John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson end their holdout and sign with the Cardinals. Both contracts have the reserve clause crossed out, freeing McGraw to return to Baltimorein the American League in 1901.
1899 – Ban Johnson, president of the new American League, contemplates exchanging players of equal ability with the National League with a view to giving the public new attractions.
The National League announces starting next season there will be two umpires working each game. A crew of four umps employed for all regular season games will not begin until 1952.
1899 – Representatives of seven cities meet in New York regarding the proposed new American Association. Attention focuses on what other city might become the eighth franchise. The plans to revive the circuit will come to naught.
The grandstand at Louisville’s Eclipse Park burns down. The Colonels will try and make do with a temporary stand.
The Giants sell pitcher Jouett Meekin to Boston for $3‚500. Meekin averaged 25 wins a year from 1894-1898‚ but has slipped to 5-11 this season.
The Reds sweep a twinbill from Boston by 7 – 2 scores‚ and set a Cincinnati club record by winning 12 in a row.
Brickyard Kennedy triumphs over Bert Cunningham and Brooklyn beats Louisville, 1 – 0, on a hit batsman and a steal of home by Bill Dahlen in the 2nd inning.
On June 11, 1899 1899 – Chicago 3B Harry Wolverton is badly injured in a collision with catcher Art Nichols in the 6th inning of a 2 – 1 win over St. Louis. He is expected to miss several weeks of play.
On June 10, 1899 Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 3B Jimmy Williams’s batting streak stops at 26 games as Louisville’s Deacon Phillippe holds him in check. But the Pirates win‚ 6 – 1‚ in the opener‚ and then are victorious‚ 5 – 4, in game 2.
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