[SelzShoes]

From an open letter to the Brooklyn Sun
While most of those who go Brooklyn are excited about the solid season by our squad, it pains us to note the ledger could have been more positive. In fact, the seven game deficit could have been easily erased but for what could politely described as indifferent play by several key member of the Atlantics.

Many of our backers point to the arm injury by Candy Skewis as the downfall of our nine, but a more likely culprit was the late hurling by Elmo Broenneke. When the base situation called for the boxman to ‘bear down’ he would lay an easy ball in for the batsman. In key situations, even a muffin could be counted on for a solid hit. When we needed a strong effort from our hurler, Broenneke was strangely absent.

But Broenneke was not alone in this peculiar effort. First Baseman Bennie Zoellner could not be counted on for a hit when the season was on the line. And further, decisions by field captain Bryon Mosholder puzzled even the most dedicated of crank. Alton Emch, famed for his skill in getting the long hit, sat on the pine while Jonathon Goodstein—adequate substitute but far from a skilled afield—played everyday. Mosholder, who’s skills peaked before the Empire was formed, insisted on patrolling right field of the Union Grounds while younger and more able players were given no chance.

We, the undersigned players implore Thaddeus Hamilton to rid the Brooklyn roster of these men of questionable motives and replace them with men who are not so prone to the influence of loose money and men of persuasion.

Signed, Alton Emch, Bennie Kafka, Everett Waugh and Clarence Walters

The players had approached Hamilton with their concerns after the season, but were dismissed outright. “The days of games being within the pocketbook of the numbers masters disappeared with the formation of the Empire. What we have here are the accusation of players who are trying to place blame for their own failings and eroding skills. These agitators will admit the error of their slander, or find employment elsewhere next summer. Bryon Mosholder has my highest confidence, and to suggest his decisions intentionally caused us to fail in our goal of a championship is beyond the pale,” Hamilton would state in print. "No man would disappoint the Brooklynite by trying to serve two masters."