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SelzShoes · 04-27-2005, 10:30 PM

From the Buffalo Courier
“A group of investors have announced the formation of a 6 team base ball association in our area. While the level of play will not be at the level of the Empire League that has captured the attention of base ball fanciers across the east, it should provide an outlet for those cranks, as devotees of the game are called, who can only follow the game through newspaper reports. The ticket prices should be affordable for both workingman and businessman alike. “We intend to provide an alternative for the local talent seeking to go Boston or New York at this time,” Buffalo investor Winfred Siemens stated to this reporter. When asked if this loop would precluded an Empire League team, as many local cranks have clamored for, Siemens stated he expected the Association to defend its territories and would respect the Empire League’s territories as well. The other clubs will be in London and Guelph, Ontario; Syracuse, Rochester, and Manchester.”

Following a surprising season in which they finished 43-45, the New Haven franchise announced in a letter to the other owners that they would not participate in the 1875 season. New Haven was a financial disaster, averaging in the high 100’s for games not involving New York or Boston. “All the sport fans in New Haven only want to ‘go Yale;’ they find the professional game profane,” the letter read in part. Coming before the annual league meeting, the 5 remaining eastern clubs felt a sense of panic. The New York World stating that “the ownership of Boston and New York have confided to this reporter they fear what type of power play that vile character McCormick has in store for the next league meeting.” While publicly vowing to install a “loyal to the game” franchise in the East; privately they admitted that the balance of power so delicately maintained in the league had shifted towards McCormick and the west. McCormick, expressed disappointment in the failure of the New Haven club, saying, “Anything that weakens the public perception of the Empire hurts the whole of us.” In private, McCormick knew he had a window of opportunity to seize control and run the league as he saw fit.

04-27-2005, 10:30 PM	#20
SelzShoes High School Varsity Join Date: Apr 2005	1875-1876 Off Season From the Buffalo Courier “A group of investors have announced the formation of a 6 team base ball association in our area. While the level of play will not be at the level of the Empire League that has captured the attention of base ball fanciers across the east, it should provide an outlet for those cranks, as devotees of the game are called, who can only follow the game through newspaper reports. The ticket prices should be affordable for both workingman and businessman alike. “We intend to provide an alternative for the local talent seeking to go Boston or New York at this time,” Buffalo investor Winfred Siemens stated to this reporter. When asked if this loop would precluded an Empire League team, as many local cranks have clamored for, Siemens stated he expected the Association to defend its territories and would respect the Empire League’s territories as well. The other clubs will be in London and Guelph, Ontario; Syracuse, Rochester, and Manchester.” Following a surprising season in which they finished 43-45, the New Haven franchise announced in a letter to the other owners that they would not participate in the 1875 season. New Haven was a financial disaster, averaging in the high 100’s for games not involving New York or Boston. “All the sport fans in New Haven only want to ‘go Yale;’ they find the professional game profane,” the letter read in part. Coming before the annual league meeting, the 5 remaining eastern clubs felt a sense of panic. The New York World stating that “the ownership of Boston and New York have confided to this reporter they fear what type of power play that vile character McCormick has in store for the next league meeting.” While publicly vowing to install a “loyal to the game” franchise in the East; privately they admitted that the balance of power so delicately maintained in the league had shifted towards McCormick and the west. McCormick, expressed disappointment in the failure of the New Haven club, saying, “Anything that weakens the public perception of the Empire hurts the whole of us.” In private, McCormick knew he had a window of opportunity to seize control and run the league as he saw fit.