| The Continental League of 1921 From Major Leagues by David Pietrusza |
| Following the Federal League’s absorption, baseball faced and survived—although just barely—the challenge of the First World War. In fact, the 1918 season was shortened, ending at Labor Day, and the World Series was barely played. Only the collapse of Imperial Germany saved baseball for the 1919 season. The game then emerged into the lively ball era of Babe Ruth, with increased hitting and attendance, and as it did it was met with yet another of the short-lived, farcical rivals that had marked the early 1910s. This time the “challenge,” the “Continental League,” emanated from Boston. Championing it was George Herman “Andy” Lawson, whom the Sporting News characterized as “famous as [aJ baseball promoter in the past.” Announcements Lawson distributed described him—albeit, in somewhat exaggerated terms—“as the father of the old United States League, which later developed into the Federal League.” Others recalled him as the organizer of another recent flop called the “Greater Boston League.” Despite these claims, as we saw in the chapters covering the United States League and the Federal League, Lawson’s name was not prominent. If he had a role to play, it must have been a supporting part. Assisting him in this new endeavor were James Nelson Barry and George Maynard Riley, also of Beantown. Barry, whose residence was given as 433 Shawmut Avenue, was moderately well-known as a promoter of New England area semipro teams. He had also functioned as a sort of talent scout or “bird dog” for big league clubs. Riley, of 15 Park Square, was unknown in baseball circles. The Sporting News termed Lawson an “Old Friend” and seemed to be taking the announcement at least semi-seriously, reporting the circuit would be a “big league” and “a real rival of the American and the National,” although details of how it would obtain its players were not discussed. On December 28, 1920, the Continental League was chartered under the laws of the State of Massachusetts, capitalized at $60,000. Lawson held 4,000 shares of its common stock; Barry held 3,000, and Riley owned 2,000. The following day an organizational meeting was held. On December 31, Lawson announced that his league would represent not cities as had been the traditional manner, but states (shades of the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and California Angels). The Massachusetts club would operate in Boston; New York State’s in either Brooklyn or Buffalo; New Jersey’s in Camden; Pennsylvania’s in Pittsburgh; Maryland’s in Baltimore; Michigan’s in Detroit; Ohio’s in Cleveland; and Indiana’s in Indianapolis. In no case would there be more than one team per state. Offices of the new circuit would beat 27 School Street, opposite the Boston City Hall. Major league baseball was prosperous, and in any case was not about to be cowed by a circuit capitalized at a mere $60,000 (although there was talk of the Maryland franchise’s being backed by $2,000,000). “Let ‘em come along into Brooklyn,” challenged Robins Secretary Charles H. Ebbets, Jr. “If they have two or three million dollars to invest in grounds and a plant, they will have everything they need except ballplayers—and, of course, that is only a minor item in getting a team of major leaguers together. “I don’t think there is much to get excited over in this proposition. Evidently somebody up Boston way is having a Happy New Year.” Ebbets heaped further ridicule on the Continental League’s choices of Camden (“When [it] is included as one of the cities in the new league, there is no hesitation in regarding the circuit as something as a joke”) and Indianapolis, which he recalled as a city which won a Federal League pennant and then saw its team move to Newark. “It is difficult,” concluded Ebbets, “to consider a major league without teams in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago or St. Louis, but they do try some odd things in baseball now and then.” The Times took care to point out further difficulties Lawson and company would be facing. The courts had recently given grudging backing to the standard player contract. Parks were now more expensive. After the Feds’ failure, men of wealth would be less inclined to back a third league. “It is not likely,” the Times reasoned, “that major league club owners will view the proposed organization with any great alarm... ." However, restiveness was in the air within Organized Baseball’s ranks. The International League and the American Association were grumbling about breaking away from the National Association. Controversy centered over the draft prices paid by big league clubs for minor league players. “The Indianapolis club,” said Indians manager Jack Hendricks, “is solidly back of any move that President Thomas Jefferson Hickey may take to lead the American Association from the smaller ioops into a larger one.” Nonetheless, Lawson seemed to make no moves to take advantage of this discontent. On January 4, 1921, “Andy” Lawson was officially named president of the mysterious new circuit. Along with this news, came another of what would soon be a whole series of conflicting news releases concerning prospective franchises. Now missing was any mention of a Pennsylvania franchise. In its place was the possibility of one for “the Province of Toronto, with a team at Toronto.” Lawson was off and rolling in any case. There would be no salary limits on Continental League clubs, and Lawson extended a fantastic offer to financially hard-pressed Red Sox owner Harry H. Frazee to purchase Fenway Park. He added nonchalantly: “In the event of the Red Sox not accepting the offer to sell, a park will be built in Boston.” Other names now emerged. Fred Lundy was awarded the Boston franchise, although it was said he was a mere agent for others. The Indiana slot was given over to Indianapolis’ Donald Jones; the New Jersey franchise to Philadelphia’s Charles H. Mack. On January 9 the New York Times reported that Lawson was surveying the New York metropolitan area for possible playing sites. Old Federal League locations at Newark (Harrison Park) and Brooklyn (Washington Park) were examined, although Lawson indicated that either city might be replaced as its state’s prospective representative—Newark by Camden; Brooklyn by far-off Buffalo. In fact, the possibility of any Garden State club now seemed iffy. In terms of player personnel Lawson indicated that the Continental League (which the Times alternately termed the “Continental Baseball Association”) had already signed several “prominent” players, as well as some umpires, although he would not reveal their identities. Players would be engaged for one season only—i.e., there would be no reserve clause. Despite rumors to the contrary, players involved in the recent Black Sox scandal were not being considered. The Times was intrigued and amused by another of Lawson’s ideas, that he would be engaging “Negro or Cuban” talent, primarily for his Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey squads. The paper noted that such a move would “ensure him the 135th Street and Lenox Avenue [Harlem] vote quite solidly.” Lawson himself commented that both Philadelphia and Boston contained large black populations, hinting that these could be a significant percentage of his gate. “He asserted,” reported the Times, “that there were at least 100 [black] ball players in this country who were the equal in playing skill of the average sound player in the two major leagues. . . .“ It was not a popular opinion for the time, but it was, of course, true. Regarding franchises, Lawson claimed that three of the eight possible clubs had already been assigned, the aforementioned Indianapolis and Boston teams, plus Toronto. Lawson piously hoped to have as many players from the state or province that each club represented as possible. He also hoped to buy existing clubs and or stadiums if they were available. Capital for the new circuit, Lawson maintained, was now at the $75,000 level. Lawson’s next stop was Philadelphia. From the City of Brotherly Love, he announced that the Continental League’s season would commence on May 1 and end just after Labor Day. Franchises would now be awarded to Massachusetts (Boston), Indiana (Indianapolis), New York (Brooklyn), New Jersey (Newark), Pennsylvania (either Philadelphia or Pittsburgh), Maryland (Baltimore), Ohio (Cleveland) and either Ontario (Toronto) or Michigan (Detroit). Aside from the daily shifting of franchises, other statements by Lawson were guaranteed to raise eyebrows. Each C.L. club would be affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, and, of course, there would be no reserve clause, “as the Continental does not recognize such contracts.” Lawson continued his campaign to obtain the former Federal League stadia, firing off a telegram to Cincinnati Reds President Garry Herrmann (the former National Commission Chairman), ordering him to “cut the strings” on the Newark and Brooklyn fields. “Otherwise,” the promoter threatened, “I shall immediately sign four American League players who wish to jump to the Continental League.” Still in Philadelphia a few days later, Lawson contradicted himself once more. Now he stated that he would indeed sign the disgraced (but still not tried in a court of law) Black Sox players. Other announcements were to come, but were not calculated to inspire the baseball public. Minor league catcher Harry O’Donnell (an Athletics property) was dickering with the Continentals— amazingly, it was said he could virtually name his price. Former Red Sox and Buffeds infielder Clyde “Hack” Engle was negotiating to become pilot of the C.L. Boston team. Darby, Pennsylvania, resident Eddie Bohon was attempting to secure the Camden franchise. More interesting was Lawson’s continuing ffirtation with black talent. The Chicago American Giants were mentioned as a prospective franchise, although that club was already a member of Rube Foster’s new National Association of Colored Professional Base Ball Clubs. Two other black teams, the obscure Boston Tigers and the Knoxville Giants, were also mentioned as possible C.L. members. By early February two more franchises were formally awarded: to shoe manufacturer Warren L. Patterson in Buffalo (this meant Brooklyn was out of the running) and to Captain Raymond C. Warner in Philadelphia (this spelled finis for Pittsburgh). Therefore, shortly Lawson was on the move again, heading for Pittsburgh, Cleveland and either Cincinnati or Chicago to line up backers. Again he was hinting of black participation, boasting that four Negro clubs were knocking on his door. As Opening Day approached less and less was heard of Andy Lawson and his Continental League. By late April, he popped up announcing that play would not begin on May 1, but would instead start on May 20. It never did. |