The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs: The History of an Outlaw Major League, 1914-1915The last independent major league ended its brief run in 1915, after only two seasons at the national pastime’s top level. But no competitor to establishment baseball ever exerted so much influence on its rival, with some of the most recognizable elements of the game today—including the commissioner system, competition for free agents, baseball’s antitrust exemption, and even the beloved Wrigley Field—traceable to the so-called outlaw organization known as the Federal League of Base Ball Clubs. This comprehensive history covers the league from its formation in 1913 through its buyout, dissolution, and legal battles with the National and American leagues. The day-to-day operation of the franchises, the pennant races and outstanding players, the two-year competitive battle for fans and players, and the short- and long-term impact on the game are covered in detail. |
Contents
Preface | 1 |
Introduction | 3 |
Federal League Beginnings | 9 |
A Challenge to Organized Baseball | 21 |
Lucky Charley | 28 |
A Fifty Per Cent Raise Looked Too Good to Turn Down | 35 |
The Baseball Players Fraternity | 45 |
The Federal League Survives a Crisis | 51 |
An Embarrassing Situation | 186 |
Opening Day 2 | 193 |
Benny Kauff Goes Astray | 201 |
Rebels Resurgent | 207 |
The Top Whale Goes Down | 214 |
Buffalos Got the Blues | 218 |
This Season You Are Playing for Me | 222 |
The Colonial League | 228 |
Ad Brennan and Tom Seaton | 58 |
The World Tourists | 62 |
Opening Day | 66 |
The Nerviest Proposition I Ever Saw | 72 |
Three Finger Brown | 78 |
Weeghmans Edifice of Beauty | 84 |
The Emery Ball Specialist | 93 |
The Terrapins Set the Pace | 99 |
Rowdyism and Umpire Woes | 105 |
Washington Park | 110 |
Pittsburghs Rebels | 117 |
I Will Pitch for the One That Gives Me the Most Money | 123 |
Prince Hal | 128 |
Ty Cobb of the Feds | 135 |
Tinkers Invalids | 142 |
Fielder Jones | 147 |
The Stretch Run | 152 |
A Gloomy State of Affairs | 160 |
The Big Train Almost Becomes the Federal Express | 168 |
The Federal League vs Organized Baseball | 173 |
Jumpers and FlipFloppers | 178 |
Lee Magee Style | 232 |
My Resignation Was Wired to Mr Ball This Afternoon | 240 |
The Belgium of Baseball | 245 |
The Deacon Takes the Pulpit | 249 |
The Tribunes Amateurs | 256 |
Davenport and Plank | 264 |
The Pivotal Series | 269 |
The Big Bluff | 276 |
Peace | 284 |
The Big Auction | 291 |
The Aftershock | 298 |
The BrownsTerriers | 305 |
The CubsWhales | 311 |
The Outcasts | 318 |
The Benny Kauff Story | 322 |
Back into Good Society | 329 |
Epilogue | 336 |
Chapter Notes | 341 |
353 | |
355 | |
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The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs: The History of an Outlaw Major League ... Robert Peyton Wiggins No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
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