d 40 lost, and New York third with 83 games
won and 48 lost, Cincinnati being fourth, Cleveland fifth, Brooklyn
sixth, Washington seventh, Pittsburg eighth, Chicago ninth, Philadelphia
tenth, Louisville eleventh and St. Louis twelfth.

Late that fall the newspapers began to publish articles to the effect
that I was to be released by the Chicago League Ball Club, but as no
official notice to that effect had ever been served on me, arid as I was
conscious of always having done my duty by the organization in which I
was a stockholder, I for some time paid no attention to the matter. From
mere rumors, however, these newspaper articles soon began to take on a
more definite form and to be coupled with references to my management of
the team that were, to say the least, both uncalled for and venomous,
but still I heard nothing from headquarters that would lead me to
suppose there was any truth in them.

On the contrary I was treated with the greatest consideration, Mr.
Spalding even going so far as to insist upon my attending the League
meeting in my official capacity, where I made trades for players that
were afterwards blocked by himself and President Hart, this action
making my position a most humiliating one.

Still ignorant of the fact that I was to be dropped from the club's
rolls, and that without warning after my long and faithful service, at
Mr. Spalding's solicitation that spring I accompanied him on a trip to
England, and while we were there he advised me not to worry about the
club matters or the rumors that I had heard, as the thing would
doubtless be all fixed up before our return. I then made a proposition
to him that he and I together should buy the Chicago League Ball Club, a
proposition that he partially acceded to, though in view of subsequent
events I am now certain that such a plan was not in reality entertained
by him for a moment.

Matters had indeed been "fixed up" on my return, and Tom Burns, my old
third-baseman, had been brought on from Springfield, Mass., to manage
the team, or, rather, to serve as a figure-head for the Club's
President.

It was then that I was advised by Mr. Spalding to resign, which I
refused to do, preferring to take my medicine like a man, bitter as the
dose might be.

Mr. Burns that spring took up the reins that had been taken out of my
hands, and how well he succeeded with the able (?) assistance of
President Hart is now a matter of history.

The following table gives