OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Completely Fictional History of Baseball

legendsport · 10-27-2007, 08:42 PM

Late October, 1885:

For Mark Madsen, premier pitcher for the Providence club, the writing wasn't on the wall - it was in the contracts. With the season just ended and the future of the Providence club in doubt, Madsen and his team mates were in limbo, their futures uncertain. Rumors abounded that not only Providence, but also Buffalo would not compete in the National League's 1886 season. Common-sense would indicate that this would mean that Madsen and his mates could pick and choose where they'd play in '86, but that wasn't the case. Because of the reserve clause.

Madsen knew that whichever of the other League clubs purchased the "rights" to the Providence (and Buffalo) players would automatically control those players' futures. Clearly this was unfair, and it was obvious that only be banding together could the players stand against the wealthy magnates of the National League and American Association.

So Madsen arranged a meeting in New York City with eight of his team mates - the entire starting lineup for the 1885 Grays: catcher Alexander Davie, infielders Walter Malone, Walt Bond, Greg Galloway, and Ed Chappell, and outfielders Bill Dove, Jack Stanley and Walter Cleveland. Madsen's pitching-mate Lowell Mulville had been invited, but declined to attend.

Madsen wasted no time in making his proposal: a Brotherhood of Base Ball Players - a fraternity of the professional ball players, an organization to deal with any grievances the players might have with the clubs. It was a novel idea based on a simple idea: that because the public paid to see them play, and cared not for the owners in their offices, and that because the revenue generated by the games came from the sweat of their brows, that they should have not only more say in their own careers, but also that they should be able to reap greater financial rewards.

The nine men present signed the agreement, creating the New York Chapter of the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players, an organization that would remain a secret - for now.

10-27-2007, 08:42 PM	#213 (permalink)
legendsport Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Behind The Lens Posts: 2,158 Thanks: 3 Thanked 8x in 8 posts	Vignette: Birth of the Brotherhood Late October, 1885: For Mark Madsen, premier pitcher for the Providence club, the writing wasn't on the wall - it was in the contracts. With the season just ended and the future of the Providence club in doubt, Madsen and his team mates were in limbo, their futures uncertain. Rumors abounded that not only Providence, but also Buffalo would not compete in the National League's 1886 season. Common-sense would indicate that this would mean that Madsen and his mates could pick and choose where they'd play in '86, but that wasn't the case. Because of the reserve clause. Madsen knew that whichever of the other League clubs purchased the "rights" to the Providence (and Buffalo) players would automatically control those players' futures. Clearly this was unfair, and it was obvious that only be banding together could the players stand against the wealthy magnates of the National League and American Association. So Madsen arranged a meeting in New York City with eight of his team mates - the entire starting lineup for the 1885 Grays: catcher Alexander Davie, infielders Walter Malone, Walt Bond, Greg Galloway, and Ed Chappell, and outfielders Bill Dove, Jack Stanley and Walter Cleveland. Madsen's pitching-mate Lowell Mulville had been invited, but declined to attend. Madsen wasted no time in making his proposal: a Brotherhood of Base Ball Players - a fraternity of the professional ball players, an organization to deal with any grievances the players might have with the clubs. It was a novel idea based on a simple idea: that because the public paid to see them play, and cared not for the owners in their offices, and that because the revenue generated by the games came from the sweat of their brows, that they should have not only more say in their own careers, but also that they should be able to reap greater financial rewards. The nine men present signed the agreement, creating the New York Chapter of the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players, an organization that would remain a secret - for now. __________________ The Baseball Chronicle - Swinging thru History! The Football Chronicle - Hitting Hard Historically (PFS - 1962) Alternate Universe Football (FOF - 1994)