The Players League: History, Clubs, Ballplayers and Statistics

The Players League: History, Clubs, Ballplayers and Statistics
ISBN-10
1476609187
ISBN-13
9781476609188
Category
Sports & Recreation
Pages
384
Language
English
Published
2014-11-04
Publisher
McFarland
Author
Ed Koszarek

Description

After talks with baseball’s owners broke down in the fall of 1889, some of the greatest players of the day jumped their contracts and declared open revolt against the American Association and National League. Tired of life under the hated reserve clause, which bound players to their teams and left them with no bargaining power, John Montgomery Ward and some 140 others set out to form a rival major league. The Players League would last only a season and end quite badly for both the players and the American Association, which folded a year later; but as a representation of the first major battle between the players and owners, the league occupies an important place in baseball history. This remarkably comprehensive book opens with an historical introduction to the league, including detailed information about its origins and failure. A biographical dictionary follows, with entries for every player in the league’s brief tenure and additional profiles of prominent players who chose not to dignify the revolt with their participation. Profiles of the teams are also included.

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