FRONT PAGE NEWS STRIKE OUT A PIRATES PITCHER AT THE BATTLE OF HOMESTEAD By Zachary L. Brodt When the 1892 Homestead striking workers. More from his usual antics. Steel Strike was over, 10 than 160 people were A sense of community and men were dead and dozens charged with crimes and solidarity likely motived more wounded. Agents of Frick was the target of an Baldwin to trespass onto the Pinkerton Detective assassination attempt by the grounds of Andrew Agency hired by Henry Alexander Berkman, an Carnegie’s property, thus Clay Frick had attempted anarchist unaffiliated with providing one of the more to land their barges at the the initial struggle. bizarre storylines affiliated Homestead Steel Works with the newly named along the Monongahela One of those arrested in the “Pirates” franchise. River to protect it from wake of the labor dispute was an unlikely man: BERKMAN: Pittsburg Baseball Club ATTEMPTS FRICK’S MURDER! pitcher Mark Baldwin.1 HOMETOWN Alexander Berkman, A Homestead native, 1892. Baldwin was notorious for LoC 103849. HERO OR his fastball, wild pitches, and penchant for drinking TROUBLE and getting into trouble. However, his presence in the steel mill during one MAKER? Dagger used by Berkman in his of the bloodiest conflicts assassination attempt on Henry of the American Labor Mark Baldwin Chicago White Stockings Clay Frick. Baseball Card, 1887. HHC Collections, 91.10.1. Movement was a far cry LoC 13163-05, no. 31. The Homestead Strike infamously made the cover of Harper’s Weekly, July 16, 1892. 50 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HHC Detre L&A. HISTORY | SUMMER 2015 WESTERNWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY HISTORY | |SUMMER SPRING 2015 51 An Upstanding Member Baldwin thrived in of the Community the Players League, Baldwin was born in 1863 on Pittsburgh’s South Side and moved with his parents to posting a career- Homestead in 1872.2 Both areas were highly industrialized, exposing Baldwin to the plight best season and of workers all of his life. This included the experiences of his father, who was a nailer leading the league before entering the world of real estate and insurance sales.3 These conditions led to a in games won, tight-knit community of workers’ families within the small town. After leaving Western complete games, Pennsylvania to pursue a career in baseball, Baldwin’s sense of community pride and innings pitched, labor solidarity served as a lifelong influence. Although he played ball in Chicago and and strikeouts. Columbus at the start of his career, Baldwin continued to return to Homestead during the offseason and maintained ties within the Baldwin is back row, fifth from left, in this community.4 Baldwin stayed apprised of local photo of the Chicago and All-American World Tour Teams, 1888-89. Next to him talent, directing White Stockings manager is future governor John Tener. Wearing Cap Anson in 1888 to sign John K. Tener, who the Pittsburgh Alleghenys jersey is Fred Carroll. Second row in a suit is Albert not only went on to serve as the Brotherhood Spalding; left of him is Cap Anson and to of Professional Baseball Players’ secretary but the right is John Montgomery Ward; below became governor of Pennsylvania, and while Spalding in the Detroit shirt is future Pittsburgh manager Ned Hanlon. still in office, in 1913, became president of National Baseball Hall of Fame, image by Sydney, Tuttle & Co. the National League.5 Baldwin also trained at local gymnasiums and after the 1891 season he played on the town’s football team. The events surrounding the Homestead Strike were not Baldwin’s first brushes with 1887 after a failed attempt to add him to their including Baldwin as its primary pitcher, played the law or labor activism. His career in roster for game five of the 1886 championship exhibition matches on five continents against a baseball led him into the perils of excess that series against Chris von der Ahe’s St. Louis team of National League all-stars. One of his still haunt professional athletes today, but team in the American Association.6 As a new opponents was Brotherhood president Ward it also led to his involvement in outlandish player in the National League, it is likely who, like Baldwin, was a native Pennsylvanian situations that could only occur during the that he was encouraged by his teammates and former student at Pennsylvania State formative years of professional baseball in to join the Brotherhood. Founded by John University. During their trip around the globe Victorian America. As an employee during Montgomery Ward in 1885, the Brotherhood they would have had plenty of time to discuss a period of heightened labor sensitivities, he of Professional Baseball Players was the first labor issues facing ball players.8 was also aware of the rising importance of sports labor union and represented virtually With Baldwin’s reputation as a wild trade unions in protecting the interests of all of the National League’s star players.7 pitcher already established, Spalding’s tour workers who were being exploited by those At the conclusion of the 1888 season, provided the first glimpse at what he could profiting from their efforts. White Stockings owner Albert Spalding do off the diamond. Once the tour left the Baldwin officially broke into the organized a world tour to promote the game of country Baldwin was quickly caught up in National League with the White Stockings in baseball and his line of equipment. The team, the shenanigans of his fellow players and he 52 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2015 “partook in much of the trip’s alcohol-fed League owners and their players by stating a significant role in developing the young hijinks. At one point he was attacked by a that he preferred the American Association league off the field.12 monkey and bitten in the leg after parading because “the salaries and treatment given Once signed by the Chicago Pirates, it around the ship and feeding it pretzels the players are greater and better.”10 On Baldwin set out as a recruiter to gather more and beer.”9 He expended all of his money November 4, 1889, the Brotherhood issued men for the Players League. On November before the end of the journey and borrowed a manifesto that announced their desire to 25 he traveled to St. Louis and successfully extensively from Spalding, causing the play for new ownership the following season; swayed the Browns’ Yank Robinson and owner to sue Baldwin in 1897 to recover the Baldwin and many other Brotherhood Joe Quinn of the Boston Beaneaters to money. As a result of his behavior on the trip, members jumped from their teams to form leave their teams. During a December Baldwin was released by the White Stockings their own Players League. The new league barnstorming tour, Baldwin also persuaded upon their return to Chicago in 1889. was to be run as a co-operative where Tip O’Neill and Charles Comiskey to leave The American Association team in players and backers both governed the the Browns and play with him in Chicago.13 Columbus picked up Baldwin for the 1889 league and shared equally in its profits.11 On It is clear that Baldwin was a persuasive season. While there, he still managed to tip November 21, Baldwin signed with Charles member of the Brotherhood who had his his cap to the struggle between the National Addison’s Chicago Pirates, but he also played finger on the pulse of the labor issues of 53 the day, much to the ire of National League St. Louis on another recruiting trip, Conflict in the Mill owners, particularly von der Ahe of the St. this time to secure the services of his Louis American Association club, which was Players League teammate Silver King The Homestead Steel Works was two years depleted singlehandedly by his efforts. and Jack Connor. After losing three old in 1883 when Carnegie and his associates Baldwin thrived in the Players League, players to his recruitment efforts purchased the plant with the intention of posting a career-best season and leading in 1889, von der Ahe was ready for increasing their company’s production. The the league in games won, complete games, Baldwin’s visit. Claiming that King Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel innings pitched, and strikeouts.14 The was under contract with his Browns, Workers had organized the mill prior to its league fielded superior talent, but the costs von der Ahe had Baldwin arrested acquisition by Carnegie, Phipps and Co. of supporting eight brand new teams and for conspiracy on March 5. Upon and, thanks to an aggressive strike in 1889, competing for attendance took its toll. The his release Baldwin sued von der Ahe managed to maintain its presence in the labor Players League was no match for the wealth for false imprisonment, which led to force with a new contract that was set to expire backing the established National League and a seven-year court battle, von der on July 1, 1892. it officially folded by January 1891. Players’ Ahe’s alleged kidnapping, and his Carnegie had previously hired Frick, contracts reverted back to their 1889 teams arrest at Exposition Park. By the start owner of Frick Coke Company, to run based on baseball’s reserve clause and so of the 1891 season, King had signed his steel operations. Frick was notoriously Baldwin was once again with the American with Pittsburg. That year, the entire anti-union and his sights were focused on Association’s Columbus nine.15 Even Pittsburg club was under scrutiny breaking the Amalgamated Association after the league folded, Baldwin remained for raiding American Association at Homestead because it was perceived as involved with the Brotherhood and teams and benefitting from the fall interfering with production and profits.