Deasley Out; Robinson In

A dispatch was yesterday received from President Von der Ahe, of the St. Louis Club, stating that he had released Tom Deasley, so that it may reasonably be surmised that the latter will go with the New York League Club next season.  Walter Latham expressed his willingness to catch if Deasley were released, and in that case the natty little third base-man will resume his old position as back-stop.  At Boston Mr. Von der Ahe engaged W.H. Robinson, who attracted so much attention last season while with the Baltimore Unions.  He will catch and alternate with Latham at third.  Krehmeyer will probably assist behind the bat, and another experienced catcher will be secured; also a noted infielder, who is a terrific batsman.  The Browns will go into the field better generally in shape than they ever were before, and will have certain positions capably filled for the first time.  At the same time the bad, unreliable and insubordinate element has been gotten rid of, and the team will be one of the best behaved and best disciplined in the base-ball arena.

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


That last sentence was a shot at Deasley. 

And Here's The Suspension

At a meeting of the Directors of the St. Louis Base Ball Club last evening Messrs. Von der Ahe, Walker, Williams and Reid were present.  It was decided to suspend Fred Lewis for the season of 1884, which disbars him from playing with any club under the tripartite agreement.  Jim O'Neill claims that he had no connection with the trouble on Tuesday night, and that the reports regarding him were unfounded.  Tom Deasley was also fined heavily for insubordination and enthusiasm.  Mr. Von der Ahe gave the other men a quiet sensible talk and desired them to do their best and work in harmony and keep up their present good record.

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


This is so good that I'm going to have to go with the bullet points to cover it all quickly:

-Well, of course, Lewis gets suspended.  You can't get all drunk and tear up a whorehouse and not expect to get suspended.

-I imagine Tip O'Neill standing with his hands up and saying "It wasn't me."

-Was Tom Deasley involved in all of this or was his fine a separate incident.  And how does one get fined for "enthusiasm"?  Have to assume they meant a lack of enthusiasm, or a general piss-poor attitude.

-I laughed out loud when I read that VdA gave the players "a quiet sensible talk."  Compare this treatment of VdA with the coverage from the 1890s.  If this was being reported in 1895, we'd get a made up quote from VdA's speech.  Something along the lines of "Now boys youse canks goes to de horse's house und mistreats de horse.  Dats bad far de horse's bisniss und de baseball bissniss."  

Deasley's Punishment

Tom Deasley, catcher for the St. Louis Base Ball Team, stood trial in the Police Court this morning upon the charge of assaulting Miss Anna Kerr, while on a tear Tuesday night.  He had previously been fined $10 and costs for drunkenness, and the evidence in the case led the Mayor to impose an additional penalty of $10 and costs for the assault.  Deasley will have cause to remember his visit to Indianapolis. 

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

Tom Deasley Has A Way With The Ladies

Tom Deasley, the catcher of the St. Louis Ball Club, made a very bad break [in Indianapolis] to-day, as a result of which he was arrested and taken to the Station house.  In going towards Bates House he met two ladies, when he accosted, and grasped one by arm; they ran hurriedly away and took refuge in a millinery store, where he followed them.  He was arrested, as stated, for drunkenness and insulting ladies.  Manager Williams put up bail for his appearance in court to-morrow.  

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

A Nice Little Von Der Ahe Story

A St. Louis paper gives out the following as gospel truth: "When Tom Deasley worked for Chris, he got full one day, and Chris said to him 'Tom, you're drunk.' 'I know I am,' said Tom, 'but it's your beer, Chris.'" It was, perhaps, a good thing that Chris disposed of his saloon before the present season, and it would be a better thing if he should set his men a personal example.

-Sporting Life, October 21, 1885

I actually find this story rather amusing. It's different than a lot of the Von der Ahe stories in that it's ironic rather than mocking. But the most important thing here is the information that Von der Ahe had sold his saloon before the 1885 season. That's news to me.