RELATED LINKS Book Excerpts » The American League: The Early Years by David Lee Poremba

When the National and American leagues drew up their "peace treaty" following two years of cutthroat competition for star players after the American League declared itself a major league in 1901, a governing body was formed to oversee baseball. The three members were NL president Henry Pulliam, AL president Ban Johnson, and Cincinnati owner Garry Herrmann. Herrmann, widely-respected enough to be considered impartial despite his NL affiliation, served for the life of the National Commission, as did Johnson; Pulliam was followed by his successors as NL president. The Commission saw baseball through a growth in popularity that brought with it a successfully-withstood challenge from the Federal League, but the triumvirate foundered on the Black Sox scandal. Herrmann's resignation in 1920 broke up the Commission, and its function was replaced by the new office of Commissioner, filled by Judge Landis. (SH)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » October 3, 1905: The National Commission establishes the rules for a World Series and names Hank O'Day and John Sheridan (both NL umps) to umpire it. » April 19, 1908: The National Commission reinstates Jake Stahl and Mike Donlin after fining them $100 each for playing with teams outside organized ball in 1907. » January 11, 1909: The National Commission approves owner Charles Murphy's payment of a $10,000 bonus to his Cubs for their 1908 World Series triumph. » March 31, 1909: The National Commission rules that players who jump contracts will be suspended for five years. Players joining outlaw organizations will be suspended for three years as punishment for going outside organized baseball. » April 20, 1909: The National Commission learns that an effort to bribe umpires Bill Klem and James Johnstone was made before the Giants-Cubs playoff game in 1908. The identity of the alleged briber is not disclosed, but all clubs are notified of the results of the investigation. Klem reveals that the alleged briber was Dr. James Creamer. Creamer, who served as the Giants' team physician last season, will be barred for life from all major league ball parks. » March 1, 1910: The National Commission prohibits giving mementos to players on winning World Series teams. This will later be reversed, making way for the traditional winners' watches, rings, and stickpins. » March 25, 1910: Chalmers Auto Company of Detroit offers to award a new car to the batting champs of each league. The National Commission accepts. » June 7, 1911: After two years on the vaudeville circuit with his wife Mabel Hite, and occasional sojourns to jail for drunkenness and assault, "Turkey Mike" Donlin is reinstated by the National Commission. He rejoins the Giants, but John McGraw's willingness to put up with him ceases after 12 games, and the .333 lifetime hitter is traded to the last-place NL Boston Rustlers. » September 29, 1911: Ty Cobb is fined $100 by the National Commission for playing a Sunday game with a semipro club in New York. » October 5, 1911: The National Commission sells motion picture rights to the World Series for $3,500. When the players demand a share of it, the Commission cancels the deal. » December 12, 1911: A rift between the leagues develops over widespread charges of ticket speculation during the World Series, and accusations that officials of the Giants and A's were involved. The American League passes a resolution refusing to participate in another World Series until it has control of ticket sales in its own parks. The National Commission investigates the charge that speculators were given large blocks of tickets, but takes no action and releases no findings. The following spring, the Commission finds that much scalping occurred, but there is no evidence either team was involved, and peace is declared. » December 14, 1911: Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss proposes that each team in the World Series be required to turn over one-fourth of its share of the gate to the league, to be divided among the other teams. Until now, 10 percent of the gross has gone to the National Commission, 60 percent to the players, and the rest to the two pennant-winning clubs. The National League will pass the resolution and send it to the American League. It marks the beginning of changes that ultimately give players of the first four clubs a percentage of the World Series money. » January 15, 1912: Former Brooklyn P Elmer Stricklett, said to be the inventor of the spitball, is reinstated by the National Commission after playing outside organized baseball for three years. But he does not make it back to the major leagues. » August 1, 1912: Rube Marquard is fined $25 by the National Commission for pitching an inning in a semipro game in Port Chester, NY, on a day off. » October 13, 1913: In St. Louis, the City Series between the Browns and the Cardinals ends in a fight. In today's doubleheader, the Cardinals had taken the first game 5–2, and the 2nd game, and the 2nd game is tied 1–1 after four innings when a brawl broke out. Since there had been several other fights in the series, and because the series was played outside the auspices of the National Commission, the umps announce they have had it, and retire to the clubhouse. The series ends abruptly at three wins apiece, with one tie. Each Brownie player received $77.22. » January 6, 1914: The National Commission grants some demands of the Players' Fraternity: players to be notified in writing of their transfer or release and to receive a copy of their contract; players with 10 years in the ML are eligible to become free agents; clubs will pay traveling expenses to spring training and furnish all uniforms; all parks to have a blank green wall behind the pitcher in CF. » January 9, 1915: The National Commission declares University of Michigan senior George Sisler a free agent after a 2-year fight. The Pirates' owner Barney Dreyfuss claimed rights to Sisler, who had signed a contract as a minor but never played pro ball. After graduating, Sisler will sign with the St. Louis Browns, managed by his former college coach, Branch Rickey. » December 2, 1916: Under pressure from the Players' Fraternity, the National Commission orders that injured players shall get full pay for the duration of their contracts. The injury clause previously let clubs suspend players after 15 days pay. » December 8, 1916: The National Commission fines 51 players $25 to $100 for performing in post-season exhibitions. Among the guilty: Babe Ruth, Jack Barry, Duffy Lewis, 10 other Red Sox players, and Ty Cobb. » June 17, 1918: The National Commission rules that P Scott Perry, who has been winning games for the Athletics, belongs to the Boston Braves. Although purchased by the Braves from Atlanta in 1917, the deal was not completed. While on Atlanta's ineligible list, he was sold to Connie Mack. Aroused by Perry's AL success, the Braves enter their proper claim. Mack breaks precedent, goes outside organized baseball to civil court, and gets an injunction against Boston. The NL, having sat still for the loss of George Sisler, is furious; President John K. Tener resigns. John Heydler succeeds him and arranges a compromise solution: Mack pays Boston $2,500 and keeps Perry (henceforth a loser). The clubs' anger at player-allocation decisions will ultimately topple the National Commission, making way for Judge K.M. Landis. » August 24, 1918: Secretary Baker grants an extended exemption to players in the WS; three days later the National Commission gets an official approval to play from General Enoch Crowder, providing that 10 percent of the revenues go to war charities. » August 26, 1918: Ban Johnson casts the deciding vote in a National Commission decision awarding the disputed services of P Jack Quinn to the Yankees for 1919 over the claim of the White Sox, for whom Quinn was 5-1 this year. » July 13, 1919: Submarine P Carl Mays quits the mound after two innings at Chicago, blaming his teammates for lack of support afield. In defiance of Ban Johnson's order that no action be taken until Mays is returned to good standing, Boston owner Harry Frazee trades Mays to the Yankees for pitchers Bob McGraw Allen Russell and $40,000. Johnson suspends Mays indefinitely and orders umpires not to let him pitch for New York. The Yankees get a court order restraining Johnson from interfering, further eroding Johnson's authority and standing. The AL directors will reinstate Mays. In retaliation, on October 29th the National Commission will refuse to recognize the Yankees' third-place finish and will withhold the players' share of the pool. New York's owners will pay out of their own pockets. » September 2, 1919: The National Commission recommends a best-of-9 World Series. The lengthier WS is seen as a sign of greed and is abandoned after three years. » February 12, 1920: In a defeat for American League president Johnson, Carl Mays is reinstated, and the Yankees' 3rd place finish is recognized. Furthermore, a two man committee is appointed to review all fines over $100 and suspensions of more than 10 days. Dissatisfaction with the National Commission system comes to a head. The National League votes 6–2 for a one-man commission; the AL votes 6–2 for the status quo. Chairman Garry Herrmann resigns, stating his belief that no club owner should serve on the governing board. When the two leagues cannot agree on a chairman, it is left to the league presidents to decide disputes. » October 24, 1927: August "Garry" Herrmann, former chairman of the National Commission and 25-year Reds president, resigns.