Our Long National Nightmare Is Over

The sensational deal by which Bob Caruthers was transferred from the Browns to Brooklyn was completed yesterday when Caruthers placed his name to a Brooklyn contract for 1888. Joe Pritchard, as stated in yesterday's Globe-Democrat, left Monday night for Chicago and signed the Parisian twirler in his home yesterday. The following telegram received last night explains itself:

Signed Caruthers for Brooklyn to-day. Leave for Milwaukee to-night.

Joe Pritchard.

Just what Pritchard went to Milwaukee for it is not known, but he is probably after another player for Mr. Byrnes. The conditions of Caruthers' contract are $5000, with $1000 in advance. It is also stated in the contract that, in the event of Bob laying off for sickness or injury, he is not to be docked. Bob likes to take a rest each summer but does not like for his salary to be stopped while he is enjoying the peace and quiet of home life.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 14, 1888

And with that, we're finished with the Browns' player sales of 1887. All the players have been sold, all the players have been signed, Von der Ahe is off to Europe and the Browns are still in California playing an occasional game. I'll have some kind of a wrap up tomorrow and then it's one to other things.

The Influence Of A Mother

Joe Pritchard's face wore a happy smile yesterday afternoon, but when night came the smile had vanished and a look of deep and lasting sorrow succeeded it. Joe has manipulated the deal for the transfer of Caruthers to Brooklyn, and thought he saw an end to his labor. He has worked hard and incessantly, and still Caruthers remains unsigned and is likely to remain so for some time to come. As announced exclusively in Friday's Globe-Democrat Caruthers was sold to the Brooklyns, and the only obstacle in the way of his signing was a difference of $500 in the salary question. This difficulty was removed yesterday. A telegram was brought to Joe Pritchard yesterday afternoon from Byrne of Brooklyn, stating that he would pay Caruthers the $500 demanded, making the pitcher's salary $5000. Upon receipt of the telegram Pritchard hastened to the Laclede Hotel, where he found a notice from the American Express Company announcing that it held the $1000 advance ready to hand over to Caruthers. Joe, thinking the deal settled, hunted up Caruthers, and the pair, accompanied by a Globe-Democrat reporter, repaired to the writing-room, where Joe asked Caruthers to sign for $4500. This Bob refused to do, then Joe with a smile of triumph, placed a contract for $5000 under Bob's nose, and asked him to sign it. Caruthers refused again until he could wire home and obtain the consent of his family. After sending there, the pair repaired to the Olympic Theater, to pass the time until an answer came to the message. After the theater the interested parties hastened back to the Laclede, where Caruthers received the replies to three telegrams. The first was from his mother, reading:

Do not sign under any circumstances. Come home at once.

The second was from his brother, saying:

Take mother's advice; do not sign.

The third one he refused to show. But the first two had done their work. After reading them Caruthers turned to Pritchard with the remark: "Well, Joe, I can not sign now. I leave for home to-morrow night. I am satisfied with my salary and all that, but will not go against my mother's wish. I may never play ball again."

Pritchard was sorely put out at this division, as he has obtained everything Caruthers demanded, and thought he held the pitcher safe. Caruthers positively leaves for home to-night. He is outspoken in his preference to play in Cincinnati, but says he would sign in Brooklyn if he could obtain the consent of his family. The Cincinnati offer to Caruthers is regarded in the light of an advertising dodge. A Cleveland paper, speaking of the matter, says: Around this neck of the woods the suspicion lurks that the $15,000 offer was in the nature of a catch-the-public bluff. Caruthers is worth no such money. Nor is any other player. And the Cincinnati management, generally astute and careful, never offered such a sum in good faith. It is a good thing for the Association that Caruthers didn't go to Cincinnati. What is needed is an equalization of strength.

Thus the matter stands. If Caruthers goes home the influence of a mother may win him from his passion. He loves to play ball, however, and he loves the money to be made at it, and it will take wonderful persuasion to keep him off the diamond.

Information was received yesterday that Bushong had signed with Brooklyn and Welch with the Athletics. This completes these deals. Gleason will probably sign in a few days.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 29, 1887

As It Has For Many Afternoons Past

The usual daily interview, whispered and long drawn out, between Joe Pritchard, the St. Louis representative of the Brooklyn club, and Bob Caruthers, took place yesterday afternoon, as it has for many afternoons past, at the Laclede Hotel. The star pitcher was a little late in showing up, and Pritchard paced up and down the rotunda for a couple of hours waiting for him. When Bobby finally arrived the enterprising agent rushed him over to a secluded place and repeated his oft-told story about Byrne's generosity and the beauties of the City of Churches. Caruthers was not a very willing listener apparently, for he made several attempts to get away during Pritchard's recital of facts and fancies which to Bob have a very chestnuty oder. The great pitcher's intentions were not changed by the Brooklyn representative's eloquent appeals, and he emphatically refused to consider any of his propositions. To a reporter of the Globe-Democrat, Caruthers said that he would not go to Brooklyn under any circumstances. He wanted to play next season in Cincinnati, and was satisfied with the offer made him from that city. He said that if he couldn't play there he would remain in St. Louis rather than join the Brooklyns. He denounced Von der Ahe's methods in trying to dictate what club he should play with, and what salary he should receive in bitter and emphatic terms. The deal, therefore, is about as far from being consummated as it was a week ago. Mr. Von der Ahe says Caruthers goes to Brooklyn and the pitcher says not.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 28, 1887

He Is Now Trying To Obtain All He Can

The Caruthers deal still hangs fire. Joe Pritchard has done everything in his power to sign the pitcher, but in vain. Caruthers says that he will not sign unless given the $500 bonus he demands. In this he makes a mistake. Byrne offers him $4500, with $1000 advance, which is more than he is worth, and he should appreciate this fact and sign. Mr. Byrne did not arrive in the city yesterday as expected. Joe Pritchard received word from Brooklyn that the team would not pay Caruthers the $500 he demands, and thus the matter stands. The whole deal may be closed to-day by Caruthers signing, but this is not certain. The outcome of the matter will be that Caruthers will sign, but he is now trying to obtain all he can out of Brooklyn.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 27, 1887

The Caruthers Deal Hangs Fire

The Caruthers deal hangs fire, and will probably be settled definitely this morning. Late last night it was learned that Charley Byrne, the Brooklyn manager, would be in town to-day, when he will take the matter in his own hands. Joe Pritchard made another attempt to sign the great twirler yesterday. The conversation ran in this way:

"Well, Bob, are you ready to sign?"

"Yes, are you ready with the money?"

"I will give you $4500, with $1500 advance."

"No. Give me $4500 salary, with a bonus of $500 and $1000 advance, and my name will go to your contract."

"No, I can't do that."

"All right; then I don't sign."

This conversation took place in Schaefer's Billiard Parlor, and after Bob had spoken he took up a cue and commenced to play billiards. Pritchard seeing the matter was hopeless, went away to wait for further advices from Brooklyn. Gus Schmelz left for home last night. He saw that there was no chance to sign Caruthers, and gave up the chase. If Byrne arrives to-day Caruthers will sign before night.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 26, 1887

Caruthers Sold To Brooklyn

Before this evening's sun disappears Bod Caruthers, the best ball player in the Brown Stocking team, will have signed with Brooklyn for next season. Mr. Von der Ahe had up to the time of his departure for the East resolved to keep Caruthers on his team for next year, but he could not withstand Charley Byrne's big offer, and St. Louis loses the twirler. The amount paid for his release is $9000, and Caruthers will receive $5000. It is $500 of this amount which delayed the deal yesterday, otherwise Caruthers would have been signed last night. He asks Byrne for $4500 salary and $500 for his consent to the transfer. Byrne is willing to pay the amount asked for salary, but objects to the $500 for the transfer, and this is what is delaying the deal. Joe Pritchard, who has been representing the Brooklyn people here, has kept a watchful eye on Caruthers, to see that he was not approached by any other manager. The genial Sporting Life correspondent was dumbfounded yesterday when Gus Schmelz, the manager of the Cincinnati club, dropped into the Laclede Hotel. Joe and Gus are fast friends, but this was a matter of business, and Joe kept a watchful eye on Schmelz. Gus made no secret of the matter that he had come for Caruthers, and took Bob aside to have a long talk with him. The twirler admitted that he would just as soon sign with Cincinnati as with Brooklyn, that it was the stuff he was after, and if given his price, viz., $5000, he would sign with anybody. As a result, a message flashed over the wire to Mr. Von der Ahe in New York, asking him to put a price on Caruthers, stating that Cincinnati would pay almost any price for the great pitcher. Gus waited long and patiently for the answer, which never came. Up to midnight no reply had been received. It is not probable that Von der Ahe will release Caruthers to Cincinnati anyhow. The Porkopolitans are very strong now for the Browns' very much weakened team, and would have a walkover next season if given Caruthers to alternate with Smith and Mullane. Von der Ahe understands this, and while he is willing to make all he can out of the deal, he does not wish to see his once champion club made a show of next season. As soon as Pritchard saw Schmelz he took Caruthers in tow, and Gus had but little chance to speak to him. After supper Joe sent Caruthers over to Schaefer's billiard parlor to play billiards all evening, while he invited Gus to go to the theater with him. Seeing that he could do nothing, Gus consented, and the pair were together all evening. At 11 o'clock last night the scene was shifted to the Laclede again, where Caruthers, Pritchard, Schmelz and a Globe-Democrat reporter formed a group. Pritchard was very anxiously awaiting an answer to telegrams sent to Byrne. As soon as Pritchard found that Schmelz was in town he sent telegrams to Byrne telling him that the scent was getting very hot, to hurry and close the bargain. In reply he received a telegram stating that as far as he and Von der Ahe were concerned, Caruthers was all right, and to sigh the pitcher. Pritchard put a contract for $4500 under Bob's nose, but the latter said, "No; not without the $500." Not having authority to sign Bob at these figures, he wired Byrne the facts in the case. The latter no doubt had gone out with Von der Ahe, secure and happy in the belief that Caruthers was a Brooklyn player, and not returning until late, did not receive the telegram. At any rate, no reply had been received up to an early hour this morning. There is no doubt, however, that the deal will be perfected, as Byrne will not let a paltry $500 stand in his way after expending $13,500. A favorable reply will be received this morning, and before night Caruthers will be a Brooklyn player. This move will be regretted by Caruther's thousands of admirers in this city. He was a very popular player, and will be a tower of strength to the team from the City of Churches.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 25, 1887

The machinations surrounding the Caruthers sale are fascinating and read a bit like something out of a Cold War spy novel.

One of the things that I don't understand is how all of this came to be explained as a function of Von der Ahe's stupidity and greed. The usual explanation for the sale that you hear is that Von der Ahe broke up his championship club and sold off his players for the money. Money played a part in this but, I believe, only to the extent that this was how player transactions took place during the era. Teams were paid to release a player, who then signed with the club that paid for his release. But this wasn't really about money; this wasn't really a fire sale. Von der Ahe didn't have to make any of these moves. They were strategic moves rather than financial moves. And I would have to imagine that later descriptions of the sales as being motivated by greed and financial necessity was a result of Von der Ahe's deteriorating relationship with the press in the 1890s as well as a projection of the impact of Von der Ahe's financial troubles and poor management decisions during that period onto his past actions. The idea of Von der Ahe selling off his best players for the money and destroying his championship team became part of the mythology surrounding Von der Ahe. It became part of the caricature of Von der Ahe that continues to be presented and accepted today regardless of historical fact.

I'll get into all of that when I try to wrap this up. But we still need to finalize the Caruthers deal, look at the fallout and get Foutz sold to Brooklyn.

Joe Pritchard

I found the above image of Joe Pritchard in the December 22, 1887 issue of The Sporting News. Pritchard was identified as "the well-known baseball writer of St. Louis." I had never heard of Pritchard, couldn't find much information on him, and even those with much more knowledge about 19th century sports writers than I hadn't heard of him. I was at a dead end with it and just filed the pic away.

Then I finally stumbled across a reference to Pritchard in the February 5, 1890 issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune. "Pritchard," the article stated, "has for several years been the St. Louis correspondent of Sporting Life, and will be remembered as the individual who negotiated the transfer of Bobby Caruthers from St. Louis to Brooklyn." It also identified Pritchard as the President of the Inter-State League.