1916 – The Federal League’s year-old suit charging antitrust violations by organized baseball is dismissed by mutual consent in U.S. District Court in Chicago by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. No appellate decision is written and it will not be until 1922 when the courts rule on antitrust, in another suit stemming from the Federal League.
1916 – The National League meeting announces that it has come to the league’s attention that “some of the diamonds” don’t measure properly. On this day, John Heydler’s office circulates to clubs the news of the Chicago Cubs’ pitching distance, and orders an engineer’s certification.
1916 – The New York Giants buy center fielder Edd Roush from the Newark Peppers of the defunct Federal League for $7,500. Roush will hit just .188 in New York before being packaged to Cincinnati, where he will blossom into a Hall of Famer.
Under the terms of the peace agreement, a list of 123 Federal League free agents is released by the National Association. Next month, the upstart league’s year-old suit charging organized baseball of antitrust violations will be dismissed by mutual consent in the U.S. District Court by Judge Kenesaw M. Landis, who will become the game’s first commissioner in 1920.
1916 – The New York Giants purchase three stars from the defunct Federal League: pitcher Fred Anderson, outfielder Benny Kauff, and catcher Bill Rariden.
1916 – Lee Magee, formerly the player-manager of the Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the Federal League, is sold to the Yankees for about $25,000.
1916 – King Cole, the pitcher who gave up Babe Ruth’s first hit in 1914, dies in Bay City, MI at age 29. Cole was a stellar pitcher while playing for the Chicago Cubs, helping his team to the 1910 World Series.
1916 – The St. Louis Browns are the first of two major league franchises awarded to former Federal League owners. Philip de Catesby Ball, ice-manufacturing tycoon and principal stockholder of the Feds’ St. Louis Terriers, pays a reported $525,000 for the Browns and replaces manager Branch Rickey with his own Fielder Jones.
1915 – Organized Baseball and the Federal League sign a peace treaty at Cincinnati, ending their two-year war. The FL agrees to go out of existence, but the Major Leagues pay an enormous price: $600,000 for distribution to FL owners; amalgamation of two FL franchises, one each into National League and American League; recognition of FL players’ eligibility, and agreement to bid for them in a Fed-controlled auction. The owners of the Baltimore Terrapins, hoping to get the Cardinals, balk, but conferees, eager for settlement, defer their claims – a decision they will repent at leisure when the Baltimore owners take their grievance all the way to the Supreme Court.
1915 – Former Giant owner Andrew Freedman dies at the age of 55. He owned the team for seven years, firing a Steinbrennian 16 managers during his reign.
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