1903 AL-NL PEACE AGREEMENT
Cincinnati, O., Jan. 10th.
At a prior date the National League and
American Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs having appointed a
committee, and the American League of Professional Base Ball Clubs having
appointed a committee, the object and purpose being for said committees to
meet, discuss and agree upon a policy to end any and all differences now
existing between the said two leagues; and said committee of the National
League, consisting of Harry C. Pulliam, August Herrmann, James A. Hart and
Frank De Haas Robison, and said committee of said American League, consisting
of B.B. Johnson, Charles A. Comiskey, Charles A. Somers and H.J. Killilea, and
said committees, having met at the St. Nicholas Hotel, in the city of
Cincinnati, on January 9th, 1903, and continued in session until this 10th day
of January, 1903, and after fairly and fully discussing all complaints and
matters of grievances and abuses growing out of the present base ball
conditions, and having in mind the future welfare and preservation of the
national game, have now unanimously agreed as follows:
1.
Each and every contract hereafter entered into by the clubs of either
League with players, managers or umpires shall be considered as valid and
binding.
2. A
reserve rule shall be recognized, by which each and every club may reserve
players under contract, and that a uniform contract for the use of each League
shall be adopted.
3.
After a full consideration of all contract claims by each and every
club, it is agreed that the list hereto attached as exhibits "A" and
"B" is the correct list of the players legally awarded to each
club. Exhibit "A" being the
list of American League players and Exhibit "B" being the list of
National League players.
4. It
is agreed that any and all sums of money received by any player from any club
other than the club to which he is awarded by the exhibit hereto attached shall
be returned forthwith to the club advancing said sums, and until all said sums
of money so advanced are returned, said player shall not be permitted to play
with any club in either League.
5. The
circuits of each League shall consist of the following cities: American League--Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis. National League--Boston, New York, Brooklyn,
Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati. Neither circuit shall be changed without the
consent of the majority of the clubs of each League. It is further provided that there shall be no consolidation in
any city where two clubs exist; nor shall any club transfer or release its
players for the purpose of injuring or weakening the League of which it is a
member,
6. On
or before the first day of February of each year the president of each League
shall appoint a Schedule Committee of three each, who shall be authorized to
prepare a schedule of games to be played during the championship season by each
in each League. This schedule shall be
submitted by the committee within three weeks after their appointment to each
League for their ratification and adoption.
This committee shall be authorized, if they deem the same advisable, to
provide for a series of championship games between all of the clubs of both
Leagues.
7. On
or before the first day of February of each year the president of each league
shall appoint a Committee on Rules, of three each, who shall be authorized to
prepare uniform playing rules. These
shall be submitted by the committee within three weeks after their appointment,
to each League, for their ratification and adoption.
8. It
is further agreed that said two Leagues hereinbefore mentioned shall enter into
a national agreement embodying the conditions and agreement hereinbefore set
forth; and it is further agreed that Presidents B.B. Johnson and Harry C.
Pulliam be, and they are hereby, appointed each a committee of one from each
League for the purpose of making, preparing and formulating such national
agreement, and it is further agreed that they invite President P.T. Powers, of
the National Association of Professional Base Ball Leagues, to confer and
advise with them in the formulating of such national agreement.
9. It
is hereby agreed that each member hereby bind himself and his respective League
by signing this agreement this 10th day of January, 1903.
(Signed) HARRY
C. PULLIAM
AUG. HERRMANN
JAMES A. HART
FRANK DE HAAS ROBISON
B.B. JOHNSON
CHARLES COMISKEY
CHARLES W. SOMERS
H.J. KILLILEA
Source: 1903 Reach Guide, pp. 124-26.