:l PROCEEDINGS OF CONVENTION
professional gasc gall IjlagffSJ
I
NEW YOP^K CITY,
l^T .A. IK, C IK 17, 1871.
:m ds ds t x w* a
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
provisional Mase Ipfl |pag«&
No. 840 BKOAIMVAV, NEW YOKK.
liiiliiy Evening, Hard 17, 1871.
R O C E E D I N G S .
Meeting was called to order by Mr, J. W.
Scofield, at 7.30, P. M., who nominated Mr,
Jas. N. Kerns as Chairman, and N. E. Young,
Secretary. — Carried.
The Secretary stated the call for the meeting.
Mr. Scofield moved that a committee of three
be appointed on permanent organization. — Car-
ried. The Chair appointed Messrs. Scofield,
Wright and Davidson as such committee.
The following named gentlemen presented
credentials :
JAMES N. Kfaixs, Athletic, Philadelphia, Pa.
N. E. Young, Olympic, Washington, D. C.
Alkx. V. Davidson,
Mutual, Netv York.
J. W. Scofield, Union, Troy, N. Y.
Wm. H. Kay, Eckford, Brooklyn.
Harry Wright, Boston, Mem.
IIailry Wright, Forest C% Iiockford, Til
J. P. Evans, J<V m * City, C belaud, 0.
J. M. Thatcher, White Stockings, Chicago J 11
0. R. Hough, National, Washington, B. &
#
The committee on permanent organization
recommended that this Association be designa-
ted as the " National Association of Pbo-
fkssional Base Ball Playbbs/' and also
that the following named officers be created by
the Association, to wit : President, Vice Presi-
dent, Secretary and Treasurer. After con-
siderable debate, the report, on motion of Mr.
Kay, was accepted and the recommendations of
the committee adopted, subject to the approval
of the clubs represented in the convention by
their proper officers. Moved and seconded
that a committee of three be appointed to nomi-
nate officers for the ensuing year.— Carried,
rius Chair appointed Messrs. Scofield, Wr1g w
and Davidson.
The committee reported in favor of the fol-
lowing nained gentleman, as officers of the
Association for the ensuing year: President*
dames N. Kerns ; Vice President, J. F. Evans J
&*te, X. K. Young; Tveamirer, 3. &<
^cofn-ld.
The chair announced the next business in
order that of arranging match tours. Mr.N.
E. Young, on behalf of the Olympic Club, of
Washington, presented their programme for a
tour, from the 15th to the 27th of May, inclu-
sive. It was moved and seconded that the
programme of the Olymjnc Club be agreed to.
' — Carried.
The Chicago Club next presented a pro-
gramme for three Eastern tours. After con-
siderable debate it was decided to arrange for
the first tour only from May 29th to June
15th.
The Fared City Club, of Cleveland, Ohio,
next presented their programme for a tour from
June 12 to June 29th, inclusive.— Agreed to.
The Fared City Club, of Kockford, next
claimed the date from June 19th to July 9th,
which was allowed them.
On motion of Mr. Thatcher, the constitution
and by-laws of the "National Association,"
as adopted at the last November convention, so
&* as they do not conflict with the interests of
professional clubs, were adopted for the gov-
ernment of this Association,
On motion of Mr. Hough, the convention
proceed to consider the question of champ ^
of the United States, Mr. Ken* read reso^
tioni adopted by the Athletic Club in *? fo i-
totbii question. Mr. ¥oung offered fc *,
lowing resolutions, which were earnc*
nwittlyj fchtt iD-
/.'■ ofarf, that inasmuch as the title o ^ ^ e
pious of the [Jnited States is b noml *Z le to
only, without any authority K> r i * ,r . t ioH il ^
govern it, not beta niied by { l
Association, tin-n ion- I)*' it
hereby**
thor-
//• tad, that this convention '"""-j |; , r i»y
lies a championship title to be ™ nte f*Z of &txf*
the various profession*! clubflin J*! n d to**
and decided as hereinafter set forth, &
rned by the following rules: ^ r ^
All dubs deeiring • "... writ»^
championship must make applfc** 1 ,.,,1,111^"
to the chairman of the ebampfo**^
! - " n "- 1 j -lit
1871 ? and no dub to be admi^^
date, aor ? f; be
to the chairman of the eb^P 10 * /^ JM
rati"" "
reach him. Each appta ..,, doll* 1 *
.1 by a remittance ol , ( ' nllt ..-li' 1,J '
cl h ng * IU1 '* ^announce t ^'' n:llm * nl to*
^ contesting t* ( > r the title, by publication.
l * * ne series for the championship to l»"
u "'"' 1!i five games, each club to play b
'ir(»fi lit r *
e , ave games with every other contesting
i at suet, t ; lll( , an(l j t - nm
upon* fi^ i*
pj ! . m " t,tv t games played to be the cham-
j. g) and ail games to be played bef
w 7fmber 1,1871.
games ■ wum ^g the gn atesl number <rf
( , lit Jj** 10 &e championship series, with cltttw
eeaso U 8 /'T, ? € championship daring the
United declared champions of the
mitteeof t, l te8,IUld W r,rtifi, ' (1 l " h >' ll co»-
Chaj^ . V, ' , who AlM ^appointed by the
^own!^ 4! thi> r " nv,n,i,,,l > :l ^l who shall be
the CW Cham P ioMhi P^nwwttee f and to
' dual MU ! llau of which ^amittee each dub
Kl, T]
lN n "'"<l cn or b fovemh r
;i| ' " '" :1 tie between two or more
, ^v,, 1 ,4;;;.' , ; i ' ,ll ;'';' l '''''''<' hall examine
ha vin J the club bo tiebg, and the one
10 '"-i average in championahip 1
8
test, to be declared champions of the U" itct
States.
5th. A championship streamer shall beP u
chased by the said championship commit^ 6 '
with the funds accompanying the applied 100
of clubs, and present the same, on or before
November 15, 1871, to the club entitled to
nccivc it.
6th. The club winning the championship :1
fcheend of the season shall be entitled toff
the streamer until the close of the following
"n, and then to be given to the elub tli:l
the championship committee shall declare to
be entitled to receive it.
The following resolution, as offered by 1 ^
Young and amended by .Mr. Bcofield, vv:l "
unanimously agreed to:
Rewfocd, that the question of selecting
umpire between contending clubs bearrang
by the visiting club presenting the names
five persona to the local dub to select < ,n '' °
their number, and that sufficient time be g* vC
before tb( day of play to make such ftrrang^
raents. The persons named for selection sha^
known and acknowledged as competent &
for.the position, and shall be chosen from tb
9
* more clubs. In case the umpire selected
l0u W iHil, from Borne unknown cause, to ap-
1 )( : U1 * on the day of the game, then the umpire
** a U be selected by the two captains of the
^testing nines.
^ r - Evans offered the following resolution
*Mch was carried :
Resolved, that any base ball player who is
&der an existing and valid contract to play
*U with any club belonging to the Association
«hnfl --. , '., , . , .., it-
ttOt be eligible to play w r ith any club in
lll:itf 'h Millie, until each contract is honorably
^celled
^ r * Thatcher offered the following, which
r [to:
Solved, that in case the services of a player
. e claimed by more than one club, each club
^'■'•'■Med may select the President of another
. Ub »and those two a third, which three shall
aV( ' power to send for persons and papers, and
.f^de the question, and their action shall be
Ending,
a Ir - S^Qfield offered the following resolution,
* h *t was carried:
in case the club to which a player
be]
Pfcga does not live up to their agreement
10
with the player, then the player, after a &#
trial before the committee on championship*
and the club found guilty of wrong, shall » e
declared freed from his contract.
Mr. Thatcher offered the following :
Resolved, that when this convention adjoin' 11 ^
it adjourns to meet at Chicago, on the n lb
Monday in December, 1871.
Mr. Scofield moved to amend by inserting
Troy, and March, 1872.— Lost.
Mr. Evans offered an amendment, which # .
agreed to, that when this convention ad J oU f^
it adjourns to meet in Cleveland, <>n the n r *
Monday in March, 1872. • g
On motion, a recess of fifteen minuteft .
taken, for the purpose of partaking of &>,
refreshments kindly furnished by the -"" '
Club. ^
The Secretary was instructed to write to ^
Haynic, for a copy of the Rules of the N» tl0
Association. ^
The President announced the following
mittees for the ensuing year. ^y,
Judiciary.— Messrs. Thatcher, Y ° ung ' Va ido
Scofield, Mason, Wright, Davidson,
and Kerns.
11
Rules. — Messrs. Evans, Ray, Thatcher,Waldo
u, "l Bcofield.
Printing, — Messrs. Young, Bcofield and
bright.
Nominations.— Messrs. Davidson, Thatcher
u, "l Evans.
( 'hampiomhip.— -Messrs, Wright, Davidson
lUl <l Young.
Communication of II. A.Dobson, in reference
t() scoring, was referred to championship com-
mittee.
The thanks of the Ajssociation were tendered
^Mutual Base Ball Chh of New York, for
■ lv kind reception and hospitality ; when, >i
,n " l, <>n, the convention adjourned.
< v > r> tary*
Jamks N. Kerns,
President
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