Archive for June, 2010

Pittsburgh Courier 3/27/1943

Sorry for the lack of clarity of the print.

Pittsburgh Courier 4/24/1943

First Known Triple Steal in Major League Baseball History

Cubs versus Giants, September 14, 1900

• Pitcher: Ned Garvin, Chicago
• Batter: Pink Hawley, NY
• Runner on Third: Jack Doyle, NY
• Runner on Second: George Davis, NY
• Runner on First: Mike Grady, NY

Most newspapers just picked up the fact that Doyle stole home.

Washington Post 9/15/1900

The Sporting Life on 9/22/1900 gave a better description of the play.

Was there a triple steal in the 19th century? If so, maybe someone will stumble upon it in the future.

Pittsburgh Courier 3/21/1942

Can’t locate corresponding article in a major white paper.

First known triple play in baseball history

The first known triple play took place in the first game of the season in 1859. New rules refused to give runners grace to return to their bags after a fly ball was caught. The Wyandank players may not have been aware of the nuance.

Brooklyn Eagle 4/18/1859

Note the passage:

Washington Post 6/29/1908

Boston Globe 6/7/1886

A Shortened Season, Shortened Paychecks, Speaking Up and Being Shipped Out 

Trying to recover lost wages

At the behest of the War Department, the 1918 baseball season ended on September 2, a month ahead of schedule. Management immediately discontinued paychecks; though, technically all major league contracts ran through mid-October. 

To get around this, major league clubs (with a delay by the Red Sox and Cubs, the pennant winners) gave all their players ten days’ notice of release in late August. This is the typical release that would permit an individual to declare himself a free agent; unfortunately, the magnates came to a gentleman’s agreement not to tamper with another’s roster. 

Through September 2, Brooklyn captain and first baseman Jake Daubert was paid $6,850. He had signed a 5-year contract prior to the 1914 calling for $9,000 a year. He felt he was still owed $2,150 from his club. Most major league players had a similar feeling. 

Daubert took his case to the National Commission, the game’s ruling body. On October 5, the commission naturally ruled in favor of the Dodgers, stating that the government forced the premature ending of the season as a result of the “work or fight” rule. 

Yankees captain Roger Peckinpaugh petitioned the National Commission on the same issue and was denied on November 6. The ruling effectively eliminated any administrative relief of the issue faced by Daubert and several others. 

Undeterred, Daubert filed a lawsuit on November 20 in New York seeking the five weeks lost pay. The crux of his case stated that MLB was not forced to close shop on September 2; they just chose to do so. The “work or fight” rule did not encompass all professional ballplayers, therefore, the season could have continued. Daubert, like many others, was not bound by the “work or fight” rule. 

Brooklyn president Charles Ebbets felt betrayed by Daubert’s action. He started seeking a trade for his captain. Daubert was shopped to the Giants and Braves but eventually landed with Cincinnati as Hal Chase’s replacement on February 1, 1919. 

In order to consummate the deal with Cincinnati, officials talked Daubert into dropping his suit (which was due to be heard in court on February 27) against Brooklyn. He did so with the understanding that a settlement would later be reached. 

It was settled on March 3 for $1,500. Daubert had to file another suit against Ebbets in August for the final payment of $500 (of the $1,500) that was never remitted. 

With a similar argument, Senators’ outfielder Burt Shotton filed a lawsuit against his club for $1,194.44, the sum he was shorted from his $5,000-contract. Shotton had originally signed a 3-year contract with the Browns before the 1916 season and asserted that Washington was liable for the contract terms. 

Surprise, the valuable Shotton was soon shipped out of D.C, released on waivers. No American League club claimed him. He landed with the Cardinals on February 1, 1919. Within a year, Shotton was considered to be manager Branch Rickey’s replacement. However, Rickey stayed and Shotton was named team captain. 

Louisville (of the American Association) manager Bill Clymer filed another lawsuit along the same lines on July 18, 1919. He claimed he was still owed $1,955.54 of his $4,500-salary. By that time however, Clymer was managing the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. 

On January 21, 1920 former Phillies’ scout Bill Doyle was awarded $850 for his lost wages at the end of the 1918 season. By this time, Doyle was working for Milwaukee. The $ 850 was to be lessened the amount of money he made while working for a munitions firm during the period in question.