From Basement to Bordello

about to go under. The Sporting News "THE DIRECTORS OF described Louis Newberger and A. J. Treat as the financial heads of the THE INDIANAPOLIS Indianapolis group and listed twenty­ seven-year-old George Burnham of CLUB DON'T SEEM TO Albion, Michigan, as a "legal advisor." During a March 10 meeting in New UNDERSTAND THAT York, the NationalLeague dumped the Maroons and welcomed the Indianapolis THE TEAM, WHICH IS A group, which forked over $12,000 for the SaintLouis franchise and its play­ GOOD ONE, WILL ers. The league also replaced its Kansas City club with a team called the NEVER DO WELL SO Pittsburgh Alleghenys, rounding out an eight-team circuit that included the LONG AS IT IS AT WAR Boston Beaneaters, Chicago White Stockings, Detroit Wolverines, New York WITH THE ." Giants, Philadelphia Quakers, and Washington Statesmen. THE CLEVELAND PLAIN- The 1887 Indianapolis Hoosiers included such solid players as DEALER MENTIONED Jack Glasscock and third baseman Jerry Denny. Burnham, who had never played BURNHAM'S FORGED big-league ball, served as the team's man­ ager. Team officials felt obliged to LETTER AND OFFERED Burnham since he had alerted the Indianapolis group about the impend­ A SUCCINCT AND '' ing demise of the Saint Louis franchise. Known as "Watch," Burnham had been EERILY PROPHETIC a umpire during the 1883 season. Supposedly, Burnham COMMENT: "THE MAN earned his nickname when fans in Cleveland presented him with an IS SURELY INSANE." inscribed timepiece. But during his umpir­ ing days, Watch Burnham heard few three-man panel for handling all dis­ unless they were on the field in ten min­ cheers and plenty of jeers. The Sporting putes between the manager and the utes. As Burnham bristled, Glasscock News said his work as an ump "incited as players. The Sporting Life scoffed at the and Denny led the team out of the ball­ many riots on the field as any mortal." arrangement. "If the club should hap­ park and headed for the downtown Trouble started for the Hoosiers pen to be successful, the governing office of team president Newberger. before the season got underway. committee will receive all the credit," Glasscock, age twenty-seven, had been During spring training the team said the newspaper. "If unsuccessful, in the game for nine years and had released Frank Graves, who caught for Burnham will get the kicks." earned the nickname "Old Battle Ax." Saint Louis the year before. Before The first "kick" came soon after those An excellent shortstop with a fine arm, leaving town, Graves told reporters words were set in type. The week before he had for a .325 average for Saint that whenever Burnham tried to give opening day, some of the Hoosiers were Louis in 1886. Never shy about arguing orders, the veteran players just late for practice. After a twenty-minute with umpires, Glasscock minced no laughed. By late April, Indianapolis wait, Burnham told the balky players he words when it came to ex-ump Burnham. management felt obliged to create a would fine them five dollars apiece "Whether we play baseball in the after-

40 · 1 TRACES I Fa ll 2006