History -- The Federal League IV

Swayed, Johnson returned his signing bonus to Weeghman’s club and returned to the

Griffith: Nearly lost "The Big Train" to the Feds

Johnson: Almost defected to Feds

Senators, receiving a healthy raise for his troubles. Johnson never threw a single pitch in the Federal League. In an interview with the Washington Post (Sunday May 14th 1915) he candidly admitted:

“... I deserve the blame for what I have done, and I admit in the light of experience, that I did not act wisely, I make no excuses and ask no consideration. I am willing to accept whatever blame is due me.”

Once again, organized baseball decided to renew hostilities with the Federal League by signing away from Brooklyn (he had been “transferred” there from Indianapolis) “The Ty Cobb of the Federal League” Benny Kauff. This served to create more difficulties within the Senior Circuit. He was signed by the New York Giants, but Giant field boss, McGraw didn’t want him. The Boston Braves who had initially lost Kauff to the Federal League claimed that he was blacklisted because he had jumped his contract there.

Kauff, however, stated that: “He was through with the Federal League” and applied to the National Commission for re-instatement stating that: “If I can’t play with the Giants I’ll quit the game for good ...” The National Commission refused his re-instatement and Kauff was forced to eat his words and return to the Brookfeds.

Despite all the off-field fireworks, the Federal League enjoyed one of its finest pennant races (not difficult when you consider that they only had three), it went down to the final few games of the season when Chicago split a double header with Pittsburgh to finish ahead of St. Louis by percentage points. Chicago finished at 86-66 with St. Louis at 87-67 and Pittsburgh at 86-67 marking the first time that the team with the most wins didn’t win the pennant, the other time being, of course the players’ strike year of 1981 when the Cincinnati Reds won a division high 66 games and yet did not qualify for the post season under the split-season format.

Benny “The Ty Cobb of the Federal League ... and if I can’t play with the Giants I’ll quit the game for good ...” Kauff won his second straight batting title, hitting .342. At the conclusion of the 1915 campaign several developments brought peace to the game.

Just as the appearance of one man the Federal League was given new life, it was the exit of one man that spelled doom for the infant circuit. When Robert Ward, wealthy owner of the Brooklyn Tip Tops passed away in the fall of 1915, much of the fight, spunk and vision died with him. Despite a thrilling pennant race in the waning days of 1915 attendance was dismal because of the effects of the first world war. The war also worked hardship on organized baseball but they were in better shape to handle the stormy days ahead. Even the reduction of ticket prices in several Federal League cities couldn’t bolster attendance. That, coupled with the hefty contracts that the league handed out spelled doom for the league. Here is a short list of what the Feds were paying compared with organized baseball :

To top it all off, World War I was imminent and Federal League president Jim Gilmore felt that the league couldn’t survive this perilous time. But what to do? The league had lost considerable money and Gilmore, as well as the other team magnates wanted to recoup some lost capital. What followed was the greatest bluff in the history of gambling. A superbly orchestrated and executed plan that bought an extremely generous settlement from organized baseball. It went like this ...

Initially, the Feds wanted to move their Newark franchise to New York City yet was prevented by Newark interests from doing so. They had already placed a team in Brooklynto challenge the Sup ... sorry, the Dodgers, now they wanted to challenge the big boys, the Giants and Yankees. For those of you who are sketchy on baseball history, the Giants were the toast of New York City and the Yankees had yet to launch any portion of their dynasty.

Initially Jim Gilmore and Harry Sinclair had planned to place a franchise in New York, but with the league trying to survive, Gilmore thought that it could be an excellent bargaining chip to use against organized baseball. The league had already purchased property at the corner of 145th street and Lenox avenue for the magnificent sum of $1 250 000 and Gilmore figured that he could build the stadium itself for about $475 000. He had a blue print make which called for a stadium that could ultimately hold 55 000 patrons and figured it could be completed in just a few short months.

It was to be designed similar to Shibe Park in Philadelphia with a two tier cantilevered grandstand that would offer an unimpeded view of the field. All this was going on at the same time that the New York Yankees were looking to build a stadium of their own, having been told by the Giants that they wished to occupy the Polo Grounds alone. This panicked the National League who now wanted to negotiate with the Feds.