When the Baltimore Orioles obtained pitcher John Clarkson from the Cleveland Spiders for pitcher Tony Mullane, Clarkson chose to go home to Bay City, Michigan and open a cigar business.
Ned Hanlon did not give up on Clarkson returning to baseball; in fact, the Orioles’ manager was sure Clarkson would need the job in 1895. He told The Baltimore American:
“I am confident John Clarkson will be on my staff of pitchers next year. John is now running a store up in Michigan, but I hear he will have the same experience which befalls all players who embark in business. I fitted up a hat store in New York in 1889 and did all I could to establish myself.”
Hanlon failed and he assumed Clarkson would as well.
“‘Every man to his trade,’ is the best plan for getting through life. A baseball player is unfitted as a rule for business. I found that I could not get rid of a stock of out-of-style hats as easily as I did some of the back-number players who were drawing salaries from the Baltimore club when I took charge of it.”
Hanlon bragged of unloading “faded stars” like George Van Haltren and Tim O’Rourke who he traded in separate deals for Hughie Jennings and Joe Kelley.
“Yes, John will be back in the business next year and will help us to retain the championship. He knows that we treat our players right. John will get a new lease of life after this long rest and be all the better for it.”
Clarkson’s business–along with three subsequent ones he started were successful enough to keep him out of major league baseball for good. Hanlon managed to win another pennant without him in 1895.
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