The Armando Marsans Story

[Bench 5]

Here is some brief biographical information regarding Armando Marsans per Baseball Reference. He was born October 3, 1887 in Matanzas, Cuba and died September 3, 1960 in Havana, Cuba. He batted and threw right handed. He was 5' 10" and weighed 157 lb. His first major league game came on July 4, 1911
and his final game was July 13, 1918.

He played eight years in the majors and hit .269 lifetime with 612 hits and 171 stolen bases in just 655 games.

[Bench 5]

I’ve been reading several articles about some of the great Cuban ballplayers from the early 1900’s. I decided to put together a string of articles regarding Armando Marsans who played in the majors from 1911 to 1918. Marsans never became a superstar in the majors. However his success in the majors helped pave the way as a trailblazer for other Cuban players. Marsans played a bigger role in the history of the early game than he would otherwise get credit for based solely on his playing record. What makes Marsans extraordinary is the fact that he was a pioneer in two different manners during the early 20th century in baseball:


Along with Rafael Almeida, he was the 1st Cuban baseball player to play in the majors in the 20th century making his debut on July 4, 1911.
He also took part in a major legal case involving the upstart Federal League and the major leagues.


For these reasons I think his career deserves further consideration. I am going to present several contemporaneous articles from research that I did using ProQuest and Baseball Magazine and the AAFLA's website. Here is a summary of how I am to present the information regarding the career of Armando Marsans:

I. How Armando Marsans Became a Major Leaguer
A. Cuba’s introduction to baseball
B. Story of Marsans and Almeida
C. Marsans Contributions to Baseball in Cuba
II. Armando Marsans – What kind of ballplayer was he?
III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues
A. What events caused Armando to jump leagues
B. Details of the Marsans case
C. Armando’s Career post Federal League

[Bench 5]

I. How Armando Marsans Became a Major Leaguer

A. Cuba’s introduction to baseball

Washington Post May 12, 1956
Bob Addie’s Column

“….the first Cuban player in the big leagues was a gentleman with the un-Cuban name of William Henry Bellam, who was an infielder-outfielder for the Troy Haymakers and later the New York Mutuals, of the National League back in 1871.

Like everything else about Cuba, the baseball history seems distorted too. For instance, many people think Cuba became a republic in 1898 after the United States stepped in and helped free the Wet Indies Island from the Spanish. Actually history tells us that the U.S. troops occupied Cuba for four years and it wasn’t until May 20, 1902, that Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood relinquished his executive powers to Cuba’s first president, Estrada Palma.
Thus it is with the baseball history of Cuba (the corruption of an old Indian name, “Cuba-Nacon” which means “center-place”). Browsing through the record books you discover that Cubans were big-leaguers long before Washington discovered them (and perhaps long before the Nats).

Baseball was first introduced to Cuba in 1878 by a group of Cuban students who had attended American universities. By 1890, the sport was booming on the island. The Cubans early loved the grace, finesse and competition of the game.

In 1890 John McGraw, then winning fame with the Baltimore Orioles, brought a team of North Americans to Cuba and the “Little Napolean” was astounded by the competition his major leaguers received from the graceful Cubans.”


Cuban Teams versus Major League and Negro League Teams from 1903-1915
Last year, I compiled a list of the exhibition series between the Cuban teams versus Major League teams and Negro League teams during the 1st half of the 20th century. This information is based upon two sources: cubanball.com and books by John Holway. The article above mentions that John McGraw played in a series of games versus some of the Cuban teams. Although McGraw’s team went 5-0 versus the Cuban teams, McGraw was highly impressed and brought his teams to play in Cuba many years later. Several other major league teams played a series of exhibition games in Cuba after the end of the regular seasons. Accounts at the time indicate that the major league teams were highly impressed with the quality of play of the Cuban ballplayers. Most of the contemporaneous articles that I have read indicate that the Cuban players were noted for their outstanding defensive abilities and for having strong and accurate throwing arms. However, in general, they were noted as being weaker hitters than their major league counterparts.

In 1908 the Cincinnati Reds played a series of ten games against Cuban teams and wound up splitting the series. In 1909 the Detroit Tigers, sans Ty Cobb, went 4-8 versus the Cuban teams. In 1910, the Tigers (with Cobb playing some of the games) posted a record of 7-4-1. The same year the Philadelphia Athletics went 4-6 during an exhibition series versus Cuban teams. In 1911, the Philadelphia Phillies went 5-4 versus Cuban teams while the New York Giants went 9-3. In 1912, the A’s visited the island again and went 10-2 during versus Cuban teams. In 1915, the St. Louis Federals played an exhibition series and went 7-2.

Various All Star teams also visited the island and played against the Cuban teams. In 1909 a team of All Stars led by Three Finger Brown and Addie Joss went 2-5 during a series of exhibitions. In 1913, a team led by Casey Stengel went 10-5 versus the islanders.

Over this period, Cuban teams compiled a record of 45-63 in the exhibition games versus major leaguers.

Starting in 1903, many Negro League teams also played in a series of exhibitions versus the Cuban teams. During the period from 1903 to 1915, the Cuban ball clubs went 66-59 against the Negro League ball clubs.

[Bench 5]

I. How Armando Marsans Became a Major Leaguer

A. Cuba’s introduction to baseball

Below are excerpts from an outstanding article written by Adrian Burgos Jr. The article provides some excellent background infromation on early ball in Cuba and Latin America. In included a couple points that provide some background infromation on Marsans.

Baseball should follow the Flag: the Color Line, and Major League Baseball’s Globalization Strategies
Presented to the Conference on Globalization and Sport in Historical Context, University of California, San Diego – March 2005
By Adrian Burgos Jr.

"The rush to corner the market on the new talent contributed to several controversies erupting over contractual and racial matters. In 1907, Cuban players Rafael Almeida and Armando Marsans were at the center of an inter-league controversy as Scranton (Pennsylvania League) and New Britain (Connecticut League) made competing claims on their services. Unable to resolve their conflict, the issue went before Garry Herrmann, president of the National Commission, the organization that governed all the leagues within organized baseball. Herrmann decided to award the rights to Scranton. It turned out to be a temporary setback for New Britain.

The following spring New Britain succeeded in its pursuit of Cuban players, signing four Cuban players for the 1908 season: Almeida, Marsans, Alfiedo “Cabbage” Cabrera, and Luis Padrón. All four enjoyed strong campaigns in the Class B minor league, the equivalent of today’s AA minor league, Padrón was the league’s fourth-leading hitter, with a .313 batting average whereas Almeida and Marsans ranked eleventh and fourteenth with .293 and .274 averages, respectively.

Their inclusion did not proceed without protest. Protests by players and team owners prompted Connecticut League officials to institute a new color line after the 1908 season. The new policy forbade league teams to contract “black” players. Since no African American players participated in the league, the change specifically called into question the racial ancestry of New Britain’s Cuban players.

Concerns about the Cuba players’ racial background were expressed as soon as New Britain had signed them. The Springfield Union alluded to the mounting suspicions in the weeks preceding the 1908 campaign: “Manager Humphrey is getting what looks like a good team together. He has signed up to four Cuban players ... It will not be surprising if a drive is made against them in organized base ball on the ground that they are negroes, and it is well known that the colored brethren are not welcome in organized bail.”

Concerned with the league’s new racial policy, New Britain’s new manager, Billy Hanna, traveled to Cuba hoping to secure documentation that verified the racial eligibility of his Cuban players. A previous traveler to Cuba as a sportswriter that covered the Detroit Tigers 1908 visit, Hanna came back to the States with mixed results in his mission to find out whether his players were “genuine Cubans and not Negroes.” According to a published report, Hanna discovered that “all the players were real Cubans except Padron.”"

Later in his article, Burgos Jr. goes on to state:

"Engineered primarily through the efforts of Frank Bancroft, the door of opportunity for Cuban players to enter the Major Leagues was opened in the winter spanning late 1910 and early 1911. In December Bancroft traveled to Cuba with the Philadelphia Athletics, having agreed to lead the American League champion team during its Cuban tour as a favor to Connie Mack, Philadelphia’s regular manager. The two-week visit gave Bancroft the chance to survey the Cuban talent and to provide his regular employer, the Cincinnati Reds, with scouting reports on the Cuban talent.

The Cuban teams Philadelphia faced during its tour featured native Cuban and African-American talent. Cuban infielder Rafael Almeida was especially impressive in the games versus the visiting major leaguers. Excited with the young Cuban’s performance, Bancroft wrote a letter to Cincinnati team president Gary Herrmann from his Havana hotel room. After providing an update on Philadelphia’s performance against the Cuban teams, Bancroft shared a brief scouting report on Almeida and concluded the letter: “Wish we had him. He is not colored”’ Alerting Herrmann that Almeida had already played in the minors the previous season with New Britain Bancroft set in motion the process whereby the Cincinnati Reds would not only sign Almeida but would also land fellow Cuban Armando Marsans for the 1911 season.

“Bannv,” as local Cincinnati sportswriters referred to him, also shared news of his trip with local newspapers back home, informing the Cincinnati faithful of the game’s continuing development on the Island. The Cincinnati fans who read the December 2, edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer learned about the Cuban talent that was just waiting for a daring Major League organization. In his column that day, Enquirer sportswriter Jack Ryder updated fans on the Athletics tour and on Bancroft’s activities, providing in brief a scouting report on Cuban players. “Four of the Havana team would be in one of the big leagues if they were white men and four of the Cubans on the Almendares team play in the Connecticut League during the regular season, and at least one of these men is of major league caliber”.

The following day Ryder informed Cincinnati followers of Bancroft’s specific interest in Rafael Almeida “Frank Bancroft is full of enthusiasm for a young Cuban athlete who played against the Athletics during their sojourn in Havana this fall.” “The young man’s name is Rafael Almeida” Ryder noted, “and he played third base for the Almendares team, which is composed entirely of native Cubans, of Spanish descent.” The Cincinnati sportswriter then attempted to assuage possible concerns about Almeida’s racial eligibility:"The young fellow is a real enough star. He would be a valuable addition to the infield candidates. He is a native Cuban, of Spanish blood and is not a Negro.”

In order to gain support for their Cuban experiment, Cincinnati had to assert that there existed fine lines of racial difference among individuals from the Spanish-speaking Americas. The Reds organization thus had to convince fellow team owners that they were not breaking the racial compact in place that excluded blacks. Cincinnati’s defense for signing Rafael Almeida and Armando Marsans validated the racial eligibility of a select few Cubans while continuing to designate other Cubans as either too racially ambiguous or as being of African descent.

Ethnicity thus worked as a critical factor in distinguishing among Cubans and among all those from the Spanish-speaking Americas. Major League officials and sportswriters sympathetic to the signing of Almeida and Marsans adopted ethnic labels such as Castilian and descriptions such as “Northern Spanish” to differentiate them from those deemed racially ineligible. The point that not all Cuban and Latino players were the same racially was repeatedly made to the Cincinnati faithful as the Reds considered signing Almeida and Marsans.

Two weeks before the Cuban duo made their official debut with the Reds, a June 23, 1911, Cincinnati .Enquirer column cited Cuban sportswriter Victor Muñoz’s letter to Reds president Garry Herrmann as validation of the racial eligibility of Almeida and Marsans. ‘”Both of these men are pure Spaniards, without a trace of colored blood” In distinguishing among a group that most North Americans perceived as an undifferentiated mass, league officials and sportswriters participated in the creation of a hierarchy of ethno-racial types for Latinos. It was a process that made would make Castilians out of Latinos of various national origins who possessed the right blend of talent and physical features.

The entry of Almeida and Marsans into the National League caused unease despite the precautions taken by the Cincinnati team management. The two Cubans made their first appearance on July 4th on the road versus the Chicago Cubs. Shortly after their debut several large urban newspapers, including the Detroit Free’ Press and the Philadelphia Enquirer, published a full-page story along with a photograph of the two Cubans in Reds uniform. Evidently, the Cuban’s appearance in print had unsettled some observers: the photo rendered their “race” visible and revealed physical features that caused alarm for those concerned with maintaining the racial barrier.
A number of people speculated: Why did the Reds launch their Cuban experiment on the road? Was the ream trying to hide something?

Concern about public perception compelled some local sportswriters to show their support in defense of the signing, a Cincinnati Enquirer reporter offered a grand introduction: “Ladies and Gentlemen, we have in our midst two descendants of a noble Spanish race, both of no ignoble African blood to place a blot or spot on their escutcheons. Permit me to introduce two of the purest bars of Castilian soap that ever floated to these shores, Senors Alameda [Sic] and Marsans.” Other papers within the National League circuit would pick up on the lead of the Cincinnati .Enquirer. In short order, publications ranging from the New York Times to sporting periodicals such as The Sporting News were referring to Almeida and Marsans not iust as Cubans but also as Castilian and of Northern Spanish ancestry.

“Adding Bronze to the Red” as a columnist referred to Cincinnati’s Cuban experiment, revealed part of the spectrum of baseball color line reserved for individuals from the Spanish- speaking Americas. The racial categories of “Bronze” and brown represented the intermediate space along professional baseball’s color line. These categories at times had to work against popular perceptions of Cubans as non-white individuals and as possibly black. This was apparent in a NewYork Times July 16th item about New York fan expectations about the physical appearance of Almeida and Marsans. Less than two weeks after the Cubans made their big league debut, the Times reported that fans had expected the Cubans to look like “Pullman porters” were “surprised” when the witnessed the lighter-skinned Cubans performing in the contests between Cincinnati and the New York Giants."

[Bench 5]

I. How Armando Marsans Became a Major Leaguer

B. Marsans and Almeida

Washington Post, January 31, 1938
Clark Griffith – 50 Years in Baseball (Chapter Sixteen)
by Shirley Povich

“To Griffith’s complete surprise and great chagrin, League President Johnson contrived to transfer Jimmy McAleer, St. Louis manager to Washington, ignoring Griffith’s request. In some heat at this seeming ingratitude of Johnson, Griffith cast his lot with the National League and accepted the Cincinnati management.

Griffith’s three year term at Cincinnati was chiefly notable, perhaps for his acquisition of a star Cuban rookie, the first islander to make good in big league baseball.

Secretary Bancroft, of the Cincinnati Club, in an off-season tour to Havana, had watched several Cuban ball games and returned to Cincinnati with glowing tales of the skill of Rafael Almeida, a Cuban third baseman. So persistent was Bancroft that Griffith finally agreed to give the Cuban a tryout.

A cable dispatched to Almeida at Havana brought the following reply:
“Will not come to Cincinnati unless expenses of my interpreter are also paid.”
Mereley to satisfy Bancroft, Griffith agreed that the Cuban rookie be permitted the expense of an interpreter and in due time, the Cuban pair showed up at the Reds park for Almeida’s tryout. To Griffith’s surprise, the interpreter also trotted on the field in uniform and shagged flies in the outfield while Almeida was given a thorough test both at bat and in the field.
Bancroft waxed enthusiastic as he watched the Cuban third baseman maneuver around the bag and take a beauteous cut at the ball. In the manner of Cuban ball players he doffed his cap at each applause, and bowed deeply whenever approached.

“That Almeida looks great, doesn’t he, Griff?” Bancroft asked.
Griffith had been watching Almeida’s actions and noted his overwhelmingly polite mannerisms.

“No,” said Griffith simply. “That matador is no account. But that interpreter of his out there in the outfield: I’ve been watching him. Sign him to a contract right away. He’s a ball player.”

Thus did Armando Marsans, regular Cincinnati outfielder for several years find his way into the big leagues. "


Chicago Daily Tribune, January 19, 1944

“The first Cuban baseball player to make good in the big leagues was an outfielder, Armando Marsana, who played with the Cincinnati Reds under Clark Griffith in 1910…..”Those early imports were interesting to watch,” Griffith recalls, “They had their early Spanish customs. Whenever one of them came to bat, he doffed his cap and bowed first to the pitcher, then to the fans, if any, in the grandstand.”

[Bench 5]

I. How Armando Marsans Became a Major Leaguer

C. Marsans and Almeida’s Contributions to Cuban Baseball


Washington Post February 4, 1912

First Cubans to Play Baseball in Major Leagues Trying to Instill American Methods in Cuba

Uncle Sam’s monopoly of the baseball market has been seriously threatened. South of the United States, in the Island of Cuba, a nation of little brown men whom Uncle Sam set up in the nation business by kicking Spain off the island, and showing these fellows how to run the business themselves, have been getting so all-fired fresh with Uncle’s favorite pastime that they are mighty apt at any time to rise up in their might and such other clothes as the customs of their country provides for and lick Sammy at his own game. Frank C. Bancroft, Secretary of the Cincinnati National League team, and ‘king of the barnstormers,” is authority for the statement that ‘the day is not too far distant,‘ when Cuban teams will have to be taken into consideration in deciding a world’s championship, or else the honors grabbed by the victor in the big after-session stuff, up here will have to be confined to the mere title of champions of United States.

Baseball Brains of Cuba
The progress made by these Cubans in the adoption of our national pastime is little less than marvelous, and when it comes to producing the real “bughouse” baseball “nut,” they’ve actually got us looking like a bunch of convalescents roosting on the sun porch.

Probably the most potent factor in producing this baseball condition in Cuba, has been the baseball missionary work that has been done on the Island by Armando Marsans and Rafael Almelda, two Cubans who are now members of the Cincinnati National League team and who have the honor of being the first Cubans to break into big league baseball in the land that gave birth to the pastime.

Marsans and Almeida have been the baseball brains of Cuba. Both of very wealthy parentage and aristocratic stock, Almeida being the direct descendant of a Portuguese marquis, they began to play baseball because they loved the game and found that they were naturally adapted to the sport, and they have stuck in the game for the same reason.

As members of the best families of Cuba, they were both compelled to flee to this country during the Cuban revolution and previous to Uncle Sam’s intervention in the continual strife on the island, and it was while here as exiles from the tyranny of Spain that they picked up the rudiments of our national pastime. Both being boys of brains, they were quick to pick up the inside points of the game, and on their return to the island after Uncle Sam had kicked Spain back across the sea, they taught what they had learned here to their fellow players In Cuba.

Break Into Big League
Both being natural players, fast, good hitters, and with strong throwing arms, as all Cubans have, they returned to this country and played with semipro teams, where they made good to such an extent that the attention of minor league managers was attracted to their work, and the New Britain club, of the Connecticut League, and the Scranton club, of the New York League, started a fight for their possession, in which the national commission awarded them to Scranton. This was in 1907. The following year they went to New Britain, where they played so well that in June, 1911, Manager Griffith, of the Cincinnati National League team, fearing to lose their services if he waited for the drafting season, purchased their release, paying $3,500 for Almeida, and $2,500 for Marsans. Thus they became the first Cuban players to break into a big league team here, and the pioneers of others of their race, who will no doubt soon follow in their footsteps.

Almeida alternated with Ed Grant at third for Cincinnati last year, and while not so fast a fielder, he proved such a good hitter that he supplanted the speedy Grant In games, where it was desired to increase the hitting strength of the team. In 29 games last season, after he had joined the Reds, Almeida hit our big league pitching for an average of .313, and led the Cincinnati team in hitting. When on the bench he was always used as the Reds’ leading pinch hitter.

Almeida is not a superior sample of Cuban fielding ability, there being In- fielders down there who are faster and can put It all over him at this end of the game, the fast fielding and throwing of these Cuban players being something really marvelous, but he has always been Cuba’s leading performer with the bludgeon. In the games In Cuba against the world’s champion Athletics last year, Almeida’s hitting was mainly responsible for the defeats suffered by the world’s champions. Against Bender, Coombs, and Plank, Almeida in these games batted for an average of .637, which is going some against big league pitching if anybody should ask you. This year, in the two series played in Havana with the Phillies and the Giants, he hit for an average of .416 against the pitching of Mathewson, Crandall, and Wiltse of the Giants, and Chalmers, Stock, and Schultz, of the Phillies, which again is going some against the best of the big league pitching. One of .Almeida’s hits in these series was a home run made off Crandall, of the Giants, while in a game against ‘Mathewson, on November 14, he assaulted the great “Matty” for a double and two singles, and was mainly responsible for the Cubans beating Mathewson in this game.

Batting Average and Ancestry
Rafael Almeida was born in Havana in 1885. He is not actually of Cuban ancestry, being a direct descendant of a Portuguese marquis, who was compelled to leave the court of Lisbon in haste through some love sin in the beginning of the last century, and settle in Brazil, whence the Almeida family came to Cuba some years later. His real name is Rafael D’Almeida, and smacks strongly of the nobility. This is the name he signs to his baseball contracts as well as his love letters, of which he is a great writer. Almeida, or D’Almeida., does not like to be called an aristocrat as he takes more pride in his batting average than he does in his ancestry or position in society. Baseball is the big league stuff for Rafael D’Almeida.

Armado.Marsans, the other half of the baseball brains of. Cuba, is an aristocrat by birth but a big league outfielder by choice. He was born In Matanzas, 55 miles from Havana, in 1885, being the same age as Almeida.

Teach Game to Cubans
Marsans returned to this country with Almeida about six years ago, and played on semi-pro teams, whence they have worked their way into the big leagues by way of Scranton and New Britain. During the winter months they returned to Cuba, and taught their countrymen what they have learned of the finer points of the game while playing in the States and it has been mainlt through the expert coaching and the enthusiasm put in the game down there by these two intelligent lads that our national game has made such progress in Cuba.

It has been Marsans and Almeida who have brought baseball in Cuba up to that class of efficiency where the national commission felt it necessary for them to pass a rule forbidding our championship teams to play in Cuba, recognizing those barnstorming trips as a dangerous winter sport that required our teams here to be in the best of condition to retain their honors against the crack teams of Havana.

Marsans - Ty Cobb of Island
Marsans, while not so heavy a hitter as Almeida, is an Intelligent “inside’ player, a star outfielder, and extremely fast and daring on the bases. His forte is his speed and his judgment He is the Ty Cobb of Cuba on the base paths, and leads all the Cuban players a mile or two in stolen bases, his daring and speed completely upsetting the strong-armed Cuban catchers. He is a fitting teammate to the speedy Bescher on the Cincinnati team, and is another man whom the National League catchers will have to watch during the coming season.

Now, Marsans has started’ to agitate a new reform in baseball affairs in Cuba. In spite of the special permit granted by President Herrmann to both Almeida and Marsans to play winter bail in Cuba, Marsans this season refused to play under the old order of things there, and is agitating a change to the system in vogue in the leagues here. In Cuba, baseball has always been conducted on the cooperative plan, there being no management to the teams and the players all sharing in the gate receipts for their remuneration.

Marsans having had his experience with organized baseball in the States, sees great prospects for the improvement of the sport in his own country through an organized system such as is employed here, recognizing the fact that the cooperative system is a natural object in the way of the development of new material. And in the interest of the future good of the game in Cuba, he, with others whom he has enlisted in the work, is working hard for organized baseball in Cuba.

[Bench 5]

I. How Armando Marsans Became a Major Leaguer

C. Marsans and Almeida’s Contributions to Cuban Baseball


October 21, 1911 Chicago Defender

In Venezuela, according to Armando Marsans, the Cincinnati outfielder, who has relatives there, the people are just as wild over baseball as in America. The umpires down there, says Armando are crafty. Before every game they take out accident insurance policies. The most violent rooters in Venezuela are the president and treasurer of the local insurance companies and they take no chances. They guard and protect the umpires defending them against the crowds and, ar the same time, preventing any sudden demand upon their own treasuries.

“I fail to unnerstan’ de American spich,” complains Senor Almeida, the Mexican player on the Cincinnati team. “Senor McLean he say to me de ozzer day dat I am full of prunes. Why he mak’ such accusat’, when he eat wiz me an’ know perfectly well I have not even touched one prune?”


Washington Post August 25, 1912

Marsans Gets Gold Medal
Havana Cuba city council has voted Armando Marsans, who has made good on the Cincinnati National league baseball nine, a $200 gold medal in recognition of his ability in playing the national sport of the United States. It will be represented to Marsans upon his return to Cuba at the end of the baseball season.


June 1, 1913 Washington Post

“I have seen all of the great ballplayers of the present time,” says Armando Marsans, the Cincinnati outfielder, “but I give you my word that the greatest I ever looked upon was an Indian named Canella. Canella was of a strange Indian race that is supposed to be extinct – the Silboneys of Cuba. Canella who cannot be over 27, came out a few years ago and at once became the marvel of eastern Cuba. He was a pitcher and a star on the slab but he was also a batsman, lighting base runner, and a clever outfielder.

American clubs took it for granted that he was a negro and did not sign him. Finally some influential Cuban managers succeeded in making an American magistrate understand that Canella was no negro and all was arranged for his try-out the upcoming spring. And then came the news that Canella’s arm was gone. Going home for a visit, Canella saw the young men of the tribe practicing throwing the javelin. Picking up a slender spear, he hurled it with all his might and something went snap. Crack in his upper arm as he let go the javelin. The arm so long accustomed to throwing a baseball, gave way when he tried to throw the spear, and never since has Canella been able to throw a ball from the pitching slab as far as the catcher.”

[csh19792001]

With all due respect, Bench5, can we get back to the "X vs. Y" polls, the enumerative ranking threads, and the incessant throwing of numbers back and forth? All this historical information and "heavy reading" is bound to prove overwhelming to most of the netizens here....

Let's drop the history and get back to the statistical palavers. After all, what's the purpose of a history forum?

:o

(Thank you for the enlightenment on a recondite figure in baseball.)

[Bench 5]

There's more where that came from Chris. :dance

But I will post the rest tomorrow as it is getting late.

I guess what struck me about this guy was that he really isn't famous at all but he was an integral part of the Cuban wave of players in the early part of the century as well as probably the most pivotal player in the war between the majors leagues and the Federal leagues. But his story got lost in time somehow.

[Bench 5]

II. Armando Marsans – What kind of ballplayer was he?



Here are some basic facts about Marsans as a player from 1911 to 1914:
In his first year in the majors he hit .261 with 11 stolen bases. The next year in 1912, he hit .317 with 35 stolen bases. He ranked 8th in batting average and 9th in stolen bases. He also finished 18th in the MVP voting. Throw in the fact that he was considered an outstanding defensive player and you have a star in the making.

In 1913, he hit .297 with 37 stolen bases. He finished 8th in stolen bases and 24th in MVP voting.

In 1914, he only played 45 games due to factors that we will look at next. He hit .311 for the year with 17 steals. When his ensuing legal battles with the major leagues took place, he was considered an outstanding young ballplayer. Below are some articles that illustrate how he was perceived at the time.


Washington Post February 4, 1912
Marsans - Ty Cobb of Island

"Marsans, while not so heavy a hitter as Almeida, is an Intelligent “inside’ player, a star outfielder, and extremely fast and daring on the bases. His forte is his speed and his judgment He is the Ty Cobb of Cuba on the base paths, and leads all the Cuban players a mile or two in stolen bases, his daring and speed completely upsetting the strong-armed Cuban catchers. He is a fitting teammate to the speedy Bescher on the Cincinnati team, and is another man whom the National League catchers will have to watch during the coming season."


December 1913 Baseball Magazine - Base Hits and Errors
Suggestions of the “Big Series”—A Lesson to the Croakers —With the Players On and Off the Field
By WM. A. PHELON

"McGraw is quoted as saying that he wants Bob Bescher, and will offer a bunch of cash and athletes for him. The tip is out though that the wily McGraw only figures on talking Bescher as a mask and that the man he is really after is Armando Marsans. The Cuban for my money, is the most valuable centerfielder in the National League. Where is there one to equal him when you count up the batting, fielding, and base- running? Marsans can go and get them a mile down the field, and can throw with speed, strength, and accuracy. Crippled by a bad ankle, which stopped his stealing and slowed him too much to outrace grounders, he yet batted an even .300 and had stolen 38 bases at the time his ankle gave down. I don’t know of anyone to equal him in all particulars, while he can play an elegant first or any other infield place. In the last two games played here by the Reds Armando covered third and did it superbly.

Had McGraw possessed Marsans, what a cinch the big series would have been for the Giants! The triple of Schang’s misjudged fatally by Shafer would have been his easiest meat, and one other long hit, falling safe between Murray and Shafer would have been soft for him. The ball that the crippled Snodgrass couldn’t reach in the third game would have been a pipe for Armando—and how his bat would have rung and crashed in each important crisis! "


April 1916 Baseball Magazine - Stars of the Federal
League

Leading Players of the Defunct Circuit who are Counted Upon to Strengthen the Major Clubs

ARMANDO MARSANS
"Armando Marsans was the most brilliant of the Cuban recruits who have gained admission into major league ranks. With Cincinnati he became one of the fastest outfielders in the league, and then, at outs with the local management and attracted by the grand offers of the Federal League he joined that circuit. Marsans was one of the few additions to the new league who every one admitted was a star player. So determined was organized baseball to regain possession of him that they effectually prevented him from fulfilling his new contract. Marsans has several times been quoted as saying that he would not return to baseball in the States. But three-hundred hitters are always in great demand, and Marsans clinched hIs claim on that healthy batting average during his short but spectacular career. He ought to come back stronger than ever for his long rest. "


July 1918 Baseball Magazine - Who’s Who on the Diamond

Thumb Nail Sketches of Baseball‘s Leading Stars

ARMANDO MARSANS
"A well known big league scout after returning from Cuba some years ago imparted this information to a New York daily scribe: Them Cubans are fast, snappy fielders boy, but they cant hit. And that was the impression fandom had of Cuban ball tossers for a long time. They could field like blazes but they couldn’t kiss the onion.

Then Senor A. Marsans hove in sight bearing a big bat and wearing the Cincinnati lively. He proceeded to soak the apple to the tune of .317 in 110 games, stole 35 bases and scorched the outfield with his speed. Fandom rubbed its eyes and gazed at Senor Marsans. For here, in very truth was a Cuban baby who could hit like sin, field like the devil, and run the satchels like Hades. Marsans made considerable record for the Reds during his first three years in the majors, his lowest swat mark being 297."

and:

“Marsans was born in Havana. Cuba in 1886. learned the game there and in 1907 was signed for the first regular engagement in the U. S. A. by New London. He is frail in build, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, scales slightly under 160 pounds and is a real speed merchant. “



September 1914 Baseball Magazine - The Famous Marsans Case

The Great Cuban Outfielder and the Federal League vs. Organized Baseball. Garry Herrrnann, Chairman of National Commission, Defends the Written Contract As a Bindihg Instrument

By HUGH C. WEIR

"Armando Marsans is a good ball player, a very good ball player. The situation which has developed does not reflect in any way on Mr. Marsans ability. We bought Marsans from New Britain and paid six thousand dollars for his release. Marsans was receiving $150 a month for his services. We started him at $350 a month and increased this the next year to $400. "

[csh19792001]

Anyone heard of Esteban Bellán?? :o

This article courtesy of SABR historian Eric Enders:

Armando Marsans

A brilliant defensive outfielder who briefly starred with the Cincinnati Reds, Armando Marsáns was the first Cuban player to make an impact in the major leagues. Dubbed "an aristocrat by birth, but a big league outfielder by choice," he was among baseball's top stars before his career was derailed by an ill-fated attempt to challenge the reserve clause. Marsáns was known for his aggressive base running and was often praised for stretching singles into doubles and doubles into triples. "There is not a more intelligent player in the game than Marsans, who seems to have an uncanny knack of knowing what to do and when to do it," wrote one reporter. He was also versatile. As a youngster in Cuba, Marsáns had learned to play all nine positions, and before he was through in the majors he played everywhere but pitcher and catcher.

The son of a well-to-do Havana merchant, Armando Marsáns was born in Matanzas, Cuba, on October 3, 1887. His family, like many wealthy Cubans at the time, moved to New York City in 1898 to escape the Spanish-American War. Eleven-year-old Armando took to baseball, playing regularly in Central Park. When his family returned to Cuba after a year and a half, the love of the game came back to Cuba with him. In 1905 Armando signed with Almendares, a powerful team in the professional Cuban Winter League. Marsáns and another promising youngster, Rafael Almeida, combined to lead the team to the pennant. In 1907 the team won another title, defeating a Fé team that included Negro League stars Rube Foster, Pete Hill, Charlie Grant, and Bill Monroe.

In 1908 the Cincinnati Reds visited Cuba for a series of exhibition games against the best teams on the island. Marsáns' Almendares club won four of its five games against the Reds, thanks mostly to pitcher José Méndez, but also with contributions from Marsáns, who scored the only run in a 1-0 victory on November 13, 1908. By that time Marsáns and Almeida both were playing in the US minor leagues, signing with New Britain of the Connecticut State League for the 1908 season. Marsáns was an outstanding player for New Britain, batting .285 over four seasons there. In June 1911 the Cincinnati Reds purchased his and Almeida's contracts on the recommendation of Reds secretary Frank Bancroft, who remembered the Cuban pair as a result of his annual exhibition trips to the island nation. At the time, the sale prices were reported as $2,500 for Marsáns and $3,500 for Almeida. During Marsáns' later legal battles with the Reds, owner Garry Herrmann claimed that he paid $6,000 for Marsáns alone.

Marsáns and Almeida were the first Cubans to reach the majors since 1873, and there were whispers around baseball that they had some "Negro" blood. The Reds refuted this at length, calling Marsáns and Almeida "two of the purest bars of Castilian soap ever floated to these shores," and insisting that they were entirely of European descent. In fact that was probably true, as the surname Marsáns is of Catalán rather than Spanish origin. In the late 19th century about 8,000 people--Marsáns' family likely among them--emigrated from Catalonia to Cuba. Racial mixing was fairly uncommon among the light-skinned catalanes, who ranked at the top of Cuba's skin color-based caste system.

Whatever their racial background, Marsáns and Almeida got along well with their new teammates. "The gentlemanly deportment and fast work on the field of these boys have already made them popular with other members of the Reds," the Cincinnati Enquirer reported on July 1, before the pair had even gotten into a game. Only about 15,000 Cubans lived in the United States in 1911, but the Reds acquired the Cuban players in part because, according to the Enquirer, they were "figuring on Marsáns and Almeida being good drawing cards in New York and Philadelphia, where there are thousands of Cubans." Fans back in Cuba, meanwhile, were so enthusiastic that Marsáns and Almeida even had their own media escort. Victor Muñoz, sports editor of El Mundo in Havana, accompanied the Reds everywhere they went, much as the Japanese media followed Hideo Nomo and Ichiro Suzuki nearly a century later.

On July 4, 1911, in the midst of one of the biggest heat waves ever to hit the Midwest, Marsáns and Almeida finally made their debuts against the Cubs at Chicago's West Side Park. The heat was so sweltering that it caused 27 deaths in Chicago that day, and with the Reds comfortably ahead in the first game of a doubleheader, Marsáns entered as a defensive replacement for exhausted right fielder Mike Mitchell. He went 1 for 2, and to the Enquirer's Jack Ryder he "looked good at the bat and fast on his feet." Marsáns spent the rest of the 1911 season as the Reds' fourth outfielder.

Though there is no record of what their personal relationship was like, Marsáns and Almeida became inseparable in the public's eye after spending nearly a decade as teammates with Almendares, New Britain, and Cincinnati. But Almeida failed to impress the Reds either at bat or in the field and was dispatched to the minors after three years on the bench. Marsáns, meanwhile, became one of the brightest young stars in the National League, and one of the fastest. In 1912, his first full season, his .317 batting average and 35 stolen bases both ranked in the NL's top ten. In 1913 he increased his stolen bases to 37 while batting .297, 35 points above the league average.

Marsáns made a strong impression on his first major league manager, Clark Griffith, who left after the 1911 season to take over the Washington Senators. In the spring of 1912 Griffith offered the Reds $5,000 for Marsáns but was refused. Griffith never did obtain Marsáns' services, but he did develop an affinity for Cuban players unparalleled in baseball history. During Griffith's 44 years in charge of the Washington club, 63 Cubans debuted in the majors--35 of them with the Senators.

A genteel man who spoke and wrote near-flawless English, Marsáns was the antithesis of what later became the Latin American baseball stereotype. He reportedly attended college in the United States, though that is not confirmed. Still, American sportswriters always emphasized that he was "of wealthy parentage and aristocratic stock." In 1912 the Philadelphia Inquirer noted that Marsáns and Almeida "are both large land owners in Cuba and have independent incomes, and the fact that they continue to be ball players instead of prominent men of affairs on the island is simply because that is what they prefer to be." Marsáns spent his off-seasons managing a tobacco factory that he owned in Havana, and was well-liked enough by fans in Cincinnati to open a successful cigar store there. By 1914 his annual baseball earnings were $4,400, more than double what he had earned as a rookie.

Though almost universally well-liked, Marsáns was known for being headstrong and temperamental. According to a friend, "there is really only one man who is his master, and who can reason and talk to him, and that man is his father." In 1914 Marsáns' quick temper led to the biggest scandal of his career. In June he got into a heated argument with his manager, Buck Herzog, who "said a number of things not at all to the liking of the classy outfielder." Herzog suspended Marsáns, and Marsáns demanded to be traded, a request that was refused by Herrmann. Marsáns responded by jumping his contract with Cincinnati and leaving for St. Louis, where he was wined and dined by the owners of the outlaw Federal League franchise. Marsáns was offered a three-year, $21,000 contract by the Feds, which he accepted after giving the Reds 10 days' notice, the same notice a ball club was required to give before terminating a contract with a player. Cincinnati immediately filed a lawsuit in, ironically, Federal Court, claiming that its "property" had been jeopardized. After Marsáns had played only nine games with St. Louis, the court issued an injunction barring him from playing in the Federal League pending the outcome of trial.

The Reds also retaliated by impounding the clothing and baseball equipment Marsáns had left in his locker in Cincinnati. Because Marsáns owned a cigar shop there, the club also tried to appeal to his business interests. "Marsans is very enthusiastic about his cigar business, and holds it close to his heart," a correspondent wrote to Herrmann. "If he can be made to realize that his actions with the Cincinnati Baseball Club will not help the sale of his cigars, I am sure that he will act differently."

Marsáns' case, along with that of Hal Chase, became a cause célèbre for supporters of the Federal League. Baseball Magazine dubbed it "the sensational Marsans case, one of the series of recent legal battles which have thrown the baseball world into an upheaval, and which threaten to wreck the entire game." Unable to play while the two sides battled in court, Marsáns could do little but return to Havana, where he spent his days shark fishing in the bay. "We are not restraining Marsans and Chase from playing, but trying to get them to play," Herrmann insisted. "It is the Federal League that is keeping them from playing, if any one is." In a bizarre twist, Marsáns' younger brother Francisco showed up in Cincinnati in September 1914, apologized to the Reds for any trouble Armando had caused them, and offered his own services to replace Armando in the outfield. Not surprisingly, the team declined.

Because the National Commission had threatened to ban any player who competed against Marsáns, he was forced to play the 1914-15 Cuban Winter League season under the assumed name "Mendromedo." In February 1915, with Marsáns still on the sidelines, his friend John McGraw visited him in Cuba, offering to trade for him if he would return to the NL with the Giants. But Marsáns would have none of it. He believed that the press, and New York writers in particular, treated him unfairly, saying they "always thought it funny to poke jokes at me." Finally, on August 19, 1915, a federal judge in St. Louis set aside Herrmann's injunction, ruling that Marsáns could play in the Federal League until the case was decided in appeals court. Marsáns returned to the Terriers the next day, and the team finished the season only percentage points out of first place.

But the legal battles had ruined Marsáns' career. After the Federal League folded his contract was assigned to the St. Louis Browns, but he was no longer the player he had been after being out of the majors for nearly two years. Disappointed with his performance, the Browns traded him to the Yankees for Lee Magee on July 15, 1917. Baseball Magazine predicted that going to New York would revitalize Marsáns, as he was "a brilliant outfielder, once a .300 hitter and even now a most dangerous man on the bases." But Marsáns had always been injury prone, and soon after reporting to the Yankees he suffered a broken leg that ended his season. In 1918, at age 30, Marsans gave it one more try with the Yankees but batted only .236 in what turned out to be his final major league season.

In 1923, after a four-year absence from American baseball, Marsáns returned to bat .319 in a brief minor league stint with Louisville. Also in 1923, he briefly joined Martín Dihigo on the Cuban Stars of the Eastern Colored League, becoming the first player to play in both the major leagues and the formally organized Negro Leagues. In 1924, his last season in the United States, Marsáns became the first Cuban manager in the minor leagues, serving as player-manager of the Elmira Colonels in the New York-Penn League. He batted .280 in his farewell to American baseball. Marsáns played a few more winters in Cuba before retiring there, too, after the 1927-28 season.

In all, Marsáns played on 10 pennant-winning teams in his 21 seasons in the Cuban Winter League, posting a lifetime average there of .261 in 455 games. He twice led the notorious pitchers' circuit in runs scored, and in 1913 won the batting title with a .400 average. He also led the league in stolen bases three times. Playing most of his career in spacious Almendares Park, he hit only two lifetime home runs in 1,632 at bats. Marsáns also was a longtime manager in the league, leading Orientales to the championship as player-manager in 1917. In the 1940s he managed Marianao, where his players included Ray Dandridge, future batting champion Roberto Ávila, and rookie outfielder Orestes "Minnie" Miñoso. He also managed Tampico in the Mexican League from 1945-47, winning championships in 1945 and 1946.

On July 26, 1939, Marsáns became one of the first ten men inducted into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame. The inductees were honored with a bronze plaque placed at La Tropical stadium in Havana, where it still stands today. Little is known of Marsáns' post-baseball life. His reaction to the Cuban Revolution of 1959 is unknown, but since the rebellion's goal was to overthrow the wealthy aristocracy to which Marsáns belonged, it's hard to imagine him supporting the revolutionaries. Marsáns died in Havana a little over a year after Fidel Castro's takeover, on September 3, 1960.

[Bench 5]

Hopefully this will post into the box. It is from Baseball Magazine:

[Bench 5]

Another Marsans pic from Baseball Magazine

[Bench 5]

Another pic from Baseball Magazine

[Bench 5]

Chicago Tribune August 20, 1915

[Brian McKenna]

The Reds purchased the pair from Almeida and Marsans from New Britian for $7,500. Times being what they were, the men first had to produce documentation stating that they were of “Castilian and not Negro heritage.”

[Bench 5]

III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues

A. What events caused Armando to jump leagues


Chicago Daily Tribune April 4, 1914
“Angered because he had been “called” by Manager Herzog, Armando Marsans, the Cincinnati star outfielder, left the park this afternoon just before the last of a series of exhibition games with the Louisville Colonels and in a rage announced he was through with the Cincinnati team. Herzog did not take kindly to Marsans’ efforts in practice after he had ordered him out in the field to work. Marsans complained of a lame shoulder and did not play yesterday. Herzog ordered him out of the game. The Cuban went. Upon leaving the park, he stated he might jump to the Federal league, from which he has received an offer. The Cincinnati team left tonight and Manager Herzog will report to President Herrmann tomorrow. President Herrmann does not take the mater seriously. “

A couple days later Marsans and Herzog had a long conference together and Marsans decided to re-join the team.


Chicago Daily Tribune April 17, 1914
In a game at Cincinnati with the Reds down 6-5 in the 9th with two out and Marsans on 3rd, and Manager Herzog at the plate:

“Manager Herzog, the next man up was determined to make Cheney pitch. When his manager had two balls and two strikes called, Marsans thought he would make himself a hero by stealing home, but Cheney was wide awake and his toss got the Cuban by four feet and ended the game. Herzog was so surprised that he stood at the plate dumfounded at the stupidity and audacity of his player. “


August 1914 Baseball Magazine - The War of the Leagues
The Federal Fiasco—In Re Marsans—Contract Breaking—
General Uncertainty—Its Disastrous Effects on Baseball
By WILLIAM A. PHELON
"On May 31. during a tight game with Pittsburgh, the Cuban stole second. Seeing that the umpire was turning away, crafty old Wagner suddenly jiu-jitsud Marsans off the base, slammed the ball on him, claimed the putout and got it. Marsans went wild, and trailed the umpire across the infield, addressing him in fuming Spanish, till the official ejected him. After the game, Manager Herzog gave him a call-down for so forgetting himself as to deprive the club of his services when imperatively needed. The altercation became red hot, and Marsans, deeming himself unjustly scolded, proceeded to re-open communication with the very Feds he had rebuffed not long before. "


Washington Post June 10, 1914
"Marsans was suspended by Manager Herzog for 10 days. Marsans announced he would sign with the local Federals when his ten day notice to the Cincinnati owners had expired. "



Chicago Daily Tribune June 15, 1914
Per the article, Marsans made good on his threat to bolt the Cincinnati team and played at shortstop for the St Louis Federal team. He went hitless in his 1st game with 8 putouts 2 assists and 2 errors.



NY Times June 16, 1914
"Organized baseball sat up and took notice tonight when word went the rounds that five other baseball celebrities had arranged to follow in the steps of Armando Marsans and Dan Davenport, formerly of the Cincinnati Reds who after serving ten days’ notice on Gerry Herrmann, proceeded to jump the traces and cast their lots with the St. Louis Federals. Prominent among the athletes said to be ready for a move like this are Hal Chase, 1st baseman of rhe Chicago White Sox. Others are Rube Benton and Leon Ames, pitchers, Tom Clarke catcher of the Cincinnati team and Pitcher Schulz of the NY Yankees. Secretary Kelly of the Buffalo Federals says that both Chase and Harry Lord, who recently quit the White Sox, have accepted terms offered by the Buffalo Club.

President Ban Johnson of the American League tonight branded the story of the stampede as ridiculous.

“ I don’t believe it,” said the American league executive. “If, however, those players want to jump, I would say let them jump. It would be a good riddance of bad rubbish. The Federals can’t get sensible players to climb aboard a sinking ship. Hal Chase above all others. The Federals are running to cover. They’re through.”

President James A. Gilmore of the Federal league said, “ I have given the owners of our league permission to go after any players in organized baseball. I do not know whether Chase has signed a Federal contract. Richard Carroll of the Buffalo club was here to confer with Chase.”"


Washington Post June 28, 1914
"Armando Marsans, the Cuban player who jumped the Cincinnati Nationals to join the Federals, and was later enjoined, has given up the fight. Today he wired his pal here, Catcher Gonzalez:

“I am through. Going home at once. Ship all my stuff that I left with you to my Habana address.”"


New York Times, July 24, 1914
"Armando Marsans, Cuban baseball player, in his answers to the petition of the Cincinnati National League Club asking for a permanent injunction restraining him from playing with the St. Luois Club of the Federal Lweague, today charged the Cincinnati Club of violating the Federal alien labor contract law. Marsans says last January, while he was in Havana, Cuba, the Cincinnati Club sent a representative to him to sign a contract, which is in violation of the Federal law that prohibits the importation of aliens for contract labor. The answer also charges organized baseball is violating the Sherman anti-trust law by controlling and setting salaray limits for ball players. Marsans also attacks the ten-day clause, which gives the club owners the right to abrogate a contract with a player after ten days notice, while the player is denied the same priviledge. "


Atlanta Constitution July 1, 1914
"A letter from August Herrmann, president of the national baseball commission, urging Armando Marsans to return to the Cincinnati Nationals was received at the headquarters of the St. Louis Federal League club last night. Marsans deserted organized baseball several weeks ago, but after a few days was prevented from playing with the local team by federal court injunctions.

The letter says:

“This letter is written for the purpose of again advising you that the Cincinnati Exhibition company is ready and willing at all times to abserve and carry out, in good faith, all of the terms and conditions of its contract with you, ansd I urge you to return to the team. We have no player to fill your place on the team and there is no opportunity for us to find any man of your ability to fill the place made vacant by your absence.”

The Federal league officials expressed the belief that the letter was written to establish a legal point. "


New York Times June 23, 1914
‘Jumper’ Marsans Stopped by Court
"Organized baseball won another victory tonight, when Federal Judge W. H. Sanborn granted a temporary injunction restraining Armando Marsans, former Cuban outfielder of the Cincinnati Nationals, from playing with the St. Louis club of the Federal League or any other ball club except Cincinnati, until the alleged breach of contract he is charged with has been tried in the United States District Court in St. Louis.

While the action is pending Judge Sanborn ordered the Cincinnati Exhibition Company, owner of the club, to give a bond of $13,000 to indemnify Marsans for any possible loss he might sustain as a result of the injunction.

The cause of organized ball was represented by George H. Williams of St. Louis and Ellis G. Kinkhead of Cincinnati. Representing Marsans, who did not appear in court were Dwight Currie, attorney for the St. Louis club and E.E. Gates of Indianapolis, general counsel for the Federal League. Edward Steiniger, President of the St. Louis Federals, was present during the proceedings.

The validity of the ten-day clause in organized baseball contracts was upheld by Judge Sanborn. He based his decision on the fact that Marsans accepted a contract in writing in which the Cincinnati club agreed to employ him for a specified period at a fixed compensation, on condition that the club should have the right to discharge him on ten days’ notice. The contract was valid and binding after Marsans entered upon the performance of the contract and received compensation, according to the terms of agreement, the court held.

The court also held that Marsans’ ability as a baseball player was extraordinary and that it weas impossible for the Cincinnati club to replace him with another player equally as good.

The fact that Marsans had agreed not to play with any other team while under contract with Cincinnati was a “negative covenant”, and the court stated that it was a rule of law that an injunction may be issued to prevent an individual from violating his negative covenant in order to induce him to perform his contract.

That he was an exceptional ballplayer was a statement made in an affidavit bu the Cuban left fielder. He stated that the Cincinnati team had been as successful since he left as while he was a member. He further stated that outfielders were plentiful; that the services of a pitcher or catcher were much more valuable and such players difficult to procure.

Marsans has been a member of the Cincinnati team three year. His salary was $4,000. He objected to the ten-day clause in his contract and gave ten days’ notice to the management early in June, hoping, so he claimed, that the obnoxious ten-day clause would be taken out of his contract. After ten days Marsans was suspended, without pay, for alleged disloyalty to the team and for other reasons. During his suspension he opened negotiations with the St. Louis Club of the Federal League. His suspension suddenly ended, but despite that fact, the Cuban “jumped”, to the St. Louis Club of the new league claiming that his contract with Cincinnati was illegal on account of the ten-day clause.

In order to retain his services or prevent him from playing in the rival league, the Cincinnati Exhibition Company sought a temporary injunction. The case will now be tried on its merits in the United States District Court. In the meantime Marsans can go back to the Cincinnati Club or not play ball. "


Atlanta Constitution, July 30, 1914
"Representatives of organized baseball were cheered today when Judge. J. H. Trieber, in the United States district court here, postponed until September a hearing on the St. Louis Federal League club’s petition to have dissolved the injunction against Armando Marsans, the Cuban fielder, who jumped from the Cincinnati Nationals.

The judge announced he would not try the case until he returned from his vacation, which would be sometime between September 7 and 15. As the Federal League schedule closes early in October, it is considered doubtful a decision will be rendered in time to permit Marsans to play again this season."


New York Times, November 16, 1914
"Armando Marsans, the Cuban outfielder, who jumped from the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis “Feds” and got $7,000 for the leap, has informed his freidns trhat he has an ambition to return to the ranks of organized ball and play with the Giants. And the Giants will be glad to get him if the deal can be satisfactorily arranged. Manager McGraw has admired the speedy Cuban for the last two seasons and believes that he could be developed into the fastest base runner in the game.

Marsans has been an unruly person to manage and gave Charley Herzog considerable trouble last year in Cincinnati. The Cuban admits that he would be glad to play inm New York, but first the club must go to all the trouble of fixing up his many troubles. In the first place, Marsans would want the Giants to pay back the $7,000 obligation to the “Feds”. He would also demand a $2,000 bonus for signing. The injunction which was obtained by the Cincinnati club restraining Marsans from playing with the “Feds” is still pending in the courts.

Marsans is playing ball in Havana under an assumed name. The sensational first baseman on the Havana team name Mendiondo is no ther than Armand Marsans. Although an outfielder, Marsans is playing a great game at the first bag and is burning up the base paths with his running. The Havana team is just nbow playing a series of games with the Birbingham club of the Southern Association, although the National Commission frowns on any players of organized ball playing against Federal League players. This violation of the rule may cause the Birmingham barons some trouble.

Palmero, the Giantss young Cuban pitcher, is also playing on this same team and he is likely to receive a rebuke with associating with the contract jumper. Palmero, by the way, has pitched four games and has won them all. Also on the team is Romanach, the Cuban shortstop, who was signed by Brooklyn and refused to report. Conzalez the Cuban catcher, who was with the Braves for a time last year and also with Long Branch, is manager of the Havana club.

It would require a lot of very diplomatic engineering to land Marsans back into organized ball, for, by his actions in Cincinnati, he has aroused the enmnity of the officials of organized baseball more than any other player with the exception of Hal Chase. Ban Johnson has stated that neither Marsans nor Chase would be received back into the ranks under any circumstances. Even though Manager McGraw does want to land Marsans, it is not likely that he will consider the unreasonable conditions under which Marsans wants to join the New York club. "


Chicago Daily Tribune, April 8, 1915
"Attorneys for the St. Louis Deferal club will hold conferences on Friday with Judge Landis in Chicago and Judge Sanborn in St. Paul, looking toward the dissolution of the temporary injunction which prevents Armanado Marsans from playing against Chicago in the St. Louis- Chicago opening game on Saturday.

The Federal attorneys asked attorneys for organized ball to join them in a movement to have injunctions dissolved pending the Landis decision, and if necessary, the trial of the cases. Organized ball lawyers refused. The Feds, therefore, will act alone.

It is understood that thy will urge upon Judge Sanborn the fact that the Marsans case is included in the case before Judge Landis. The injunction was issued by Judge Sanborn last June. "


New York Times, June 29, 1915
"Judge Kenesaw M. Landis, in the United States cout today, promised an early decision in the unjunction case involving conflicting claims to ball players brought about by the entrance into major league baseball of the Federal League. The announcement was made in connection with a petition asking dissolution of the injunction which prevents Armando Marsans from playing with the St. Louis Federals. It was set forth that at the time of the raids and counter-raids for players, seventeen players were enjoined from playing, but that all are working now except Marsans, who jumped from the Cincinatti Nationals.

Judge Landis declined to dissolve the injunction which was granted by Judge Sanborn in St. Louis a year ago, but granted leave to file and intervening petition by means of which Marsans case will be decided with the others. This, the court promised, would be soon.

Judge Landis, in saying he would render a decision in the Federal league suit, indicated that he would decide all the points involved including the anti-trust questions. He said he had delayed the decision in the hope that baseball generally would benefit by the delay. "


Chicago Daily Tribune, August 14, 1915
"The petition of Armando Marsans, the Cuban ball player that the Federal district court modify or dissolve the injunction that prevents him from playing with the St. Louis Federalsd, was heard in the Federal district court here today, but the case was not concluded. After considerable evidence as to the claim the Cincinnati Nationals have on Marsans, Judge Dyer announced that he would hear arguments Monday morning.

At that time, also, the attorneys for the Cincinnati club promised they would introduce a registered letter receipt showing that Marsans received a letter from Cincinnati, dated June 27, 1914 asking him to return to the Cincinnati club. Marsans testified that he did not recall such a letter.

During the hearing today the attorneys for Cincinnati asked this question:

“Would you be willing to rejoin the Cincinnati club now and play out the season?”

The answer was “No, not under any circumstances.”

Marsans testified that he had received no salary from the St. Louis Federals but that twice a month the club has loaned with $333. "


Chicago Daily Tribune August 20, 1915
"The injunction restraining Armando Marsans from playing baseball weith the St. Louis Federals was dissolved by Judge Dyer in the federal district court here today. Marsans now is at liberty to play with the St. Louis Feds.

Judge Dyer, in deciding the case, considered only one of the three points raised by the attorneys for Marsans in their petition for a modification or dissolution of the injunction. This was that Marsans’ contract with the Cincinnati Nationals was not binding after October 14, 1914.

The two points not considered by the court were the charge that the Cincinnati club did not comply with its contract with Marsans, and that the contract was not binding because it lacked in mutuality.

Technically, the decision is a modification and not a dissolution of the injunction against Marsans. The court did not decide the entire question raised in the marsans injunction suit, but set aside that part of the injunction that restrained Marsans from playing with any other team in 1915 or 1916.

The decision reserves for final decision the question of the mutuality of Marsans’ contract with Cincinnati – that is the ten day clause – but sets forth that clause 8 of the contract applies only to the season of 1914.

This clause fixes Marsans’ salary at $4,400. The court held that this clause did not bind Marsans to play for Cincinnati during the 1915 and 1916 seasons, and sets forth that the three year claim of Cincinnati to the Cuban player cannot be grounded on this clause.

On this point, the court decision says, in part, the vital wording here being quoted:

If the defendant (Marsans) is bound for three years, the contract easily could have been made so to state. Clause 1 (of the contract) relates only to a plain obligation, and though it may have bound the plaintiff (the Cincinnati club) to employe the defendant (marsans), in the seasons 1915 and 1916, yet it does not follow that the defendanet bound himself to play for the club and for no other party during those years. Considering clause 8, it is manifest the defendant (Marsans) agreed to play for the plaintiff (Cincinnati) and for no other party during 1914 and did not so agree for 1915 and 1916.

After the decision was announced an attorney for Cincinnati filed a motion for an appeal. The motion will be heard by Judge Dyer Friday. An appeal, it is said, would serve to prevent Marsans from playing with St. Louis Federals pending a decision from the Circuit Court of Appeals.

The matter of putting Marsans under bond pending an appeal will be considered byJudge Dyer tomorrow but he indicated today that he would not require a bond.

Phil Ball, principle owner of the St. Louis Feds, said that Marsans would join the club Friday night. He also said that if the case is definitely disposed of in favor of St. Louis, the local club will file suit against the Cincinnati Nationals to recover salary advanced to Marsans. Marsans left here today to join the team at Brooklyn.

The deicion of Judge Dyer, in effect sets aside the reserve clause, for Marsans was to receive $1,100 from Cincinnati as an “option” on his services for 1915 and 1916.

This $1,100 was included in the $4,400 salary, but the contract read that the “Total compensation for the season herein contracted for” was $4,400. Under Judge Dyer’s ruling the “season contracted for” terminated October 14, 1914. "

[bluezebra]

MLB signed foreign players, but Americans of African descent were locked out.

Just out of curiosity, how many of these Cuban ballplayers had African blood?

Bob

[Bench 5]

Anyone heard of Esteban Bellán?? :o

I think he must be the same fellow referenced above in the Bob Addie column - "William Henry Bellam". It's possible I typed his last name incorrectly or else Addie had it wrong. I googled his name and everything else about him is the same as referenced in the Addie article.

That's good stuff.

[Bench 5]

MLB signed foreign players, but Americans of African descent were locked out.
Just out of curiosity, how many of these Cuban ballplayers had African blood?
Bob

I think that the leagues went out of there way to prove that the players that they brought from Cuba did not have African heritage. It's possible that there might have been some Cuban players that had African heritage. The Anthony Burgos article states that "New Britain’s new manager, Billy Hanna, traveled to Cuba hoping to secure documentation that verified the racial eligibility of his Cuban players (Marsans, Almeida, and Cabrera). A previous traveler to Cuba as a sportswriter that covered the Detroit Tigers 1908 visit, Hanna came back to the States with mixed results in his mission to find out whether his players were “genuine Cubans and not Negroes.” According to a published report, Hanna discovered that “all the players were real Cubans except Padron.”"

Three of the four Cuban players that played on the New Britain team made the big leagues. All except Padron who was found to have African heritage per the article above.

[Brian McKenna]

Early Negro League and Major League Players
The following men played in the major leagues prior to Jackie Robinson’s debut and in the Negro leagues, with debut in majors noted:
Fleet Walker 1884
Weldy Walker 1884
Rafael Almeida 1911
Armando Marsans 1911
Mike Gonzalez 1912
Jack Calvo 1913
Alfredo Cabrera 1913
Angel Aragon 1914
Dolf Luque 1914
Jose Rodriquez 1916
Ricardo Torres 1920
Jose Acosta 1920
Pedro Dibut 1924
Mike Herrera 1925
Oscar Estrada 1929
Chico Hernandez 1942
Izzy Leon 1945

[Bench 5]

III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues

B. Details of the Marsans case


September 1914 Baseball Magazine - The Famous Marsans Case, The Great Cuban Outfielder and the Federal League vs. Organized Baseball.
Garry Herrmann, Chairman of National Commission, Defends the Written Contract as a Binding Instrument
By HUGH C. WEIR

The Marsans case was one of the most important of the test cases in baseball law. The accomplished Cuban athlete, the idol of his countrymen, and one of the most finished outfielders in the National League, took advantage of what he claimed an inherent right, served ten days’ notice on the Cincinnati club and bolted to the Federal League. The lower court decided against Marsans.. The decision of the higher court, as we go to press. has not yet been rendered. In the following sketch Garry Herrmann, president of the Cincinnati club and chairman of the National Commission, discusses the situation freely and frankly from the standpoint of fairness and business equity.

The right hand of Garry Herrmann, palm downward, descended with a resounding smack on his right knee. The twinkling smile in his eyes vanished. Into the proverbially good humored face of the chairman of the National Baseball Commission came suddenly the light of battle.

“They accuse us of buying and selling men at the auction block!” he snapped. “They say that we have made Organized Baseball into a condition of slavery and regard a man only by what he can he sold for—that we have ceased to view baseball as a sport and look on it as a hopper, grinding ball players into mere articles of merchandise. They have painted the men behind Organized Baseball in deep black colors, and the time has come when for the sake of the game, and in the interest of fair play and true sport, the real facts should be made known."

We were discussing the sensational Marsans case, one of the series of recent legal battles which have thrown the baseball world into an upheaval, and which threaten to wreck the entire game unless a sane, amicable, and above all, thoroughly businesslike solution is found, and found soon. In other words, is the system of Organized Baseball wrong? Have we seen a great sport built up into a great business proposition, only to discover that it is a monster monopoly, in which, like other monopolies of the business world, the man working for his pay envelope has ceased to have any rights as a man? Is baseball of to-day just a great, cold, calculating machine to make as much money as possible for ten or a dozen magnates, and which has reduced the player to a condition of servitude? Or, on the other hand is it true that the system of Organized Baseball as it stands now is the only system that could have made the business success of the game possible, and that the criticisms and charges against it are made unjustly by disgruntled men, fighting for self and not for the good of the game? Is it true that the business magnates of baseball, the men who have risked fortunes on the diamond, are being placed in an unfair position, and are being unjustly bombarded after striving for a generation to raise baseball from the atmosphere of rowdyism and gambling to a high-class, gentleman’s amusement? Or, still again, is it true that there are arguments on both sides of the case, that both the warring players and club owners are at fault, and that both, in the interest of the game and the public, must readjust their positions if the sport Itself shall not be dashed on the rocks of financial disaster?

These questions were in my mind when I went to Garry Herrmann. I tried to view the situation with an open mind, to approach Mr. Herrmann from an entirely unbiased viewpoint. I knew, in common with every other student of the recent history of baseball, that something very serious threatens, that the storm clouds on the horizon are not merely the gatherings of a summer shower. And I knew that Garry Herrmann, not only from his position as president of the National Commission, but because of his intimate association with the now famous Marsans case, was in a position to speak from inside knowledge, provided he would open his heart, and speak frankly. He did. This article is to be largely a quotation of what Mr. Herrmann said. It is his own suggestion that I present the facts from his viewpoint and leave the reader to weigh them for himself, and draw his own conclusions as to their truth and logic. So far as I know, the expressions from Mr. Herrmann which follow make the first at all lengthy statement on the so-called "Baseball War” which any of the prominent magnates of the game have set forth.

Because the Marsans case is a typical Illustration not only of the inside business workings of baseball, but of the tense situation which the coming of the Federal League has left the game and public to face. Mr. Herrmann’s statements have largely to do with his version of that pertinent affair.

“It was in 1911”, began Mr. Herrmann, “that my relations with Marsans began. I want to say at the outset that he is a good ball player, a very good ball player. In fact, indeed, my statement of the steady Increases In salary we have given him is alone sufficient to show the high value we attach to him. The situation which has now developed, does not reflect in an way on Mr. Marsans’ ability. And now to continue our story.

“We bought Marsans from the New Britain Club and paid 86.000 for his release, which included also the services of player Almeida, another Cuban. Marsans was receiving $150 a month from New Britain. We started him in June of 1911 at $350 a month and increased this the next year to $400 and last season to $3.400 for the season of six months or nearly six hundred dollars a month. Last winter we sent to him in Cuba an offer of $3.800. He wrote back and asked $4.400 per season for a period of two seasons. I have the letter now with his own signature, setting forth his terms, and agreeing to play two years for this figure. In other words, we met his proposition without any argument, feeling that we were giving him a fair deal and one which entitled us to fair treatment in return. You must bear in mind that a baseball contract is a business proposition, representing one of the principal assets of a club. It is absolutely essential to have such a contract clear and definite, and when as in the case of Marsans, it was drawn according to his own suggestion, we felt justified in regarding it as final.

"This was the situation when a bombshell was exploded in the announcement that Marsans was negotiating with the Federal League. We at once took up the matter with him and I asked him point-blank what he considered his services worth. He answered $7,000 a year and I rejoined that it was utterly impossible for us to get together. That is the figure he was offered by the Federal League with a $7.000 advance. Marsans jumped to St. Louis and we took the course which any other business man with his property jeopardized would have taken under the same circumstances. We brought the matter into the courts on the contention that Mr. Marsans was clearly violating his contract, assured that our contention was entirely legal. As a matter of fact, the courts upheld our claims, and decided absolutely in our favor. The matter was appealed to a higher tribunal. In whose hands the issue rests at this date. I am convinced that we will he again upheld, and that the case will be decided a second time against Marsans.

"The case is very definitely expressed in Clauses 7 and 8 of the accepted contract of every player of the National League. Let me give you Clause 8. verbatim as further illustrating my point:
'The player agrees to perform for the club, and for no other club during the period of this contract (unless with the written consent of the club) such duties pertaining to the exhibition of the game of baseball as may be required of him by said club, at such reasonable times and places as said club may designate.'

"It has been contended that Marsans, or any other player, can terminate his contract with the usual ten days’ notice, which the club can give the player. As a matter of fact, the clause which I have just quoted answers the question squarely. I am aware that I cannot make Mr. Marsans or any other player perform his duties if he doesn’t want to do so. Indeed, it is doubtful if I, or any other man, would endeavor to try. Had Marsans left our club to engage in any other kind of business, or had he left the club because of illness or any other cause, there would have been no argument. We are fighting because he has left us to engage with a competitor in the same field, in direct violation not only of the letter but of the spirit of his contract with us. Indeed, the discussion of the so-called ten days’ notice does not really enter into the situation at all.

"For the sake of argument, let us assume that if the club has the privilege of giving an unsatisfactory player ten days’ notice, a player has the same privilege on his part. Granted that this is true, what of the stipulation protecting the club owner against the player, whom he has developed at great expense from engaging with a rival team? If there were no such protection to the club owner, the money which he expends each season in the search for new players would be the height of buy from a business viewpoint. The issue then between Marsans and the Cincinnati club, or between any other player and any other club under the same conditions, resolves itself Into a question of fair play. The courts have held that from a legal standpoint Mr. Marsans is wrong. What about the moral standpoint? Granted that he was given the opportunity of making vastly more money for himself, what of the agreement with us made at his own suggestion and accepted by us without a single change in the terms proposed by him?

‘You’ll see now that we are getting into the heart of the whole system of Organized Baseball, and there are certain facts in this connection that are not generally understood, which, in Justice both to the player and to the club, should be appreciated. Baseball of to-day is a great business proposition. Nine thousand men are drawing a salary under the system of Organized Baseball. We are charged now with promoting this system in violation of the rights of the player, and solely in the interests of the magnate. Let us see if this is true.

”During the season of 1913 more than $500,000 was spent by the National and American Leagues in the purchase and drafting of players. This money was distributed through forty minor leagues. In the case of teams of the two higher classes of the minors, only one player can be drafted by the larger organizations each season. This insures that the half million dollars expended last season was very evenly distributed over the country. It is said that, even If this is so, the money goes not to the player, who has been developed, but to the club owner, who sells him as he would a chattel slave. How many of the players stop to consider that if this system were not in practice there would be no opportunity for development, no system of advancement, in short, no Organized Baseball at all? It is a proven fact that practically none of the smaller ball clubs are able to make expenses from the gate receipts. They are supported in the main by donations from the business men of their communities who are interested either in the game, or who feel it is a business aid to promote civic loyalty in the town. The only chance of a profit for the small club Is In the development and sale of an untried player. The club, it must be understood, agrees to pay the player his salary and expenses regardless of whether it wins or loses during the season. If there is a loss it does not come out of the pockets of the player - not a dollar of it. And in nine cases out of ten, the apprenticeship of the minor league player amounts to a virtual schooling, given to him not only free of charge. but for which he is paid a good salary.

‘I am presenting these facts, not with the desire of making the cause of the club owner look brighter, but for the purpose of giving the baseball fan the truth of the case. We paid the New Britain team, of the New England League $43,000 for Marsans. He had been receiving $150 a month from that club. We at once advanced his salary to $350 a month and the next year to $400. From every argument of business sense, should the money we paid for his purchase be given to Marsans, or to the club that had made his advancement possible? If Marsans had paid the club for his development, the amount, of course, should have gone to him. But it must be emphasized that during the entire period of his apprenticeship with the club, Marsans was drawing down a fairly good salary and. what is more, a salary that was being paid to him by the club at a loss. I maintain that the club was entitled to every dollar that we paid and. furthermore, that if this system were not in force Professional Basebal as we know it would cease to be.

‘The coming of the Federal League has brought all these matters to the front. I am not going to criticize the Federal League. I wish merely to set forth certain self-evident business facts. The Federal League not only is a poor business proposition but an impossible business proposition. It is absurd for any club owner to expect to pay the standard of salaries, which it is advocating. And the Federal League will be the first to discover this fact after costly experience. The greater per cent of the major league teams of this country today are being operated at a loss. It is impossible to operate them in any other way. The very maximum of salaries are now being paid, which good business Judgment will permit.

"It is a fact that when the recent baseball cases were brought into our courts the Judges on the bench stared in surprise. In most Instances they discovered that a ball player was making a larger income than they themselves received. A star player makes more money than nine out of ten of the governors of our states. He makes more money than a Congressman receives, and a state senator is not in the same class at all. Not one doctor or lawyer or minister in three makes as large an income as a good ball player—and the ball player does not have to be a ‘star’ either.

“These are all facts which anyone can establish for himself. I am content to leave their interpretation to the public. Baseball is unique both as a business and as an amusement enterprise. In the first place, the establishment of a big league club involves an investment of anywhere from a quarter of a million to half a million dollars and an operating expense of from $200,000 to $300,000 per season. It must be borne in mind too, that its season at best is limited and entirely dependent on a variety of conditions which cannot be foreseen in advance. While the club owner may strike a spell of luck, and realize a small fortune in profits, the chances are about 10 to 1 that he will see a small fortune dissipated in his losses. On the other hand, the player is assured of a generous income whether the club finishes with the pennant or in the cellar. If Organized Baseball were nothing more than a system of slavery, would it be possible to keep the game on its present professional standard? Would it be possible to keep ft on its present standard of clean business? Would it offer the opportunities that are drawing young men from all over the country to a profession admittedly that of a gentleman in every sense of the word?

“I am well satisfied to leave the whole matter to the American public’s sense of fair play. I have presented the situation as frankly as I know how. and I am content to leave the answer to any jury deciding the situation on Its merits. “

This, then, is the statement of Garry Herrmann, chairman of the National Baseball Commission, on a problem of the national game which has become an issue fraught with far-reaching consequences. After reading it what is your interpretation of the system of Organized Baseball, and of the rights of player and club owner?

Mr. Marsans is one of the best liked players of the major leagues. He has maintained. a clean, untarnished record both as a player and as a gentleman. Mr. Herrmann is one of those club owners who have done most to make the game of baseball the profession of a gentleman. Personally he is one of the most justly popular men on the diamond. Both Mr. Marsans and Mr. Herrmann are fighting for an issue. Who is right?
What is your verdict?

[Brian McKenna]

Maybe not specifically related to this case but Herrmann could be quite vindictive like all club presidents when it came to player rights. Case in point is the Ray Fisher saga in which Fisher ended up banned for decades for merely running afoul of Herrmann's wishes.

[VIBaseball]

Marsans managed Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso in 1945 when the latter was Rookie of the Year in the Cuban League for Marianao. This will probably emerge in the late career entry.

I do agree with an earlier poster...there ought to be a way to make all this good info easier to take in. Posting PDF files could be the way to go.

[Bench 5]

III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues

B. Details of the Marsans case

August 1914 Baseball Magazine - The War of the Leagues
The Federal Fiasco—In Re Marsans—Contract Breaking—
General Uncertainty—Its Disastrous Effects on Baseball
By WILLIAM A. PHELON
"The war of the leagues is still progressing merrily, though most of its attacks and counter attacks are secret, furtive, of the law court rather than the diamond. Just as affairs seem drifting toward some welcome stage of mediation comes news of another star’s defection and a fabulous salary offer. It is to be hoped that the problems that have so upset the baseball season of 1914 will reach a speedy and satisfactory adjustment. The general air of uncertainty unduly prolonged cannot but prove a serious detriment.

During May and early June, the struggle between the forces of organized ball and the attacking Federals grew absolutely vitriolic in hatred and venomous rancor. Court proceedings, rumors of raids and counter-raids, novel schemes of attack and defense by either side, and newspaper bombs by the million, kept the air full of smoke and flame. The climax came when Marsans, the great Cuban outfielder, and Chase, the far-famed first baseman of the White Sox, went over to the Federals under a new system of desertions—a system which may cause infinite trouble and unlimited annoyance, besides fattening the pockets of the happy lawyers.

When the courts turned down the prayer of George Johnson the Indian pitcher who had flopped from the Cincinnati Reds, organized ball shrieked in glee and announced that the Federals were finally corked and the bottle sealed. Yes? Sure. Show me anything that a lawyer cannot spill, either one way or the other! On the very day that the Johnson decision was announced. Marsans handed his employers an exact rerersal of the ten-day clause contained in the contracts, and stood grimly by his guns. The lawyers who had been coaching the Cuban held that all contracts must be even and equitable; that the ten-day clause must therefore work both ways and that any player wishing to get a new contract or to become a free agent needed only to give a ten-day notice to his club. Marsans’ jump was one of the mysteries of the summer. But not to anyone who knows the Latin temper. Earlier, when the Feds were offering Don Armando huge wads of coin, he scornfully repulsed them, saying that his word was good, and he was not to be tempted. On May 31, during a tight game with Pittsburgh, the Cuban stole second. Seeing that the umpire was turning away, crafty old Wagner suddenly jiu-jitsud Marsans off the base, slammed the ball on him, claimed the putout and got it. Marsans went wild, and trailed the umpire across the infield, addressing him in fuming Spanish, till the official ejected him. After the game, Manager Herzog gave him a call-down for so forgetting himself as to deprive the club of his services when imperatively needed. The altercation became red hot, and Marsans, deeming himself unjustly scolded, proceeded to re-open communication with the very Feds he had rebuffed not long before.

Marsans played his first game with the St. Louis Federals on June 14th, and Dave Davenport, a Cincinnati pitcher, joined the same team on June 15. On June 16 it was announced that Hal Chase, Comiskey’s first bagger – a chronic rebel, if most stories are credible – pulled the ten day reverse notice on the White Sox, and then all balldom surely buzzed.

To judge from the remarks of the players everywhere, and of the fans and scribes, the Federal League gave itself a back-handed slap that may result in a ten-count K.0. when it invaded the territory of Comiskey. For Commv stands alone. He occupies a position as unique as it is honorable. He is the Great God Taboo of baseball—the one magnate whom everybody loves, and whom everybody is supposed to respect from star to bat-boy. His club was tacitly counted as immune to raids—the one sacred ground on which no outlaws must cavort. When it was known that the Feds had assailed Comiskey a roar of rage went up all round the big circuits, and thousands of fans who had been shouting for the Feds threw down their horns and picked up their hammers. In Chicago, where Weeghman’s team had been pretty nearly supporting the new league, the fans were stunned and then infuriated and it was considered a safe bet on June 17 that the attendance, day by day, at Federal Park would be squarely cut in two as the result of the unwise idiotic attack upon the good Ol’Roman’s club.

As to the rights and wrongs: there are two sides to every case, and both sides may think themselves the only rightful battlers. Let it go at that—but, also, let me delve back into the long ago. There are few scribes alive to-day who saw the Brotherhood come and go, but I was there, and I know whereof I tell this story. That was a golden summer. back there in 1890 and the boys all thought the charm would last—but the snows of winter and the ashes of despair lay thick upon the wide arena ere the second spring! Note you well: the Brotherhood in 1890 had EVERYTHING that the Federal League needs and has tried so hard to win. The Brotherhood was THE players union of the time. It had nearly all the stars, it had the backers, it had the new ball parks, and it drew the money. Whatever came through the gates that summer was Players’ League money – the older leagues of organized ball had empty benches, before which their wretched teams of scrubs capered comically.

And what happened in the winter? Only this: the rich men, the backers, sold out, turned turtle, gave up their parks and interests to the older leagues, and left the players stranded! They hadn’t lost 10 per cent of the money lost already by the Federals. They had the players and the fans. They had everything their own way—but because a few of them had lost a little money, they squirmed, and flopped, and quit. They grabbed the chance to get back their losses at one stroke, and little enough cared they as to the fate of the players or the few magnates who stood firm.

Such was the death of a finer, better league than the Federal outfit of to-day. History repeats itself. How do we know that history will not be repeated with the backers of the Federals? Think it over.

There are very few baseball writers left who welcomed me upon my first and highly timorous scribbling day. It seems to me as if I ought to have fairly good memories of twenty-five years, and as if I should have some small ideas. And all I can see to the present situation is this: The greed and foolishness have gone too far. The public has grown impatient, sore, and sullen. Suspicion and distrust have ousted confidence and admiration. Never in my twenty-five years of baseball life have I heard such mutterings, such growlings, such language of steadily growing hostility among the fans. The foolishness and throat-cutting must stop, and stop extremely sudden. Competition is the "life of trade”— but too much competition is quite likely to choke the life out of the trader.

At last reports, the Federal League was still a big winner in Baltimore, where the bugs imagine that Otto Knabe has a major league team. Chicago, with a north side clientele that is amply large enough for a club of its own, has taken in a lot of money, but is likely to lose from now on, since public indignation was aroused by the raid on Comiskey’s territory.

All six of the remaining Federal League cities are reported as heavy and continuous losers, without enough money coming in to pay half the salaries. Something large—a bomb or series of bombs—will explode in the immediate future—but under which throne will the militants fire their nitro-glycerin?

This has surely been the Year of Discontent, Uneasiness, and Unrest; what Jack London would call a yeasty ferment —a stirring and a bubbling—and in the caldron the good old seasonings of honesty and honor seem to have been boiled away till hardly the trace of a flavor is remaining. Greed for gold— the hunger for green fodder made of crisp, large-lettered currency—it has spread throughout the baseball world, and has obsessed and possessed all factions to the last degree. The magnates of the older league talk of sportsmanship and the honesty of the game—but the sting that rankles in their souls is the sting that pierced the pocketbook. The monstrous salaries wrenched from them by their players, the added costs, the rushing torrent of outgoing coin with only a slender inward trickle to offset the flood. The Federal leaders squawk about "live and let live,” and the right of competition in an open field: they roar about the mean tricks with which the older leagues are fighting—and the roar that comes from their hearts is the noise produced by men whose gold-mine is a clayhole, whose dreams end only in a headache. And the players—the dear little players. who, after all is said and done, are It and Everything—some of them strut proudly and bray about their loyalty, their steadfast Gibraltar faith in the same mania, shall decide to take its shekels to the movies, and to pass tip the whole yeasty, fuming, bubbling kettle?

In many places, too, the public has been staving away from the caldron. I’d risk some coin of the realm that the whole attendance of 1914 hasn’t, even plus the Federal crowds equalled that of a year ago—and it will grow smaller yet if the uproar doesn’t cease. For the public, which pays the kale, has blunt and crude Ideas. To the unenlightened populace, a contract does not cease to be a binding obligation when a lawyer finds that a "t” wasn’t crossed, or a colon printed where a comma ought to be. And—if you can coax a man to break his written contract by a hash of coin a large lot of people will believe it very possible to slip that same man money for a fumble or a crazy throw in the ninth inning!

Twenty-five years I have made my living out of baseball. Twenty-five years I have seen them come and go. There is no player now in active gambols on the green whom I saw when I came in.

If the present wave of folly and the current court proceedings continue, it will be necessary, next season for the noble athletes to have individual legal certificates. These certificates must be inspected and approved each morning by a judge of the tipper courts, and at the ballyard, must be examined and 0.K.’d by the umpire, who will have to be an attorney of record. The paper will show, In separate columns, the states or cities where the player is enjoined from playing: the places where injunctions are pending: the spots where he is under indictment for neglecting to return advance money. and in what few burgs he is eligible to play. The game will surely be in wondrous condition when these certificates are the universal rule.

Then, too, it will be needful for the players to have a loose-leaf ledger, carrying a meticulous statement of financial affairs. This ledger will have columns to show: Major League salary. Major League bonus. Major league advance money. Federal league offer. Federal advance money. Second major league salary. Second major league bonus. Federal money returned. Federal moneys sequestered. Legal fees and court costs. Income from signed articles. Vaudeville salary.

Yes. indeed—baseball is getting to be a great game.

One thing that puzzles me: how it is that the athletes fail to see that they must ultimately be the goats. If organized ball wins out, it can be taken for granted that the Inevitable retrenchment process will first hit the players who are reinstated. The loyal fellows will hold their contracts and fat moneys—most of them made the loyalty work two ways from the jack by getting long-time papers—and the returned prodigals must pay the price of their dancing. If the Federals win out, and become monarchs of all they survey, can anybody imagine them keeping tip the mammoth salaries? Nay, nay, Pauline. When they have the athletes all yarded and corralled, down will go the salaries, and the startled players will think that the new tyranny is just as grasping as the old. No matter who wins, the players will sometime have to pay. For the breaking point has been reached and passed: the financial camel has a flat hump. and whoever wins the battle can recoup the emptied wallet only in one solitary fashion.

One of the most annoying features of Armando Marsans’s hop is the fact that it deals a deathblow to the delightful Cuban jaunts which have become an established annual custom with the big league clubs. Of course, as the laws of baseball are construed, no club in the organized limits can play any Cuban team that emplos or plays against Marsans. As Armando is a great idol of the Habaneros, is a big stockholder of the famous Almendares club.and its manager, he cannot very well be ousted from the game at home. And so it’s farewell to these glorious winter trips: farewell to the extra money that the athletes always drew— and farewell to the wealth that the good Senior Jiminez reaped at the gate. I feel especially stung as do the Cincinnati Reds, who had a trip all set for November. We had banked on the climate, the games, the fun. By night and day, and the royal hospitality of the Jolly Cubans —the best fellows that one could hope to see. All crabbed now—and all because Hans Wagner jimmied the proud Castilian hoof of A. Marsans off second base on May 31.

James A. Hart has left the baseball world, and is engaged in other occupations. He left a highly respected name and the impress of a strong, shrewd character behind him—and he left, also, sundry ideas that might have saved much trouble had they been remembered and adopted.

It is my fixed and firm opinion that the contract form which Jim Hart figured out, and which he often urged the big leagues to adopt, would have solved nine-tenths of the problems that have arisen in the game. It would have met all requirements of the most particular judge, and it would have stood the hammering of the most industrious lawyer. In short, the baseball contract devised by James A. Hart, had it been in use the last few years, would have automatically choked the rebels, the outlaws, and the lawyers—and would have done away with the greater part of the complaints.

To summarize the Hart idea: Mr. Hart always maintained that since the magnates claimed what, in the Middle Ages.would have been called “the rights of suzerainty and overlordship,” they must hold that claim by equitable grip, legal tinder any circumstances. To all intents and purposes, said Mr. Hart, “we hold them under our orders for twelve months in every year. Therefore, by all rights, we should pay them for twelve months, not for six. Some day there will be an aweful fight based on just this question, and then you fellows will wish you’d listened to me.”

The Hart contract called for a twelve month system of salary, instead of for the baseball season only. It ran from April 1 to March 31, inclusive. Under that contract, the man was held tighter than a drum-head. No reserve clause was needed. There was no holding in bondage, as the orators squawk when they attack the reserve law. The athlete was simply a salaried man, just as before. But he was getting it all the year round, and was therefore legally In the active employment of the club the entire year. There could be no question as to the propriety or legality of such a contract. which did away with all the points on which the lawyers now hang their screeches—the man was held as a bull pup holds a root and if he jumped that sort of a contract you could get him and get him good.

As to the chance of an outlaw league cutting In on such a contract: the athlete would be firmly held during the season when the invaders do their proselyting. If his contract ran out at midnight March 31, the outlaws could not sign him to any contract previous to that hour and make it hold as he would be under the control of the original club. And on April 1, the season would be practically under way; the teams would be full; ever had would have his plans mapped out. and there would be a fine chance, NOT, for an invader to shake a league into shape and recruit his teams. Even if he were busily planning through February and March, he could legally sign none of them, and what security could he have that any men who gave him verbal promises would make good? Nearly all of them would be coaxed back by their old employers, and the outlaw who went ahead leased grounds and prepared a schedule would be in Dutch seven ways from the jack. He could not announce his teams in advance. because that would tip off the older leagues to persuade and bribe their men an(l sign them to fresh papers: he could not get a league together after April 1—in short. the Hart contracts would have prevented any Federal League propositions as effectively as a hundred courts and ten thousand injunctions.

The wiser, shrewder players too, were strong for the Hart form of contract, as a wonderful insurance against want or sickness. In the summer months, the player gets his pay checks at the very time he needs them least: half the time he is on the road, with fares and lodging paid by the team. From November to April, when he needs the cash most, he either gets nothing or is forced to draw ahead and thus put himself under serious obligations. It is safe to say that seven players out of ten, if the thing were fully detailed to them, would be strongly for the Hart idea and its insurance features for the winter time, while magnate and fan, with little study can soon see where that system would have gone away with bondage, reserve rules. rebellions, and the present miserable wrangling.

I want to be fair. In fact, I think I class as “a fair guy’. Many a time I have received a letter in one mail panning me for rank partiality to the National League, and in the next mail an equally indignant screed accusing me of being heart and soul in American League service. I try to be even and give all hands a fifty-fifty split. I must frankly admit, and as frankly stand by my beliefs, I am for organized ball, which has given me a decent living these twenty five years, and in whose precincts I have been honored by the friendship of such men as A. G. Spalding, Adrian Anson, Charles Comiskey, Harry Pulliam, John K. Tener, James A. Hart, and fifty more—men whose noble natures are the finest evidence that baseball is builded on the solid rocks, the everlasting foundations of American manhood. I am for organized ball, and I’d be a yellow hound if I did not stick by it to the last. But I try to be fair—and this I know: if I were any one of certain players, now listed in the Federal League, I’d not only have jumped to the outlaw clans, but I’d fight the men who once employed me while I had a nickel or a list or feeble voice. There are noble men in organized baseball—and, alas, there are a few to whom the game speaks only of commercialism.

One jumping player jumped because his club calmly dodged its obligations. He was pledged added moneys for certain added work, and because he didn’t have it inserted in his contract they threw him down. When he threatened to sue and raise a scandal, they offered half by way of compromise—and he told them to shove it down their esophagi. Wasn’t that man right in quitting such a crowd?

Another player’s wife was ill; when a wire came telling him of her dangerous condition, it was held out on him till a game was over, so that he might not rush to a handy train and deprive the club of his services in that one afternoon. Was not that man justified in the step he took? HE WAS, so was the other fellow—and when the reckoning comes, when, as I expect the outlaw league shall fail, I hereby promise that if men like these are blacklisted or thrown down. I. whom they doubtless regard as a knocker and an enemy am going to yank the skeletons, from their dusty closets and raise hell. Oh. I don’t know. Am I a fair guy or hopelessly narrow-minded?

BUT—when it comes to stealing players, to telling men that their signed word is no word at all If a lawyer finds a misplaced period—when it comes to measures that ruin the golden trust the people hold in the honesty and honor of the game—well, down with that sort of work out with the men who do it and to perdition with the organization they have erected!

Honest, now good fans and gentle readers, can you imagine Harry Pulliam, Al Spalding, Adrian C. Anson, Charles Comiskey asking men to jump a contract even if a thousand lawyers found tunnels in the wording? "

[Bench 5]

III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues

B. Details of the Marsans case

The Famous Federal Suit
Where the Bill to Dissolve Organized Baseball Originated
—How President Gilmore Announced the Move—
Opinions by Ward and Weeghman
March 1918 Baseball Magazine

The famous suit of the Federal League against organized baseball has already been exploited. The results of this legislation have been predicted with much ominous headshaking and biased arguments usually against the new organization. As we were privileged to be on deck in the head office of the Federal League on the morning when the legislation was fairly launched and in a position to determine the real motives of the men behind the move. perhaps a few brief remarks on those motives would not be amiss.

“We're going to break up organized baseball. I have just come from my lawyers. We filed this bill with Judge Landis. See.” and here he ran his finger down the margin of the printed pages. “Here are all the complaints and here are the prayers. We'll sue them for conspiracy and for restraint of trade. We'll break up the baseball trust and the National Commission. We’ll free every ball player in the United States. We’ll have the courts declare them free agents and we’ll put a stop once and for all to this calling us outlaws and making libelous remarks about our financial standing and all that kind of business. We are in this game as business men who have an interest in baseball. We’ve put in our money and invested a fortune, and we’ve fought for our rights fair and well continue to fight for them fair. But the other side had better believe that well fight. And well win, too. Our cause is just, our arguments are sound. We base them on the facts and the facts will tell. “

This remarkable statement, a torrent of words tumbling over themselves for utterance, was poured into my ears by James Gilmore, President of the Federal League as I sat in his office. He had just come in in his usual brisk, breezy manner but he was so full of his subject with the launching of the biggest assault the Federal League has yet planned on the ramparts of organized baseball that he fairly winded himself with his exertion.

In justice to Mr. Glimore, he wasn’t talking for effect. But the real thoughts of a man are best expressed when he is most natural and unreserved, and as it was my privilege to be in the psychological position when the biggest thing that has happened in baseball circles for a decade was being launched, we feel that the public, which is the great baseball consumer, should be considered first and foremost and its natural curiosity as to what the big men are going to do to their favorite sport should be satisfied.

Briefly, then, the big men of both factions aren’t going to injure baseball one particle, many croaking rumors to the contrary notwithstanding. Baseball as a business is the people’s property. They made the game. They were interested in it before the first magnate appeared on the scene and they will be interested when the present squabble Is ancient history. The sport is too big, too broad, too popular to ever suffer material damage from transient hostilities. And it will be all the better for a thorough sifting of its methods and policies in the courts.

At the famous banquet tendered to the returned worlds tourists at the Biltmore Hotel last spring Ban Johnson made a speech in which he touched upon the so-called baseball trust agitation. In this speech Mr. Johnson said that baseball would welcome any investigation along this line as a public vindication. Evidently organized baseball has its wish gratified, provided nothing happens to divert the Federal League plea from its acknowledged purpose.

The bill of complaint ncludes eleven prayers for relief, the leading sections being:

That the national agreement and the rules of the national commission be declared illegal and the defendants enjoined from operating under them.
That the defendants be declared to constitute a combination, conspiracy and monopoly in contravention of the antitrust statutes, and that they be enjoined from further doing business as a part of said monopoly.
That the defendants be declared to have conspired to injure or destroy the plaintiffs business and enjoined from continuing their conspiracy, particularly from saying that the plaintiffs are financially irresponsible and from threatening with ‘blacklist’ any players under Federal contract.
That all contracts with players hereafter made by the defendants under the national agreement be declared, as to the plaintiffs, “null, void and of no effect.” and that the defendants be enjoined from seeking to enforce such contracts against players later signed by the Federals.
That the defendants be ordered to dismiss various actions now pending against players.
That they be restrained from seeking by Injunction, threats, or promises to prevent other players from performing their several contracts. Section 7 asks a preliminary Injunction covering the various matters, while sections 8 and 9 ask for damages and relief for injuries done the Federal League by its rivals. Sections 10 and 11 ask that writs of injunctions and subpoenas be issued. The text of the national agreement is appended to the bill of complaint.


Three pages of the printed complaint are devoted to a description of the business of baseball as conducted by the leagues detailing the charging of admission fees and a list of the various players required In a baseball game. The court is informed that there “are now in the United States about 10,000 professional baseball players, all of whom, with the exception of about 300 under contract to the Federal League, are under the domination and control of the national agreement, the rules and regulations of the national commission and the national commission.“

The national agreement for the government of professional baseball which was entered into between the National and American Leagues and the National Association in 1903, the complainant declares, was not for the perpetuation of baseball as the national pastime the protection of property rights without sacrificing the spirit of competition, and the promotion of the welfare of ball players as declared In the agreement but was for the perpetuation of professional baseball in the hands of the contracting parties, that those within the combination might be safeguarded against any professional competition.

The petition further asserts that the purpose of the national agreement was that it ‘”might so dominate and control players that the engagement of their services by any person or club outside the combination would be difficult if not impossible.”

The court is asked to restrain the defendants from seeking by injunction, by threats, bonuses, or otherwise to prevent the players, Fischer. Konetchy, Caldwell, Perritt, Wingo, 0 ‘Connor, Bedlent, Austin, Allen, Berghammer, Bender, Plank and Marquard from performing their several contracts with the constituent members of the plaintiff.

The dismissal of the various court actions pending against George V. Johnson, Harold H. Chase, Armando Marsans and Lee Magee is asked.
A significant clause in the prayer reads:
”That the said defendants shall be decreed as forming part of a combination, conspiracy and monopoly in violation of the common law. In contravention of the anti-trust and monopoly statutes, and in restraint of trade and commerce, and in derogation of the constitutional right of contract, and that said defendant be enjoined from further continuing or doing business as a part of or in connection with said combination, conspiracy and monopoly. “

The case recalls the classic utterances of Horace Fogel at the time that stout champion was breathing out threatenings and slaughter agalnst the baseball bosses. Fogel had a real grievance. His baseball ventures had proved singularly unfortunate and he could not be blamed for feeling sore at his summary dismissal from the game with whose interests he had been so long identified. But Fogel’s picturesque charges, however sensational, had nothing behind them save the animosity of one man. They served as a grand pyrotechnic display for a season, then faded into thin air.

In the present case, however, the whole organization of the Federal League is behind the charges. Shrewd lawyers are enlisted in their cause. Money in liberal quantities backs their campaign. The very Interests of self-preservation urge them on. The leaders, who are behind this movement, have proved their energy, their zeal of initiative, and their courage. They possess the means which Fogel lacked to push their charges to a culmination.

Just what will be accomplished by this arraignment of baseball it would be unwise to predict at this distance. Some of the abuses which the Federal League urges are undoubtedly founded in fact. It would be at least unusual if an organization with the resources and power of organized baseball were entirely free from criticism. In so far as organized baseball has been guilty of petty policies here and there. It would be well for all concerned if such methods should cease. Abuses on a small scale will no doubt yield to proper legal remedy.

Fundamentally, however, we believe the charges will not be substantiated. We doubt if organized baseball will be commanded to disband and even if it were we do not see an thing to prevent the various units from reuniting on some line permitted by the courts. In short, we doubt if the charges will result in any such sweeping changes as the Federal League bill would suggest. Doubtless, like most legal charges, they purposely call for greater changes than the plaintiffs anticipate receiving.

Mr. Weeghman, president of the most prosperous of the Federal League clubs, the Chicago representative of the circuit, viewed the sweeping agitation with scant favor:
“I really know but little about it.” he said. "On general principles I am opposed to such measures as I am opposed to all fights. I would much prefer to conduct my business without any of this legal wrangling, though I suppose a certain amount of such discussion is inevitable. I always wanted to be in baseball. I always liked the game and wished to be identified with it. I have gone into baseball with clean hands, as the equity courts say, and I shall conduct my business on no other lines. The money that I have made has been honestly made. I have a nice restaurant business in this city and there is a good income from the business. I wish to apply the same principles to my baseball business. If I couldn’t do that I wouldn’t want to be in the business at all.”

This much I may say from my experience with the Federal League: The owners in that circuit as I have met them are earnest, fair-minded, clean-cut men, who would be a distinct credit to the game they are trying to expand. They are, as I have met them, a credit to baseball. And that is more than can be said of all the magnates In the two major leagues by a wide margin.

Mr. Ward,owner of the Brooklyn club,and vice-president of the Federal League, as well as one of its chief financial backers had a clear-cut idea of the benefits to be derived by the Federal League from the suit in question.

He said: “Our object in bringing this suit is to find out where we are at. in plain terms. We have tried to break into the baseball business just as we might try to break into any other business, and have found the field already occupied. This much was expected, but in an ordinary business there would he no such obstacles as exist In the way of baseball expansion. We expect, even welcome, business competition, but we do not expect in this free country any such restraint as exists in the baseball field.

“Our contracts with players have been made in good faith. We have earnestly avoided signing men who were under contract to clubs in organized baseball. Therefore we do not see any reason on the part of organized baseball to refer to our players as ‘contract jumpers,’ men unloyal to a trust, or any other of the disparaging references repeatedly made of our players. Such efforts, as well as the efforts made to discredit our financial standing, are methods which would not be countenanced in ordinary business among men of responsible business standing. They have no place in baseball.

“We believe there is room for a third league of major rank. We believe we shall be able to prove that need and gratify the public demand for more and better baseball. If our contentions are wrong the public can decide, just as the public eventually decides all matters involving large business interests. But we do not propose to be diverted from our purpose by the biased interference of organized baseball as an interested party if the laws will secure us adequate support, and we believe they will.

“For that matter it Is to the interest of organized baseball, no less than to our own, to have the basis of baseball contracts, injunction suits, etc., thoroughly established once and for all. Such a course will save many minor suits and do much to clear up a greatly befogged situation, clearly establishing the rights of the Federal League as a representative baseball body as well as the rights of so-called organized baseball.”

[Bench 5]

III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues

C. Armando’s Career post Federal League



Due to his tremendous speed and outstanding defensive abilities, Marsans was considered a valuable player prior to his battles with MLB. Per Baseball Reference, here is Marsans record prior to his Federal League Career:

Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
1911 23 CIN NL 58 138 17 36 2 2 0 11 11 15 11 .261 .346 .304 42 5 3
1912 24 CIN NL 110 416 59 132 19 7 1 38 35 20 17 .317 .353 .404 168 9 3 MVP-18
1913 25 CIN NL 118 435 49 129 7 6 0 38 37 17 25 .297 .327 .340 148 15 3 MVP-24
1914 26 CIN NL 36 124 16 37 3 0 0 22 13 14 6 .298 .374 .323 40 6 1

After he jumped to the Federal League he only played nine games in 1914 with the Federals and 36 games in 1915 due to the litigation that stopped him from playing for the Federals. Here are his stats with the Federals:

Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
1914 26 SLM FL 9 40 5 14 0 2 0 2 4 3 0 .350 .395 .450 18 0 0
1915 27 SLM FL 36 124 16 22 3 0 0 6 5 14 5 .177 .261 .202 25 7 0

Note the dismal stats he put up for the Feds in 1915 after he came back from his baseball exile. The strain of having to sit for over a year certainly contributed to his poor showing that year. Although he had a decent year in 1916, hitting .254 and finishing 2nd in steals at 46 steals, he was never the same player as he was before his legal woes.

Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
1916 28 SLB AL 151 528 51 134 12 1 1 60 46 26 57 41 .254 .333 .286 151 23 6
1917 29 TOT AL 100 345 41 79 16 0 0 35 17 28 9 .229 .287 .275 95 13 0
1918 30 NYY AL 37 123 13 29 5 1 0 9 3 5 3 .236 .266 .293 36 4 0

As we will read, he also suffered a broken leg that caused his career to end early.

[Bench 5]

III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues

C. Armando’s Career post Federal League


Baseball’s Greatest Outfield excerpt
July 1916 Baseball Magazine
"St. Louis is still in the formatIve process. Fielder Jones is a grand builder, and he has ample material in the fused Browns-Federals to work his own sweet will. So far as a man up a tree can forecast the future, the Browns’ scoring machine seems to consist of Shotten, Marsans and Tobin. Shotten is one of the best fielders In the American League, bar none. Phenomenally fast, he stole 43 bases last year. scored 93 runs, and was one of the greatest ground coverers in captivity. Marsans seems a bit rusty from his long lay-off, but he was formerly known as one of the star outfielders in the National League. No doubt the Cuban will thaw out a bit in the warm weather. Certainly St. Louis is hot enough to effect the transformation."


Boston Daily Globe, August 2, 1916
"Ah! The secret is out and we know why the Browns have been winning in spite of the 90 temperature.

They sleep at Sportsmans Park. Army cots and tents began to appear on the top deck of the grandstand when the high Bermuda, on its way to the Michigan flats, passed through St. Louis. The first to camp out were Eddie Plank and Armando Marsans.

This was eight days ago and now everybody is doing it. The only danger attached to this, Plank said today, is the possibility of being clown away. Sleep? Why you can pass away on compression up there. The visiting clubs are complaining of the heat. "

[Bench 5]

III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues

C. Armando’s Career post Federal League

Chicago Daily Tribune, July 17, 1917
"One of the most peculiar trades which has occurred in major league baseball for several years was completed whebn the New York Yankees traded Lee Magee to the St. Louis Browns for Armando Marsans. Both players were stars of the Federal League, and their cases were dragged into the courts during the time of war between the Federal League and organized ball.

When peace was made Marsans went to the St. Louis Browns, which club was purchased by the St. Louis Federal league crowd, who had taken Marsans from the Cincinnati Nationals. Magee was left as the property of Harry Sinclair when peace was made. After considerable dickering he was sold to the New York Yankees for a sum said to be $22,500.

Although both were stars of the Federal League, neither has made much headway since peace was made and evidently the managers figure a change of scenery will be beneficial for each. "

Washington Post, August 11, 1917
"Armando Marsans, Cuban outfielder, recently procured by the New York club from the St. Louis Browns in a trade for Lee Magee, broke his right leg in the first session of a fourteen inning game that Cleveland won from the Yankees today 8 to 7.

Marsans met injury while sliding home. His spikes caught in the plate and snapped the bone just above the ankle. "

Washington Post November 19, 1917
Habana, Nov 19 – "Armando Marsans, Cuban star outfielder of the New York Americans who broke his ankle near the close of the 1917 season, today took part in a practice game, batting and running the bases with his usual skill and speed. He declared he will be as good as ever next year. Marsans will manage a club this winter in a local championshio series. "

[Bench 5]

III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues

C. Armando’s Career post Federal League

Marsans makes his comeback after breaking his leg the year before. In his first game back he plays for the Yankees against a big lefty by the name of Babe Ruth.....

New York Times, May 5, 1918 excerpt
“.....Ruth is a husky young man, perfectly able to take care of himself, in any emergency when the odds are at all even, but yesterday he was set upon by nine voracious, hungry, clamoring Yankees and some 15,000 spectators, and that he finished second best is not at all discrediting. The young Boston pitcher gave an efficient all-around display of baseball at its best, and even in defeat was undoubtedly the hero of the game.

As to the battle itself, it was probably the most entertaining and exciting displayed by the new Yankee machine this season. Carefully adjusted by Miller Huggins the Yankee outfit moved along with such outstanding strength it mowed down the opposition of the invaders and arrived at the finish triumphantly. Huggins evidently decided Ruth was the main obstacle to overcome and he ordered an attack which certainly kept Ruth on the run. Ruth handled thirteen fielding chances during the game and erred on only two of them, but one of his errors was a wild throw which allowed two Yankee runs to score.

Ruth, furthermore, spanked a home run into the yawning right-field grandstand, which pulled the Boston team within one run of tying the score, and Ruth sent a double screaming over the head of Armando Marsans in right field which almost broke the game in the ninth. He pitched fairly well but Huggins had ordered a bunting game, and between pitching and diving at slow, tantalizing, rolling balls, Ruth was in a fair way to become puzzled now and then.

As to Marsans, he entered the game for the first time this season in the place of Gilhholey, and signaled his return in magnificent style by blasting out two ringing singles to center field in his first two trips to the plate.

After leading off the Yankee attack in the 1st inning with a single off Ruth, Marsans went from 1st to 3rd on a sac bunt to Hoblitzel, the first baseman. He scored on a base hit."

In addition the article states that in the 3rd inning, Marsans led off again with a single. He wound up scoring after the Babe muffed a subsequent sac bunt and then threw another sac bunt off the neck of Baker. Marsans finished two for four with two runs scored. [/I]

August 1918 Baseball Magazine
"....just coming to his real stature now. Halt of Cleveland. wasn't so much with the Feds. and has just matured. Groom, a good old pitcher even then is still a clever twirler and a foxy boy. Dave Davenport. who jumped the Reds to join the Feds is pitching well but in awful luck. Armando Marsans, the fast Cuban seems never to have recovered the speed he lost while waiting for the courts to decide upon his case."

July 1918 Baseball Magazine
"After his (Marsan's) return from the Federal League to the St. Louis Browns, his work fell off and the rail birds said the Senor was abso-bafly-lutely through as a star. Meantime, Lee Magee another former Red Star last year with the Yanks. was also considered a back number. So the Browns and the Yanks made a trade. Magee for Marsans, each club chuckling in high glee. for It was impossible to stick either one with players likes these two thought they. And the joke of it is that both Magee and Marsons have been playing sensational ball this year whereas, when they were swapped. the attitude of the club owners was that neither could possibly get stung because both players were so punk that the one received in trade couldnt possibly be much worse."

Washington Post, July 23, 1918
Marsans leaves the Yakees
"Armando Marsans, the Cuban outfielder of the Yankees, has left the club and gone to his home. Failure to land a regular berth is given as the reason. "

[Bench 5]

III. Marsans Legal Battles versus the Major Leagues

C. Armando’s Career post Federal League

Atlanta Constitution, March 21, 1919
"Manager Miller Huggins of the Yankees, has not heard anything from Armando Marsans since he sent a contract to the player at Havana several weeks ago, and he is now convinced that the Cuban is positively through as a major leaguer. Marsans left the Yankees last July after receiving word that his mother was seriously ill, but before leaving he intimated to some friends that he was ready to quit the game. He was one of the fastest men in baseball during his term with the Cincinnati Reds and later with the St. Louis Federals. His speed began to wane while he was a member of the St. Louis Browns, and a serious injury shortly after he joined the New York club further impaired his speed. He has done some playing during the winter season in Cuba and probably will continue his future baseball activity in that country."

New York Times February 19, 1920
"Armando Marsans, the tempermental Cuban centre fielder, may be seen in a Yankee uniform again next season. This good news was brought to the Yankees by First Baseman Walter Pipp, who played with a barnstorming team on the island this Winter. Pipp says that Marsans has been playing ball and is in fine shape. Marsans declared that he was anxious to come back and play with the Yankees.

Manager huggins is expected here tomorrow to get his players into line for next season. He will get in communication with Marsans and if the Cuban returns it may solve the Yankee outfield problems.

If Marsans is in as good shape as he was a few season ago his hitting ability and speed on the bases will be a big help to the club. Marsans came to the Yankees on July 15, 1917 in a trade for Lee Magee. He broke his leg in a game in a game at the Polo Grounds on Aug. 10 of that season and was out for the balance of the season. He rejoined the club after the training trip of 1918, but suddenly left the club in July of that year and returned to Cuba. He has not given up the game in the meantime, but has been paying with a club in Havana, and according to the players who saw him there this Winter, the outfielder is as good as ever.

Huggins expects little trouble in signing up his players. The slary difference between the players in most cases is slight and will be easily adjusted. There is only one player whose demands reach $1,000 more than has been offered. It is expected that Babe Ruth will show up at the Yankee office this week.

Phil Schenk, the Yankee groundskeeper, sends word from Jacksonville that he is getting the diamond at South Side Park into shape for the Yankees invasion. The playing field has been improved by the Board of Trade since last season.
The officials of the Giants and Yankees will hold a conference this afternoon to decide on the new scale of prices at the Polo Grounds next season. According to the advance decided on by the leagues in Chicago, the greater part of the bleachers seats at the Polo Grounds would be 75 cents.

It is likely that the officials will decide to set aside a large 50-cent section in the centre field bleachers and charge 75 cents for the bleacher seats back of left and right fields. The entire lower stand will be $1. The prices for the reserved seats in the upper stand and the boxes will be decided at today’s conference. "

Chicago Daily Tribune, March 9, 1920
"The return to baseball of Armando Marsans, Cuban outfielder, formerly with the Reds and Yankees, is announced from the spring training camp of the Boston Americans at Hot Springs, Ark. Marsans signed a contract with the Red Sox agent at Havana yesterday, it was stated. The arrangement by which the local club obtained Marsans’ services from the New York club was not made public.

Washington Post, August 18, 1923
In an article dates August 1923, Marsans is playing with the Louisville Colonels.


New York Times, March 5, 1924
The article states that Marsans was employed as a baserunning coach by John McGraw for the NY Giants.

Chicago Tribune, May, 17, 1946
The article states that Marsans was the manager of Tampico, a team in Mexico. Babe Ruth attended a game between Tampico and Vera Cruz. The game attracted 19,000 fans who saw Ruth speak top the fans over the loudspeaker. Marsans and Mickey owen greeted Ruth on the field. Ruth told the crowd:
“Jorge Pasquel has the great idea of giving Mexico baseball of high caliber, and I applaud this with the hope that baseball in Mexico may continue to improve. I’ll see you later.”