The Appended Honorable Release

What do the St. Louis papers mean by announcing that Force, Blong, etc., have been or are to be expelled from the St. Louis Club, in the face of a fact like the one we give below, which has been sent to us by the Buffalo Club manager?  The fact we refer to is the appended "honorable release" from the St. Louis Club.  If no charges have been found true against Force, then the St. Louis journals and other Western papers have done him injustice.  Either the players who have been charged with crookedness are guilty or not guilty.  If they are guilty, put them out of the fraternity, as has been done in Louisville.  If not, then come out openly and say so, not through one member of the club, but over the signature of all of the directors.  The release in question is signed only by the club manager, who himself has been charged with crooked work by Devinney, and no satisfactory examination has been made of the case that we have heard of.  Will Messrs. Fowle and Bishop post us up on the facts?

Copy Of Release

Headquarters Brown Stockings B.B. Club,

St. Louis, Nov. 21, 1877.

Mr. E.R. Spaulding, Buffalo B.B. Association. - I take the pleasure of notifying you that Mr. D.W. Force has been honorably released by the St. Louis B.B. Association.  G. McManus, Manager.

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, 1856-1907

I really don't want to get back into all of the culture of corruption stuff surrounding the Brown Stockings but this was too good to pass up.  My favorite part is when Chadwick (I assume) throws the whole McManus/Devinney thing back in their face.  That was a nice touch.   

Blong's Release

Joe Blong, of the Unions, who has been suffering from a sore shoulder, asked for his release yesterday, and was given it.

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


And thus endeth the baseball career of Joseph Myles Blong.  I think.  By 1886, he was working full-time as a clerk for the government and it doesn't appear that he was playing ball.  But it wouldn't surprise me if Blong was kicking around on some amateur club in St. Louis in the mid to late 1880s.  He didn't turn 31 until September of 1884 so he was still a relatively young man.  But as far as major league baseball was concerned, this was the end for Joe Blong.

Houtz And Blong Return To Their Old Stomping Grounds

As the Lucas grounds are not yet completed, the club have accepted Mr. Kelly's generous offer of Compton Avenue Park to practice on during this week. Among the players practicing there yesterday were: Williamson, of the Chicago Whites; Houtz, of the Bay City nine; Jack Gleason, Rowe, Blong, Taylor, Dickerson, Hodnett, Whitehead, Werden and Manager Sullivan, of the Lucas professionals; Oberbeck, Cross, Bien and Manager Cassilly, of the Lucas Reserves.

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

It's kind of neat to see Charlie Houtz and Joe Blong, who played at the Compton Avenue Grounds with the Red Stockings a decade earlier, back together on their old grounds.

Joe Blong, Storekeeper

Joseph M. Blong was to-day commissioned Storekeeper for the First Missouri District.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 19, 1886

Just trying to get off the subject of the 1876 Brown Stockings for a few days so you'll have to wait patiently for the game account of the Brown Stockings/Louisville game. I thought I'd have the Top Games in St. Louis Baseball History posts ready to go but I'm still not done putting that together. Anyway...

I've posted something before about Blong working for the government as a storekeeper but I'm still not certain what the job exactly entailed. I assume it was something like a commissary or quartermaster gig and that his brother Andrew, who was a bigwig with the Democratic Party, got him the job.

A Short Homily On The Lunacy (or This Is As Good A Place To Start As Any)

The base ball season of 1875 ended yesterday, and, as it has been the most eventful since the adoption of the sport as a National one, a short homily on the lunacy is in order. It has been an eventful season in more than one respect. Thirteen clubs entered in the race for the whip-pennant, each one starting in with a big flourish of trumpets. Yet, in a very short time, three of them, the Washingtons, Westerns and Centennials had disbanded, and three others did not endeavor to visit foreign clubs on their own grounds, and hence were out of the race before it had fairly started. These facts, as a matter of course, tended to bring the game into disrepute, and will bear a little explanation. The clubs which disbanded were organized for speculative purposes, and, being poorly managed, became insolvent. Of the others, the New Havens, after receiving two-thirds of the gate receipts in their games with Western clubs at home, did not return the visits, although promising to do so, until quite late in the season. It was a confidence operation, in which St. Louis and Chicago were victimized. The same remark applies to the Atlantics, who never had any organization, or any responsibility, and played no less than thirty-eight different men in their nine during the summer. With the St. Louis Reds, who are also out of the race, it was different. They entered for the championship with the firm determination of endeavoring to gain a place, and it was not their fault that they did not do so. They were cried down by unworthy rivals, who did everything in their power to bankrupt the management, but failed. The Brown Stockings would not arrange games with them, except on their own terms, and Eastern organizations were informed by mischief-makers that the Reds would not last, and when the "Ponies" expressed a willingness to go East, the organizations referred to could not be prevailed upon to arrange games with them.

During the season there were more complaints of "hippodroming" than ever before, and from the appearance of things the charges were, in most cases, founded on fact. It is, of course, almost impossible to furnish proof positive that a game is not decided on its merits. Yet there were doubtless many of them "thrown" to benefit the gambling fraternity. The Philadelphia and Mutual Clubs, as they always have been, were looked upon as the black sheep in the flock, each organization being controlled by a coterie of sporting men. The Mutuals were not strong enough this season to successfully "hippodrome" to any very great extent. Hicks, their catcher, it is said, could tell how many runs their opponents would make in each inning, and his friends used to lay their wagers accordingly. With the Philadelphia nine it was different, its players being skillful enough to win when they pleased, except when pitted against the Bostons or Athletics. Hippodroming places them next to last in the championship race, while their proper position should be third. Zettlein, the pitcher, only last week, openly charged his associates with selling out, and retired in disgust. During the season half a dozen of the players have been frequently charged with "crooked" conduct, among them Treacy, McGeary, Meyerle and Zettlein. Of other clubs, it is openly charged that Chicago lost her final games to Hartford to beat St. Louis out of third place, which is about as probable as that Chicago and St. Louis arranged at the beginning of the season that each organization should win all games played on its own grounds, which proved to be the case. Many there are who assert that they are confident such was the case.

Although numerous players were accused of dishonesty, desertion and unfaithful conduct during the season, not a single member was expelled from the association. On the contrary, they were all released from their engagements; and, by being at once hired by some rival club to the one which they had left, were tempted still further to sell out and "revolve." Higham left Chicago, and the Mutuals received him with open arms. Blong was expelled from the Reds and Stars, to be affectionately received in the Brown Stocking fold. Latham went from Boston to New Haven, and thence to Canada. Fields skipped the Washingtons for the Ludlows, and others too numerous to mention skipped from one club to another with perfect impunity. This has done more than anything else towards killing base ball, and, unless the players to which class those mentioned belong are at once emphatically informed that their services are not desired, another year will show that base ball is assuredly played out.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 31, 1875

Let's see: club instability, crooked ballplayers and lots of revolving. This sounds familiar. I'm sure somebody has a plan for solving these problems. Perhaps the creation of a new league or something like that?

A Photo Of Joe Blong

This photo of Joe Blong is cropped from a team photo of the 1876 St. Louis Brown Stockings which I'm sure I've posted somewhere around here before. I've been playing with the picture on and off for awhile now and I think this is the best I can do with my limited skills.

Blong's Contract With The Brown Stockings

Blong was called in at the meeting last night, but declined to say anything of consequence. He expressed himself outside as totally indifferent to the action of the club, and well he might be, for he had in his pocket at the time a written contract for the year beginning November 1 with the St. Louis Base Ball Association at $1,500. That contract was executed at the Gibson House yesterday.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat (quoting the Cincinnati Enquirer), September 23, 1875

If I have all the dates lined up correctly, Blong was signed by the Brown Stockings on September 20, 1875. This was two days after the "incident" and the same day he was expelled from the Stars (but before he met with the club). Any speculation on my part that Blong had signed before the Stars/Ludlow game was wrong. However, it's still likely that Blong was talking to the Brown Stockings about a contract prior to the game.

There Is No Such Thing As Coincidence, Just The Illusion Of Coincidence

After returning from an eighteen game Eastern road trip, the Brown Stockings played thirteen of fourteen games at home, interrupted only by the game they played against Philadelphia in Ludlow on September 22, 1875. But that's not really what I want to talk about at the moment. Don't despair; I'll be getting to that game shortly.

If one looks at the schedule, the Brown Stockings were at home from August 12, when they played the Athletics, through September 13, when they played Hartford. They had the game against Philadelphia on September 22 and then returned home to play Philadelphia three more times at home, starting on September 27. The pertinent question is what was the club doing on those eight days when they didn't have a championship game scheduled?

By September 15, the Brown Stockings were in the Cincinnati area playing baseball and they remained there through the 22nd. But, again, this isn't what I want to write about. This post isn't really about the Brown Stockings. This is actually a post about Joe Blong.

Follow along:

-The Brown Stockings arrive in the Cincinnati area by September 15 and play a game against the Stars which they win 12-8 (and which was umpired by Charlie Sweasy).

-On September 18, the Stars play the Ludlows in an exhibition game and lose 7-5 to their rivals. Joe Blong is suspended after the game. Rumors fly that Blong had "sold" the game and/or was drunk during the game.

-Blong is expelled from the club on September 20 and there are reports that he had already signed a contract with the Brown Stockings for the 1876 season. During his hearing, Blong is rather defiant towards the trustees of the club and one explanation for this is that he has a contract for $1,500 from the Brown Stockings for next season.

So we now know how Blong signed with the Brown Stockings for 1876. The Brown Stockings were in the area playing baseball and actually had a game against the Stars in which Blong pitched. One can assume that the contract was offered to Blong sometime between September 15 and September 20 and that this contract colored Blong's view of his service with the Stars. It's possible that Blong already had a contract with the Brown Stockings before the Ludlow exhibition game and, if this is true, his behavior in the game should be interpreted in that context. Blong was a St. Louis native, had arranged to play with one of the top clubs in the country for the following season in his home town and was already fixed on his future rather than on endeavours in Covington. He had no loyalty to Covington or the Stars and probably couldn't care less about the rivalry with Ludlow. Blong was headed back home to play baseball at the highest level and, as far as he was concerned, the Stars could go pound sand.

It's arguable that the Brown Stockings' trip to the Cincinnati area lead directly to Blong's blow up with Covington and the beginning of his reputation as a crooked ballplayer.

Abandonment

To add to his other troubles, it is now rumored that Joe Ellick, captain of that nine, has abandoned them to accept a position with the Eagles of Louisville. It certainly is to be hoped that the association will take such cases in hand and deal with them severely, which they, no doubt, will in all the cases where the jumpers come under their discipline...Your correspondent has been credibly informed that in the case of Blong, he was released by McNeary before joining the Covington Stars. Both (Ellick) and McSorley are absent with the club on a trip through Ohio, but both will, no doubt, have something to say in defense of their action...

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 15, 1875

I really like the use of the word "abandoned" to describe Ellick, Blong, et al. leaving the Reds in 1875. It seems fitting.

The two most interesting things in this piece is that Ellick was "captain of that nine" after Sweasy and that Blong is "credibly" reported to have secured his release from the club before joining Covington. I think that little facts like Ellick serving as captain adds needed detail to what we already understand about the broad picture while there are still questions about how Blong left the Reds.

And if you can't tell, I'm working my way (in my own meandering style) up to the Brown Stockings' September 22 game against Philadelphia in Ludlow, Kentucky.

We Have Witnessed Many Worse Games Than This

Last Monday a large number of the male population of Ludlow visited the new Star Base Ball Grounds, at the head of Madison street, Covington, to witness the great game between the much-talked of and loudly advertised "Shining Stars" (see Covington news in all the Cincinnati dailies,) and the famous St. Louis Reds. The Stars having defeated the Ludlow club when it was in its infancy, and the Ludlows having made four runs in their game with the Reds, keeping their score down to 13, and whitewashing them five times, an easy victory was anticipated for the Covington boys.

A crowd estimated at between 3,000 and 4,000 was on the ground when game was called, about 4 o'clock, and as the larger proportion of those in attendance were Covingtonians, the enthusiasm was unbounded. When the Asterisks began to toss the ball, just to show how they were going to do it, the crowd applauded, and smiled pityingly at the St. Louis boys, especially poor Blong, the lame pitcher, and Houtz, the first baseman, who, in practicing, muffed every other ball. Some of them felt sorry for Sweasy, too-he had seen better days, when he belonged to a club which could play almost as well as the Stars. Then there was a delicate-looking boy named Flint, who was going to try to catch!

All of this was preparatory. The Reds went to the field, when game was called, with the air of men determined to do their best, even though their cause was hopeless. The Stars went to the bat, and for some reason, unexplained as yet, they didn't make any runs. The Covington people winked and smiled, and "guessed" the boys were throwing off on the Reds, to make it appear like a close game. But the St. Louis boys were evidently not let into the secret, for in their half of the the first inning they scored 8.

In the second inning the Stars seemed undecided as to whether they would merely "tie" the Reds, or make it 16 to 8; but after some reflection and consultation, they concluded to give their opponents a still better chance, and generously permitted themselves to be whitewashed a second time. The St. Louis boys, not to be outdone in matters of this kind, also scored a goose egg.

When the third inning had been played, and the score stood 9 to 0, it began gradually to steal over the minds of the Covingtonians that if the Stars were really going to score two to one, they had arrived at a point in the game where it was necessary to make a start-just the smallest kind of a start. This conclusion was made known to the directors, who communicated the same to the Nine.

Then, after the Umpire had remarked "Out on first," three several times, the still Shinning Stars went to the field, and the St. Louis, still in the dark as regards the intentions of their opponents, went to the bat, and after a reasonable time spent in exercise, left the score 14 to 0.

At this state of the proceedings Coroner McCabe, in a very excited manner, asked if any one had heard from Campbell's Creek. Our reporter, who has an aunt living in that vicinity, lost all further interest in the game, and in his struggles to get within speaking distance of the man of inquests, lost his score card; and to add to his misfortunes, he was lost in the large crowd, and failed to hear any of the Campbell's Creek news. The rest of our report, therefore, is made up from our exchanges, principally the Covington papers...

We have witnessed many worse games than this; and we believe that with close application, much practice, harmony, discipline, &c., the Stars will be a very good club by next summer...

-Ludlow Reporter, July 3, 1875

This may be the best account of a 19-0 game I've ever read. Good stuff.

A Drunken, Dishonest Player

Blong has left the city. So far as we have heard any opinion expressed as to the action of the Directors of the Star club in his case, it is favorable to such action. It was simply a question as to whether a drunken, dishonest player should rule the club, or the Directors. Blong was impudent and reckless in his manner, when brought before the Directors. We believe he was advised to this course by those who were concerned in buying the Ludlow game. For our part we are fully convinced that the game was bought, sold and paid for; and this is the general opinion of those well informed.

Among the ten members of the Board of Trustees who were present when Blong was expelled, there was not one to speak in his favor. The pretence that the Directors had nothing to do with an "exhibition game" is utterly preposterous. Does any one think it the duty of the Star Directors to allow a player to come on the grounds drunk at an exhibition game, or to sell such a game? Certainly not...

The Philadelphias and St. Louis Browns played a fine game for the championship on the Ludlow grounds, Wednesday. Only six errors wee made on each side, but the Browns batted Zettlein freely, and made 5 runs to 2, by the Philadelphias...

It seems the Enquirer reporter has entered into a kind of literary partnership with Blong. We believe one of them would sell out just about as quick as the other.

-The Ticket, September 23, 1875

Whiskey And Flattery

Since the last issue of our paper, events have been transpiring of an interesting character, particularly to the friends of the Stars. Last Saturday the "exhibition game" between the Stars and Ludlows, for the benefit of the players, came off. The result of the game was-Stars five, Ludlows seven; and the conduct of Blong, captain and regular pitcher of the club was such that Capt. Hawes, president, and acting manager of the club in the absence of Mr. Bostwick, felt it his duty to reprimand him during the progress of the game, and to suspend him immediately after it, making Mr. Dennis McGee, who plays ball under the name of "Mack," captain of the nine.

On Monday the Stars played the Hartfords an interesting game, the score standing eight to three. Strief tried to play, but had to give up at the end of the second inning, his not being able to run for a fly costing the Stars three runs. Dennison, the new acquisition from New Orleans, made five passed balls behind the bat in the first two innings, and Dillon was put there afterwards, making only one passed ball. The new man went to center, and caught flies well. Our boys batted very well, making eight base hits. Mack and Dillon led the score.

Last evening the Board of Trustees of the Star club met and, after a hearing from Mr. Blong and a full statement of his case, unanimously passed the following resolution:

"Resolved, That, for conduct unbecoming a player, and gross neglect of duty as captain of our nine, Mr. Joseph Blong be, and is hereby, expelled from the Star base-ball club."

The evidence against Mr. Blong was very strong. There can be no doubt that he was under the influence of liquor on the grounds, Saturday, nor but little that he purposely threw the game. In fact, he acknowledged as much to one directors, saying he thought it would make the clubs draw at the next game. Whiskey and flattery have made Blong of no use to the Star club.

The contemptible and false articles on this subject in the Enquirer are, it is hardly necessary to state, from the pen of Henry Hallam, a man who was kicked out of the Star club last spring, and has tried to injure it ever since.

Blong claims to have a contract with the St. Louis Browns to play next season for $1,500.

-The Ticket, September 21, 1875

Just when you think we've covered Blong's Covington escapade from every conceivable angle...

I was going to write that, even given everything that we know (or think we know), the quote about Blong admitting to being drunk and throwing the game to drive up the gate for the next game was rather damning. But, thinking about it, that really isn't anything we haven't heard already. At first glance it seems solid but in the end it's hearsay. If the club director was named and quoted directly, I would certainly take it seriously. Unless the club director had bet on the game and was looking to punish Blong for his role in the loss.

This particular item was passed on to me by Cam Miller who is working on some projects involving baseball in Northern Kentucky. Over the next few days I'm going to post some of the other stuff Cam sent me and I want to take this opportunity to once again thank him for sending it along.

Also, I was going to name this post "Conduct Unbecoming And Gross Neglect Of Duty" but I went with "Whiskey And Flattery" because it reminded me of one of my favorite albums, Fear and Whiskey by the Mekons. I'm easily the worst headline writer of all-time.

Some General Thoughts On The 1877 Scandal

The gambling scandal that rocked the St. Louis Brown Stockings organization in 1877 and, combined with the clubs financial troubles, helped bring about their resignation from the League in December of 1877 was not one scandal or one event but rather several.  There are at least four components of the scandal that I can see:

-On August 1, 1877, umpire P.H. Devinney accuses George McManus of offering him money in exchange for favorable ball and strike calls.  Devinney also stated that Joe Blong encouraged him to accept the offer.  Both McManus and Blong denied the accusations.

-On August 24, 1877, Joe Blong and Joe Battin conspire with Chicago gamblers to throw the Brown Stockings' game against Chicago.  The next day they attempt to do the same but are put on notice that Brown Stocking management are aware of their activities when McGeary moves Blong off the mound after suspicious activities in the second inning.  The conspiracy to throw the games of August 24 and 25 does not come to light until William Spink reveals them in the Globe-Democrat on November 1, 1877, although the club was aware of what was happening before the start of the game on August 25.   

-On October 31, 1877, William Spink publishes information about the Louisville scandal in the Globe-Democrat.  The Brown Stockings were caught in an awkward position, having previously signed Devlin and Hall for the 1878 season, just as they were revealing the depths of their financial trouble to stockholders and attempting to raise funds to pay off their debts from the 1877 season.  The next day Spink publishes his expose on the events of August.  

-L.W. Burtis umpires numerous questionable games in St. Louis.  Burtis, who Spink claimed operated as the middleman between St. Louis players and Chicago gamblers in August of 1877, was accused by the Chicago papers of dishonesty in his umpiring.  Devinney accused him of betting on the Brown Stockings and using his position as an umpire to influence the games that he had bet on.  While not specifically a member of the Brown Stockings, the best that can be said is that the club had unknowingly allowed a crooked umpire into the League and access to their club.  

With all of these events exposing a culture of corruption surrounding the club, it's no wonder that the club's management (which was made up generally of honorable men of some standing in St. Louis) decided to resign from the League.  Combined with the financial difficulties of 1876 and 1877, the revelation of this corruption was a death blow.  All one has to do is read William Spinks' expose in the Globe on November 1, 1877 (which is an absolutely brilliant piece) and it's obvious that there was no way the Brown Stockings were going to survive into 1878.

A couple of more thoughts:

-While the Devinney accusation adds to the portrait of a corrupt ball club, there has to be some serious reservations about Devinney's veracity.  McGeary strenuously denied the accusations and his actions on August 25, when he moved Blong off the mound, support the idea that he was uninvolved in the corruption.  Also, after the 1877 season, the Chicago papers made some accusations against Devinney that were similar to those they made against Burtis.  So while the Devinney accusation is relevant and adds to the weight of evidence against the Brown Stockings, Devinney is not exactly a perfect witness.  

-For some time, I've been trying to figure out, from a historiographical point of view, why the Louisville scandal is better remembered than the St. Louis scandal.  I may be wrong but it's my understanding that the Louisville scandal is the substantially more famous or remembered event.  I assume it's because the events of the Louisville scandal had a major impact on the pennant race.  Also, I would think that Devlin's statements to the press had a drama to them that the denials of those involved in the St. Louis scandal lacked.  But the fact that the stories broke at almost the exact same time and were reasonably similar should have linked the two together in historical accounts.  I'm honestly surprised that we don't have "the Louisville/St. Louis scandal" rather than "the Louisville scandal...and, oh yeah, something happened in St. Louis too and baseball in general had a problem with gambling and throwing games."  Not a really big deal but it's kind of interesting.  I think, in the end, I'm just a bit upset because the 1877 Brown Stockings were as corrupt as any team in the nation and have never received their due.    

The Next Game

The Chicago-St. Louis game to-day was characterized by the heaviest kind of batting both sides, Dorgan, Hines, Clapp, Spalding, and Peters leading.  It was a very exciting contest up to the seventh inning, when a very wild throw by Hines let in two runs, and gave St. Louis a lead which was retained to the end.  Blong started in to pitch, but Nichols relieved him in the second inning after Peters, Hines, and Spalding had made safe hits.  Nichols proved quite effective, Anson striking out twice.  The play of the visitors in the field was loose, passed balls resulting from wild pitching causing McVey and Anson to change places in the sixth inning.  Peters played a perfect game at short, but Spalding, Glenn, and Eden committed the costly errors which lost the game.  The St. Louisians gave a sorry exhibition of outfielding, all but Dorgan, but the infielders did better, Croft's display at first being the best seen here this season.

-Chicago Tribune, August 26, 1877

According to Jon David Cash, Brown Stockings' officials were tipped off about the events of the 24th by the actions of umpire L.W. Burtis, who acted as the middleman between the Chicago gamblers and the St. Louis players.  Cash writes that "The directors of the St. Louis club had cautioned Brown Stockings' captain Mike McGeary about the conspiracy.  In the next day's game, McGeary 'made a judicious change' when it appeared that one of the players 'attempted to duplicate his errors (of the previous day).'  By transferring the suspected player 'to a position where, as luck happened, he had little to do,' McGeary also alerted the other conspirator about the suspicions of the team's management. "  St. Louis won the August 25th game by a score of 12-8.

It's obvious that the player who was judiciously moved was Joe Blong.  St. Louis had jumped to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and Blong was removed in the second as he tried to give the lead back.  While Chicago scored four runs in their half of the second, the Tribune piece makes it sound as if the runs scored after Blong had been switched to center field.  While I don't have any more specific information about what transpired during the inning, we can say that, with a 3-0 lead, Blong gave up three hits before being removed from the mound and this contributed to Chicago scoring four runs.  

McGeary's role in all of this was brought up by the Chicago papers, largely because of the accusations made earlier by Devinney.  However, it seems rather clear that, once informed by management that something was up, McGeary kept a close eye on Blong and Battin and took steps in the August 25th game to make sure that the events of August 24 were not repeated.  It seems reasonable to suggest, based upon his actions of August 25, that McGeary was not part involved in the conspiracy to throw the games against Chicago. 

The Game In Question

Chicago snatched a victory out of the jaws of defeat in fine style here to-day.  A two-base hit by Clapp and a single by Croft gave St. Louis an earned run in the fourth inning.  In the fifth, after two hands were out, Clapp and Dorgan scored on errors by Anson and McVey and two hits, which were all the runs St. Louis could squeeze in.  In the sixth inning an overthrow by Force gave McVey second, and he tallied on Anson's two-base hit.  In the seventh Eggler earned first, and was sent home by Bradley with an earned run, with two men out.  Battin made a miserable muff of Eden's bounder, and Brad got in with the tieing run.  In the eighth inning, with two men out, Anson stole second on Battin's muff of Clapp's fine throw, which reached him in plenty of time to catch the striker, and Hines then brought in the winning run by a solid hit to left.  Clapp's catching, Peter's fielding, Dorgan's throwing, and Croft's first-base play were the features of the game.

-Chicago Daily, August 25, 1877

This is the game, played on August 24, 1877 in St. Louis, that Joe Blong and Joe Battin  were alleged to have thrown.  The Brown Stockings lost to Chicago that day by a score of 4-3 after having a three run lead through five innings. 

(William) Spink alleged that two Brown Stockings had conspired with Chicago gambler Mike McDonald to fix the St. Louis-Chicago game of August 24...it seems clear that (Spink) intended to target pitcher Joe Blong and third baseman Joe Battin as the dishonest Brown Stockings...Evaluating the player performances of August 24, Spink complained, "The game was lost, after it had been won, by Battin, who has been the weakest spot in the St. Louis nine all season.  In the early part of the contest, Blong pitched well, but towards the end went to pieces, his wild pitching and lack of headwork...proving very costly."

  -Before They Were Cardinals

In the game, Blong had three errors and Battin two.  Battin's drop on Anson's steal appears to be the glaring error that had everyone scratching their heads and, in retrospect, pointing fingers.  Force also was named in the scandal by the Chicago papers and his throwing error is probably the reason for that.   

How St. Louis Was Sold Out, Part Two

The nature of the proof against these men will be found below. It will probably be remembered that on August 24 the St. Louis and Chicago clubs played a game in this city, the home club being beaten by a score of 4 to 3. Two or three days previous a certain St. Louis sharp visited Chicago and was seen to spend a good deal of his time in Mike McDonald's company. He returned to St. Louis in time to witness the game referred to, and on the day on which it was played received a considerable sum of money from McDonald by means of telegraphic orders. These orders were received under an assumed name, but as the Telegraph Company refused to pay them, the address was changed by the sender in Chicago, and the money was paid over to the party referred to. On the same day this individual backed the Chicago club heavily to win and telegraphed McDonald, in substance, as follows: "Buy wheat. Smith is all right. Jones will assist." This game, as previously mentioned was won by Chicago and it was lost to St. Louis by two members of the Brown Stocking nine, who committed the errors which gave Chicago the game at precisely the right moment. To ascertain whether they were "Smith" and "Jones" was now the problem which the officers of the club determined to solve, and a detective was employed to work up the case. That night McDonald's agent and the two men who lost the game for St. Louis met in the back room of a saloon in the northwestern part of the city, held a long and secret interview, and money was seen to change hands. When the conference broke up, the middleman was heard to remark: "For God's sake, don't lose your nerve to-morrow." To still further strengthen the case against these men, it should be stated that on the same day, and before the game, one of them telegraphed to a friend in Philadelphia, "We'll go to Chicago, but don't know when," and as the St. Louis Club had, as was then supposed, paid its last visit to Chicago for the season, and the sender had no business to transact in that city, the idea naturally suggested itself that the word "Chicago" in the dispatch meant a good deal more to the recipient than it would have done to an outsider. The next day the dame clubs again met, and McDonald's miserable tool again telegraphed his employer to dabble in grain, although he was never known to handle anything except the implements of the gambling fraternity. On this occasion, however, the pool-sellers were neatly "whip-sawed," for the suspected men were closely watched, and the instant that one of them attempted to duplicate his errors of the previous day, Capt. McGeary made a judicious change, sending him to a position where, as luck happened, he had little to do, and the result justified the act, for St. Louis won and the gamblers "went broke."

In view of the above, was it not natural that the friends of the club gave up all hope of winning the championship? It must be remembered that the officers did not have sufficient proof to convict these men, nor could they cancel their contracts, and the only punishment in their power to inflict was to make them play on through the season. Otherwise they could have drawn their salary and enjoyed a term of idleness. A similar state of affairs existed in the Chicago and Louisville clubs, and the question has arisen how can these swindlers be driven from the fraternity. The managers of the League are at present busily engaged in devising a plan of action to be adopted at the annual meeting in December, and it is probable that about a dozen men will be "black-listed," and the League clubs will invite the co-operation of all other organizations in weeding these "crooks" out of the profession. It is also highly probable that the League will refuse to play any organization including among its employees any one whose name appears on the list of black sheep.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 1, 1877

One interesting question that arises from this article is how, specifically, did Spink know the content of telegrams sent between the conspirators? Spink came to St. Louis in 1855, at the age of fifteen, to take a job as a telegraph operator with Western Union and was a member of the Telegrapher's Union. Even after he began covering baseball for the St. Louis papers in the 1860's, Spink continued to work for Western Union. While it's unknown when specifically he began to work full time as a newspaper man, it can be assumed that in 1877 he still had numerous friends and contacts with Western Union. On has to assume that it was through these contacts that Spink was able to see the telegrams he quotes in the article.

One more point. Jon David Cash, in Before They Were Cardinals, mentions that the middleman, mentioned in the article as "a certain St. Louis sharp," was identified by the Chicago Tribune as National League umpire L.W. Burtis. Burtis never umpired another League game after the 1877 season.

How St. Louis Was Sold Out, Part One

The base ball season is virtually at an end, although it does not officially close until November 15, and a few remarks pertaining to the year and its work may not be out of place, especially as numerous rumors have been afloat for some time past to the effect that "crooked" dealing has been indulged in to a great extent. To those who keep thoroughly posted concerning the national game, it has been evident that several screws have been loose in at least three of the leading clubs of the country-the St. Louis, Louisville and Chicago. To this same class of persons it has also been evident that pool sellers and players, instead of club organizers and managers, are alone responsible for the dirty tricks which have been practiced. Ever since pool selling became an established institution of the land a small number of strictly first-class ball players have been suspected of co-operating with the gamblers and throwing games to suit the "box." They were merely suspected, however. So cunningly did they carry out their part in the various swindling schemes, that it was an utter impossibility to obtain sufficient proof on which to base a charge which would terminate in their expulsion from the fraternity. These men have been "marked" for years and will be readily recognized by the patrons of base ball, although no names are given. In the face of innumerable hints thrown out as to their character, the various club managers of the country seem to have thought that by giving them a chance to reform they might be induced to cut loose from the gambling fraternity and remove the odium which, by their conduct, had become attached to the base ball profession. As a result of this mistaken idea, when the season opened the names of one or more of these scoundrels appeared in each of the lists of players furnished by the Louisville, St. Louis, and Chicago clubs. For this reason Chicago dropped from the head to the tail of the League, Louisville did not win the championship, and St. Louis, after opening the season in magnificent style, closed it by pressing Chicago closely for last place. The root of the evil in the St. Louis club was not reached until the season was so far advanced that it was impossible to remedy it, and even then proof necessary to make out a case in a court of justice was not obtainable, although sufficient evidence of a conclusive nature had reached the officers of the St. Louis club to demonstrate that at least two of their men were playing into the hands of Mike McDonald, the notorious Chicago gambler, who carries out a system of pool-selling on an extensive scale.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 1, 1877

I'll post the rest of this long but fascinating article tomorrow.

William Spink, who wrote the article for the Globe, was being rather coy about naming names. However, we know that the two Brown Stocking players that Spink fails to name in the article are Joe Blong and Joe Battin. Davey Force and Mike McGeary would also find themselves accused of improprieties as the Louisville/St. Louis scandal blew up.

Spink, the sports editor of the Globe, did an outstanding job covering the scandal, writing a series of articles about gambling corruption in baseball. According to Jon David Cash, Spink was so disgusted by the scandal that he "temporarily ceased to promote the game and instead pursued an investigation into the negative effect of gambling."

Hisses Of Disappointment And Indignation

In the game between the Red Stockings, of St. Louis, and the Westerns, of this city, this afternoon, the former went off in a tangent, and brought the game unceremoniously to a close before it had fairly begun. In the last half of the second inning the Captain of the Reds excepted to a decision of the umpire that put one of their men out on third, and, without entering a formal protest or waiting for any offers of compromise, commenced to gather up the bats preparatory to leaving. A large crowd had assembled to witness the game, and, rather than have it stop, the Westerns proposed to have another umpire chosen, notwithstanding the game stood 4 to 2 in favor of the Reds, but the latter declined to accede to any terms of compromise, and took a hasty departure. The crowd of spectators unanimously sustained the action of the Westerns, and the Reds were followed off the grounds with hisses of disappointment and indignation. At least half of the Reds disapproved of the action of their captain, and it is stated that two of them threaten to withdraw from the nine. The umpire gave the game to the Westerns by a score of 9 to 0.

-Chicago Daily, August 21, 1874


It was always something with that Reds club. Less than a month previous to this game, Packy Dillon threw a fit and refused to catch anymore after Billy Redmon made a throwing error. On this particular road trip, Redmon was ill with "cholera morbus" and wasn't playing. After returning from the trip, Andy Blong (who was, I believe, the captain of the club), Joe Blong, and Dillon missed several games for unknown reasons.

This was a club that was supposed to win the Missouri championship and probably would have if they hadn't used an illegal player in a game against the Empires and eventually forced to forfeit the game. They were a divided club, full of cliques and prima donnas. The addition of Charlie Sweasy, an outsider, as field captain in 1875 could not have helped the situation. In light of all of this, the implosion of the club in late June/early July of 1875 is really not all that surprising.

An 1875 Season Preview: The Red Stockings of St. Louis

The Red Sox, as they are familiarly called, have not yet filled their nine.  They are the pick of last year's Empires and Red Stockings, and are "natives" with the exception of Charley Sweazy, the veteran second baseman of the Cincinnati Red Stockings and other clubs.

Sweazy arrived in (St. Louis) on Tuesday last and, I expect, will at once proceed to place the players in position and training, he having been engaged to Captain and steady them.  They have two pitchers-Morgan, medium paced, with legitimate delivery, and plenty of endurance and pluck, while J. Blong is change and centre fielder.  He is a good player in almost any position, and throws a very swift underhand ball.  Hously, from the Empire, will play first base, and in him they have an excellent player.  He is of the steady, sure, and quiet order.  Sweazy will of course play second, and if he only approaches to his old-time play will do better than many that other clubs boast of.  McSorley, a brilliant player at times, and Tommy Oran, also a fitful fielder, will fill the short-field and third-base positions. 

In the outfield, Joe Blong, Redmond, and Croft will look after the high flies, the former being also the change pitcher, while Redmond is change catcher, and Croft is an excellent first baseman and one of the most promising players in their corps.  Packey Dillon is the regular catcher, and there are very few better as long as he keeps his temper: the want of control in this respect is the only fault Pack's best friends find with him...

The Red Sox will have a neat gray cap, shirts, and pants, red hose, and name in letters of same color on the breast.

-Chicago Tribune, April 18, 1875 

The Principle Topic Of Conversation

(Mike) McGeary is the principal topic of conversation in base ball circles, at the present time, and the manner in which he has stirred up certain gentlemen is amusing in the extreme. At the time McGeary was engaged by the St. Louis Club there were only two newspapers in the country that saw fit to speak of the man as a "marked" player, and to maintain that the Browns had made a vital mistake in hiring him. The Globe-Democrat and the New York Clipper are the journals referred to, and the result was that bigoted partizans availed themselves of every opportunity to sling mud at Mr. Henry Chadwick, the base ball editor of the Clipper. Because that gentleman maintained that McGeary and Blong had been guilty of discreditable acts and should not have been employed, he was roundly abused by those who were willing to overlook the former records of the men in the hope that their playing skill would enable the St. Louis Club to win the championship. If McGeary is the traitor that the Brown Stocking manager, by his telegram, would lead the Public to believe, the officers of that club have learned the lesson which Chadwick maintained they would be taught before the end of the season. It is exceedingly lucky that this expose has occurred this early, thereby enabling changes to be made in the team, which later in the season might prevent the Browns gaining one of the first places in the championship race. If the charges against McGeary can be substantiated, the National game will profit greatly thereby. The League will doubtless see that he is punished, and punished severely that other players will be deterred from similar actions. A noticeable fact in connection with this affair is that the very men who could see nothing wrong in the engagement of the players with tarnished reputations are now howling like hyenas at the result of the game in Brooklyn on Saturday. "Such is life."

At noon yesterday the Directors of the St. Louis Club held a meeting and decided to sift the charges against McGeary thoroughly, and, if they are well founded, he will at once be expelled from the League. The action of Manager Graffen in suspending McGeary for the time being was also upheld, and that official was notified to that effect. It is very evident that the gentlemen connected with the club intend doing all in their power to suppress fraud of every description. The death of Miller and McGeary's suspension place the Browns in a very awkward predicament, as they are now without substitutes in the event of injury, illness or accident. For this reason it s more than likely that the nine players left will do their level best to show St. Louisans that they are worthy of the confidence reposed in them, and the team may possibly be strengthened, instead of weakened, by the club's misfortunes.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 30, 1876


Mike McGeary, like Joe Blong, seemed to have a nose for trouble. While I've written a bit about the charges that were leveled against him in 1877, I'm not that familiar with his troubles in 1876. I'll check around and see what I can find.