Looking Back: 1902 Nashville Vols Repeat As Champs (Part 2 Of 2)
Date Posted: 6/3/2004

by Bill Traughber

NOTE: This is part two of the Nashville Vols 1902 season recap. You can read part one by clicking the link at the end of the story.

The NANL secretary Farrell told Finn, the Little Rock official, to organize the other league members to find a replacement for the Memphis team. There was a threat that if action was not taken against Frank and the Memphis team, the Southern Association could be expelled from their organization. The American published Finn’s frustration:

“I don’t think the Southern League can afford to dally in this matter any longer,” said Finn to the writer yesterday. “If the Southern League expected to exist only a month or so we might disregard Ferrell’s threats, but as the Southern League expects to operate for several seasons, yet we are necessarily compelled to do what Ferrell tells us to.”

“I can understand readily why Manager Fisher might be willing to do all in his power to help Frank, without directly infringing the base ball laws, and I do not blame Mr. Fisher. He and Frank have been friends for years and Fisher would naturally like to give his friend all the support possible that can be at all consistent with base ball law. But there are six other clubs in this league to be considered and I can say these six are a unit against Frank’s policy in retaining St. Vrain in opposition to secretary Ferrell’s orders.

“The principal trouble with this league is that it hasn’t got a president with a backbone. I told President Nicklin that Frank seemed to be bossing the league at present, and it looks to me that this is really the case.”

The next day (July 19) the league officials met and decided to fine any league member $100 for playing in a game with Frank or St. Vrain. Memphis and all the league teams were telegrammed with their rulings. However, the officials were slapped with an injunction by Memphis attorneys “from taking any action or making any orders or doing anything impeding or hindering the rights of the Memphis Base Ball Club to continue to play in the Southern Association of Base Ball Clubs, and with the clubs constituting the same, and that each and every member of the directory be restrained from expelling or attempting to expel or enforcing or promulgating and order or act of forfeiture or expulsion.”

With tensions mounting within the league, a defiant Frank scheduled St. Vrain to pitch the very next day after the injunction. The site of this game, which had the eyes of southern baseball enthusiasts watching closely, was once again in Nashville. Frank, backed by the injunction, watched Nashville beat his controversial pitcher, 6-0.

By the middle of August, the league was fed up with their situation. There were rumors of trial dates and out of court settlements. The league once again met and decided to take a tougher stand against Memphis and their attorneys. The officials instructed any team that played a game in which Frank or St. Vrain was involved; the umpire was instructed to forfeit the game to their opponent, 9-0. Failure to obey this directive would be grounds for the umpire’s dismissal.

Attorney’s for the Memphis Club immediately filed a suit against the league for $10, 000 in damages to the Memphis club. In his frustration over the entire situation, J. B. Nicklin resigned as president of the league. A few weeks later the new president, Kavanaugh, instructed Nashville not to play any more games since St. Vrain and Frank were involved in Memphis last trip of the season to Athletic Park. Fisher responded to the directive.

“What am I to do?” asked Fisher when asked if he would play with St. Vrain in the frame. “Mr. Tyne, the Nashville club’s attorney, advises me to allow St. Vrain to play. Frank swears that he will have me arrested for contempt of court if I refuse to play the game, and then here is over half the crowd clamoring for a game, no matter who pitches or who doesn’t pitch. If I refuse to play I will do so contrary to my lawyer’s opinion and advice.

“A majority of the people who pay their money to see ball played care little for these controversies, except in an abstract sort of way. They want to see a game, no matter who pitches, and I believe that I am pleasing the greater portion of base ball patrons in playing the game, and at the same time I am following the advice of my lawyer and the dictates of common sense.”

Kavanaugh backed downed and rescinded his order that Nashville was to suspend play. He cited the injunction against the league for his latest actions. Could this baseball season be anymore confusing?

The season finally ended with Nashville winning the pennant for the second straight season. The Vols won by four games as the season concluded with the conflict not resolved.

The American gave its opinion:

The Nashville base ball team has won the pennant fairly and squarely by playing a steadier and more consistent game than any other team. The club began the season on equal terms and each one had an equal chance to land the first prize.

The pennant has been won on its merits and the fans of this city should show their appreciation when the boys “come marching home.”

In the fall the cases against the league and Memphis were resolved out of court. After the suspensions, forfeits and reverse forfeits were sorted out Nashville was the official winner.

Lost in the turmoil of the season was the .416 league-leading batting average by Vols’ outfielder Hugh Hill. The specactular hitting performance would establish a Southern Association record that was never broken. Hill also doubled as a pitcher posting a 21-11 record, also a league best.

The league did survive until it was disbanded in 1961. Eventually, all was forgiven as Memphis won the Southern Association pennants in 1903 and 1904—without Frank as their manager.

The photograph of the 1902 Nashville Vols accompanying this story is courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Next week read about Nashville hosting the greatest game ever played in the South!

If you have information on baseball from Nashville’s past or an old photo related to baseball in Nashville, you can contact me at WLTraughber@aol.com.

Related Links:
 • Click Here To Read Part One Of This Story