sorry if some of this is out of context but it was from another thread:
boston was actually one of the last cities secured for the american league season in 1901 - it wasn't officially announced as such until 1/23/1901 - the al played in chicago in 1900 when it was still a minor league - there was a lot that happened in between
when exactly the war (or whatever you want to call it) started is a matter of perspective i guess but i would say it started at some point in 1900 though johnson never officially declared the al a major league until 1/29/1901 while handing out the official schedule and formally adopting many union provisions and their universal player contract
even though johnson had declined to re-sign the national agreement in january 1900, the al did not tamper with any nl contract (that we know of) until 1901
throughout this time the union was also organizing - but were repeatedly denied and audience with the owners until 12/12/1900 - but the owners were really just humoring the players - they had no intention of granting them anything - that night frank selee of the boston braves fired off a telegram to dick padden (comiskey's second baseman) offering him a spot on the braves
the next day the nl owners officially rejected all demands and set out to destroy the union and bend the players - they cut roster sizes and decreased the salary ceiling from $2400 to $2000 - they also took measures to destroy the al - enticing lousiville away from the al and offering ballparks and financial backing to a contingent trying to revive the old american association
though:
1) some pirates broke with the union and signed with barney dreyfuss
2) the union leader came to terms with the nl on 2/27/1901
it was too late - the al was in full charge - the union vp was signing as many men for the al as possible - he eventually gained official permission for union men to sign with al teams from the union's legal representative on 2/28/1901
i don't think the climax of the battle was mcgraw's insurrection - to me the climax is that the al withstood mcgraw's treason and prospered by placing the baltimore club in new york
boston was actually one of the last cities secured for the american league season in 1901 - it wasn't officially announced as such until 1/23/1901 - the al played in chicago in 1900 when it was still a minor league - there was a lot that happened in between
when exactly the war (or whatever you want to call it) started is a matter of perspective i guess but i would say it started at some point in 1900 though johnson never officially declared the al a major league until 1/29/1901 while handing out the official schedule and formally adopting many union provisions and their universal player contract
even though johnson had declined to re-sign the national agreement in january 1900, the al did not tamper with any nl contract (that we know of) until 1901
throughout this time the union was also organizing - but were repeatedly denied and audience with the owners until 12/12/1900 - but the owners were really just humoring the players - they had no intention of granting them anything - that night frank selee of the boston braves fired off a telegram to dick padden (comiskey's second baseman) offering him a spot on the braves
the next day the nl owners officially rejected all demands and set out to destroy the union and bend the players - they cut roster sizes and decreased the salary ceiling from $2400 to $2000 - they also took measures to destroy the al - enticing lousiville away from the al and offering ballparks and financial backing to a contingent trying to revive the old american association
though:
1) some pirates broke with the union and signed with barney dreyfuss
2) the union leader came to terms with the nl on 2/27/1901
it was too late - the al was in full charge - the union vp was signing as many men for the al as possible - he eventually gained official permission for union men to sign with al teams from the union's legal representative on 2/28/1901
i don't think the climax of the battle was mcgraw's insurrection - to me the climax is that the al withstood mcgraw's treason and prospered by placing the baltimore club in new york
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