The Opening Salvos
The Opening Salvos
December 1913 to June 1914
This chapter focuses on the opening salvos in the legal battle between the Federal League and the American and National Leagues that lasted from December 1913 to June 1914. It all began on December 27, 1913, when star shortstop and future Hall of Famer Joe Tinker signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Federals, or “ChiFeds.” Tinker jumped to the Federal League after his contract was sold from the Cincinnati Reds to the Brooklyn Dodgers. His defection forced organized baseball to begin taking the Federal League challenge more seriously. The Federal League was able to secure a total of fifty big league players for the start of the 1914 season, with catcher William Killefer proving to be the most significant legally. This chapter examines the lawsuits in which the Federal League lost, including the ones involving Killefer and Samuel “Howie” Camnitz.
Keywords: lawsuits, Federal League, American League, National League, Joe Tinker, Chicago Federals, Brooklyn Dodgers, organized baseball, William Killefer, Samuel Howie Camnitz
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