, as Lucas was involved in helping clubs fill their roster at the beginning of the season.  Now, as clubs begin to unravel, we're seeing it again.

Lucas Sets Up The Cowboys

President Lucas, of the Union Base Ball Association, arrived home last night at 9:20, after a week's visit to Altoona, where he wound up the affairs of the local club, and arranged for the transfer of the best talent in the team to Kansas City.  He says he will meet the officers of the Kansas City Club in this city on Wednesday to complete the transfer, and one week later the Kansas City Club will be in the field with a strong team.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 3, 1884


The Kansas City Unions were the first major league club in KC history and it appears that the club was profitable.  They were not, however, a good team, finishing 16-63.

The 1884 Maroons: Rainchecks

Rainchecks given away at the Union grounds yesterday will be honored both to-morrow and Thursday, when the St. Louis and Keystones play regular championship games.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 26, 1884


This is kind of interesting.  First, the Maroons were issuing rainchecks in 1884.  The practice of issuing rainchecks was not universal at the time and there was some controversy in St. Louis in 1883 when Von der Ahe did not issue them.  Also, there was a story floating around in the late 1880s that Lucas formed the Maroons and the UA after he and a group of friends went to a Browns game in 1883 that got rained out and they were not issued rainchecks.  The fact that the Maroons were handing them out gives a bit of credence to that story.  Not a lot, but a bit.

Secondly, the Maroons' game that got rained out was not a UA game.  The Bostons wouldn't play on Sunday and they rearranged their schedule to get the series in before then.  The Maroons were scheduled to play an exhibition game against the Prickly Ash that day.  It's interesting that Lucas would issue rainchecks for an exhibition game and honor them for a league game.  I understand that Lucas did things a bit differently than others but it's a bit odd.  It's a possibility that this was an attempt to improve attendance, which except for Sunday, was a bit disappointing.