IN THE NEWS: At the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York, the National League meets and votes to go with eight teams. They pay the Baltimore owners $30,000 for their franchise, with Charles Ebbets and Ned Hanlon reserving the right to sell the players. Cleveland, Louisville, and Washington receive $10,000 each, and Louisville owner Barney Dreyfuss sends most of his players to his Pittsburgh team. The circuit will remain the same for 53 years, until the Boston Braves move to Milwaukee in 1953.
IN THE NEWS: Popular Buck Ewing, a .303 hitter in his 18-year career (and the only 19th-century catcher in the Hall of Fame), is named bench manager of the Giants. He'll last until July 13th when he quits the team and George Kelly takes over.
The National League votes the following rule changes: a single umpire will work a game, reverting back after an experiment with 2; a balk rule allows only a base runner to advance, not the batter; a change in the shape of home plate to 5-sided to eliminate the corners of the old one-foot by one-foot plate. There had been arguments with pitchers who wanted strikes called when balls went over the corners. With no corners to kick about, owners figure there will be no further arguments over strike calls.
Bid McPhee, 2B for the Reds for 18 years, retires. ending a career equalled in the 19th century only by Buck Ewing and Cap Anson. His lifetime record of 6,545 putouts is still untopped. McPhee is the last position player to go gloveless.
IN THE NEWS: At an American League meeting in Chicago Ban Johnson announces that an AL team will be placed in the Windy City, ensuring the stability of the league. Other franchises are in Kansas City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, and Buffalo. In an agreement with Chicago National League officials, the AL club will be situated on the south side of the city and will be permitted to use the nickname "White Stockings," formerly used by the NL team. However, the White Stockings will not be able to use the word "Chicago" in their official name.
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