John Montgomery Ward [Archive] - NetShrine Discussion Forum

KCBOOMER

10-10-2006, 04:28 PM

In Monte Ward we are looking at one of the great early pioneers of players rights in the game. As a player he was a pretty good pitcher with a mediocre bat. Hurled the 2nd perfect game in NL history. For much of his playing career he was a playing manager. he compiled a 412-420 record (.563).

His claim to fame is his off the field work. He worked tirelessly against the mores of the day to get fair treatment for the players. These efforts generally failed, but they resonated down through time.

He and Ned Hanlon helped form the Brotherhood of National League Players. This group got the owners to agree to not use the reserve clause to reduce a players contract. Unfortunately the owners would renege on this agreement while Ward was out of the country. Subsequent to this Ward helped round up the financing to start a new league in 1890, the Players League. This league lasted one year.

Ward returned to the National League in 1891 and helped form an early version of the all-star game to benefit the widow of Hub Collins. Afte 1894 he retired to pursue his law career. A prominent case he won was over the NY Giants and their refusal to pay a veteran player (Fred Pfeffer) after cutting him. He even had to deal with a Giants appeal of the case and won that, too. next the Giants owner tried to sue the NY Sun for libel. The paper hired Ward tobe their attorney and the Giants dropped the case.

He became president of the Boston Braves in 1911. Later when the Federal League started up and became business manager of the Brooklyn Tip Tops. Due to his charisma he became the virtual spokesperson for the FL. Later became disillisioned with this group when he realized several of the FL owners were just using the new league to get leverage so they could get NL franchises.

Missed becoming NL president by one vote.

To me this guy is one of the great pioneers.