In 1905, Elmer Ellsworth Bates of The Cleveland Press told a story about how the game had changed over the past two decades.
Ellsworth said that during the 1880s he witnessed an incident at the Café in Cleveland’s Weddell House Hotel involving Mike “King” Kelly. Bates said he was with umpire “Honest John” Gaffney when Kelly came in:
Mike “King” Kelly
“(T)he swing doors flew open and about half of the players of the Chicago team—Kelly in the lead—marched in. The game between Cleveland and Chicago that day had been a stormy one, and Gaffney had assessed fines right and left.
“Kelly had been the chief offender. Drawing at first a $5 penalty for disputing a decision, he had called Gaffney names at $5 or $10 a name until he owed the National League $50. Kelly had left the ballpark vowing he would attend to Gaffney later. I expected trouble when Kelly came in, for it wasn’t his first visit to that part of the hotel that night.
“’Hello, Gaf,’ Mike shouted, as he saw the umpire. ‘Have a drink—you and your handsome friend.’
“’Much obliged Kel’ said Gaffney: ‘I’m not drinking today.’
“’Say Gaf,’ Kelly went on, ‘how much did you soak me today.’
“’An even $50,’ replied Gaffney, very quietly.
John Gaffney
“’Reported it to the boss yet?’
“Not yet,’ was the reply.
“’Tell you what I’ll do,’ said Kelly, grabbing up the dice box. I’ll shake you to see whether it’s $100 or nothing.’
“Gaffney started to walk away.
“’Come on, Gaf, be game,’ the other players called.
“So he came back.
“’Horses?’ asked Gaffney.
“Nope,’ said Kelly. ‘One throw.’
“Gaffney spilled out aces and fours. Kelly turned the box bottom side up, and, lifting it again, disclosed three fives.
“All right,’ said Gaffney, ‘the fine don’t go.’
“’Come on there, fellers,’ shouted Kel, starting for the door, ‘let’s go out and spend that $50.’”
Baseball History Daily 
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