Are the cities of Worcester, MA, and Troy, NY still owed MLB Clubs?

[Williamsburg2599]

From Everything2.com (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1200331)


Interestingly enough, when the club folded, the city of Worcester (along with the city of Troy, whose rival Troy Trojans were also contracted) received a letter signed by all of the owners in the National League promising that, when the financial problems that had forced the contraction were resolved, that a new team would be placed in Worcester, Massachusetts. No major league baseball team has called Worcester home since then.
I've never seen this before, and I've read up on the Worcester baseball club of the late 1800's quite a bit. What would the MLB be like if Troy and Worcester kept their clubs after the 1870s? How long would they of lasted? Also, and maybe more interesting, would this promise still have legal merit today?

[Johnny Evers]

Pretty interesting.

When was the letter signed? It seems likely to me that this letter came from the pre-1876 National League, which dissolved a few years after it was created. The National League that we have come to know was founded in 1876, following a couple failed attempts at putting the league together. So it seems probable that the promise came from one of the other leagues.

EDIT: I just read the article and noticed that the league was in fact the actual National League. The Brown Stockings existed from 1880-1882. Is it possible that the signing of the 1903 National Agreement mooted this promise?

[Williamsburg2599]

Pretty interesting.

When was the letter signed? It seems likely to me that this letter came from the pre-1876 National League, which dissolved a few years after it was created. The National League that we have come to know was founded in 1876, following a couple failed attempts at putting the league together. So it seems probable that the promise came from one of the other leagues.

EDIT: I just read the article and noticed that the league was in fact the actual National League. The Brown Stockings existed from 1880-1882. Is it possible that the signing of the 1903 National Agreement mooted this promise?
I suppose this part of the National Agreement could make the promise moot:

Section 1. The circuits of each major league shall consist of the following cities: National League--Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati. American League--Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis. Neither major league circuit shad be changed without the consent of the majority of the clubs of each major league. It is further provided that there shall be no consolidation in any city where two major league clubs exist; nor shall any club transfer or release its players for the purpose of injuring or weakening the league of which it is a member; provided, however, that the circuit of either major league may be changed by transferring either of the above-mentioned franchises to some other city on consent of the majority of the clubs of each major league. Provided, further, that if either of the major leagues in changing their circuits shall choose a city in which a club of the National Association is located, such major league shall then be required to pay to the league in the National Association of which such city may be a member the sum of $2,500. Provided, further, thaten when a major league shall change its circuit and choose a city in which a club of the National Association is located, such club shall be compensated for any assets that they may have by the club desiring to locate in such city; and upon failure to agree upon such compensation, the matter shall be determined by arbitration, the arbitration committee to consist of three members, one of whom shall be the President of the National Commission, one a member of the major league. desiring to locate in such city, and the third a member of the National Association. The finding of a majority of said committee to be final.
I suppose the underlined statement could void the contract signed after the Troy and Worcester clubs collapsed, any lawyers in the house?

[sandlot]

I suppose this part of the National Agreement could make the promise moot:... I suppose the underlined statement could void the contract signed after the Troy and Worcester clubs collapsed, any lawyers in the house?The first sentence is explicit as to what cities comprise the league and that's really the operative point. If a city was not included in that list, it was not part of the league. The second sentence is in effect confirmatory as it addresses the issues of contraction and expansion, making it clear that no city could be cut or added in future without agreement of the respective majority. Thus the list was locked in. Why Worcester and Troy did not make the list is another matter. As things turned out historically, it's hard to imagine either city having a major league team. Troy's peak was in the late 19th-early 20th Century when it was known as "The Collar City," but unfortunately it became a classic example of technological change creating a boom-bust. When shirts with collars sewn on replaced shirts with detachable collars, Troy's collar industry collapsed and took much of the local economy with it. I recall driving through Troy and looking at all the old, hollow-eyed brick mills. It was quite depressing. Nearby Albany has greatly improved in the years since and I hope that Troy has as well.

[Williamsburg2599]

The first sentence is explicit as to what cities comprise the league and that's really the operative point. If a city was not included in that list, it was not part of the league. The second sentence is in effect confirmatory as it addresses the issues of contraction and expansion, making it clear that no city could be cut or added in future without agreement of the respective majority. Thus the list was locked in. Why Worcester and Troy did not make the list is another matter. As things turned out historically, it's hard to imagine either city having a major league team. Troy's peak was in the late 19th-early 20th Century when it was known as "The Collar City," but unfortunately it became a classic example of technological change creating a boom-bust. When shirts with collars sewn on replaced shirts with detachable collars, Troy's collar industry collapsed and took much of the local economy with it. I recall driving through Troy and looking at all the old, hollow-eyed brick mills. It was quite depressing. Nearby Albany has greatly improved in the years since and I hope that Troy has as well.
But is it possible that the NL still had a legal obligation to put a team in Worcester and Troy, regardless of what the National Agreement said? As for Troy, Worcester is in a way similar to Troy, although it has boomed in the last decade or so do to new technology jobs. Its population is around 200,000, probably not big enough to hold a ML team today, although it has plenty of colleges in the area that could increase the fan base. Currently there's a Cam-am team and an AHL team there. Personally, I think it could hold anywhere from a AA to a AAA team today.

[sandlot]

But is it possible that the NL still had a legal obligation to put a team in Worcester and Troy, regardless of what the National Agreement said? As for Troy, Worcester is in a way similar to Troy, although it has boomed in the last decade or so do to new technology jobs. Its population is around 200,000, probably not big enough to hold a ML team today, although it has plenty of colleges in the area that could increase the fan base. Currently there's a Cam-am team and an AHL team there. Personally, I think it could hold anywhere from a AA to a AAA team today.I can't speak for them, but suspect the lawyers would probably say that it would have depended, among other things, on the laws in force at the time in the relevant juisdiction(s); if the deal had any time limitations or exit clauses; reasonable expectations; whether one or another party could not meet any fiduciary, legal, infrastructure or other contractual requirements; whether an offer of a team was in fact made but not accepted, or perhaps not taken up in a timely fashion, etc., etc. In short, it would turn on the law and on the facts. The law could be researched, but determining the facts might be harder. But if a city felt at the time that a contractual obligation was owing and not being honored, and if it wished to have that obligation enforced, then it certainly could have gone to court to seek relief. On the other hand, if Troy and/or Worcester did not object when the list of teams came out and saw that they weren't on it, then I should think that any of further discussion of whether they were "owed" a team would be moot. This would be a fun case to research and take to a history court, but I think that's about as far as it would get today. I agree that the Worcester area could support a minor league team, but Rhode Island is close enough to cause possible problems for the Red Sox affiliate there, Springfield could support a team if it doesn't already have one, and Pittsfield, a couple of hours away, had a team the last I heard. I don't know if there's a club in Hartford, but it seems likely and that's not far away.

[Johnny Evers]

Thanks for the thoughts, sandlot.


I agree that the Worcester area could support a minor league team, but Rhode Island is close enough to cause possible problems for the Red Sox affiliate there, Springfield could support a team if it doesn't already have one, and Pittsfield, a couple of hours away, had a team the last I heard. I don't know if there's a club in Hartford, but it seems likely and that's not far away.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Toronto's AA team, plays in Manchester NH, not far from the Red Sox's Portland Sea Dogs. So proximity probably wouldn't be an issue.

But then again, Worcester is a lot closer to the southern New England teams than Manchester and Portland, and the fact that Lowell has a team just adds to the congestion factor. Giving a minor league team to Worcester just doesn't seem like a great idea.

[Captain Cold Nose]

He really doesn't post here anymore, but Imapotato is from Troy, NY and has very strong feelings on the subject. It's a shame he missed this thread.