Books and articles about Harry Pulliam

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Pulliam, "an idealist, a dreamer, a lover of solitude and nature," was city editor of the Louisville Commercial when Barney Dreyfuss convinced him to become club secretary for the Louisville team he 'd purchased in the NL. In 1900 he moved with Dreyfuss to Pittsburgh. His reputation for honesty and his businesslike approach to baseball won him election as NL president in 1903. He helped forge a peace between the AL and NL that resulted in the National Agreement that governed baseball through 1920. Fearless and honest in enforcing league rules, he was strongly criticized by New York's John McGraw over the 1908 Merkle incident and also came into conflict with Charles W. Murphy, the Chicago owner, over a ticket-scalping controversy. Pulliam was of a nervous temperament and proved unable to cope with criticism. In February 1909 he showed signs of mental illness and was given a leave of absence. He returned to work but remained moody and uncommunicative. On July 25, 1909, he committed suicide. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 12, 1902: Harry Pulliam is elected president of the National League. » June 26, 1903: Veteran SS George Davis, 1900-1901 Giants manager who played for the White Stockings in 1902 and was awarded to them as part of the peace treaty, gets the approval of NL president Harry Pulliam to play for the Giants. After Davis plays in four games, including today, for the Giants, Chicago's owner Charles Comiskey gets an injunction preventing Davis from playing. On July 20th the NL directors vote that Davis cannot play for any team except the White Stockings. Davis sits out the rest of the season but rejoins Chicago in 1904 and finishes a 20-year career with them in 1909. » May 19, 1905: Banished yesterday for brawling with Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke, John McGraw roams the Polo Grounds before today's game with the Pirates, shouting insults at Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss. McGraw accuses him of controlling the NL umpires through league president Harry Pulliam and welching on gambling debts. McGraw is again ejected during the game. Dreyfuss will files a formal protest with the league about McGraw's behavior, his swearing, and his shouting "Hey, Barney" at Dreyfuss from the field. He also contends that the Giants manager offered to wager $10,000 that the Giants would win the game. McGraw responds to Dreyfuss' complaint by stating that NL President Pulliam could not "forget his former role as the secretary to Dreyfuss." A meeting of the Leagues directors results in a $150 fine and 15-day suspension for McGraw, but John Brush immediately gets a Superior Court injunction blocking the suspension and further hearings exonerate McGraw. » May 27, 1905: Harry Pulliam levies a $150 fine and a 15-day suspension. John McGraw files for an injunction against the fine and suspension, which the judge eventually grants. On June 1st the NL board meets in Boston and clears McGraw of the Dreyfuss charges, then censures Barney Dreyfuss for engaging in a public altercation with McGraw. The "Hey, Barney" line will follow Dreyfuss for years. » August 8, 1906: NL President Harry Pulliam upholds the forfeit to the Cubs of yesterday's Giants game, stating: "I uphold the action of the umpires absolutely, and if I am not sustained by the NL Board of Directors I will not only resign my position as President of the NL, but I will quit professional baseball forever." Giants owner John Brush then allows James Johnstone to officiate, and the Cubs win 3-2 behind Three Finger Brown and Ed Reulbach. At the month's end, the Cubs will have a 15-game lead. » December 11, 1906: Harry Pulliam is reelected president of the National League at a salary of $10,000. » September 4, 1908: In a game, the significance of which will not be recognized for another three weeks, the Pirates and Cubs are tied 0-0 in the last of the 10th at Pittsburgh. With two outs and the bases loaded, Pittsburgh's Owen Wilson singles to CF, scoring Fred Clarke with the winning run. Warren Gill, on 1B, does not get to 2B but stops short, turns, and heads for the dugout, a common practice. The Cubs' Johnny Evers calls for the ball from Jimmy Slagle, touches 2B, and claims the run does not count as Gill has been forced. The lone umpire, Hank O'Day, has left the field. When queried, he rules that Clarke had already scored, so the run counts. The Cubs protest to league president Harry Pulliam, but are denied. This is the first time the Cubs try this tactic, but not the last. » September 24, 1908: Harry Pulliam upholds Hank O'Day's delayed decision and declares the game a tie, a decision nobody likes. The Cubs demand the game be forfeited to them as the crowd prevented play from continuing, although darkness would have soon ended it. Both teams appeal. Pulliam sees no inconsistency with the September 4th incident and claims he has merely upheld his umpire on a question of fact in each case. Meanwhile, the Giants beat the Cubs 5-4, after almost blowing a 5-0 lead. Hooks Wiltse is relieved by Christy Mathewson, and the official scorer awards the W to Matty. The L goes to Three Finger Brown, his first loss to Mathewson since June 13, 1905. » February 18, 1909: National League president Harry Pulliam, in ill health, is granted a leave of absence. The league secretary, John Heydler, assumes his duties. The NL abolishes Ladies Days, and sets a 25-player limit from May 15 to August 20. » July 29, 1909: National League president Harry Pulliam, despondent over his inability to handle the problems and controversies of the league, dies after shooting himself in his room at the New York Athletic Club yesterday. Pulliam had been suffering from a nervous breakdown. » August 2, 1909: Harry Pulliam is buried in Louisville. For the first time in history, both NL and AL games are postponed in tribute. After the funeral, a special meeting of the Board of Directors appoints John Heydler to succeed Pulliam.