Max Carey’s parents wanted him to become a Lutheran minister, in 1917 the Pittsburgh papers suggested that he was trying to become an attorney.
Carey, from his home in St. Louis, informed Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfus in January that he was a free agent. The Pittsburgh Press said the reason for “Carey’s outburst” was the contract “did not contain that section known as ‘Clause 10;’” the Pirates had omitted the Reserve Clause from the contract, and Carey proclaimed himself a free agent.
Max Carey
Carey told the paper he was confident in his position:
“I admit that the Federal League is not around to help me out, but I have consulted several prominent attorneys here and in other cities and all tell me that the Pittsburgh club cannot reserve me and that it does not hold an option on my services for 1917.”
Carey said he was not engaged in a holdout and was “sincere in my determination to quit the Pittsburgh club.”
He acknowledged that the other owners “can combine against me,” but vowed if that were the case:
“I’m through with professional baseball for all time…I’ll never again don a Pittsburgh uniform and in this Mr. Dreyfuss knows I am sincere”
Dreyfuss told The Press:
“Carey is hunting publicity, I’m not. Let him do the talking. I have nothing to say now. When the proper time comes, I will act—not now.”
The Pittsburgh Post compared Carey’s attempt at free agency with that of an occupied country:
“Max Carey’s chances of getting by with it are fully as good as Belgium’s”
Over the next several days, Dreyfuss remained silent, but the papers’ attitude about Carey went from amused to annoyed when it was reported that:
“Carey has even gone so far as to attempt to peddle his services to other major league clubs, who were astounded when they received letters from the player, informing them that he considered himself a free agent.”
The Press said:
“It can be said that Max is not making any friends among the fans by his tactics. He has never been a popular player, in spite of the fact that he is a talented and clever performer, for the simple reason that the patrons of the sport have come to realize that he is supremely egotistical and selfish”
Carey
After two weeks, Carey said he was requesting a decision from the National Commission o his status. He told The Associated Press (AP):
“If the commission rules that I am the property of Pittsburgh then I will take another legal course.”
In early March, Carey contacted Dreyfuss by telegram. The Post said “No attention was paid” to the message by Dreyfuss. The Pirate owner said of Carey and two other holdouts, Bill Fischer and Walter Schmidt:
“Some of these men have requested conferences, suggesting that it would be an easy matter to fix up what they term ‘our differences.’ As far as the Pittsburgh club is concerned, there are no differences. What we offered each player is final and no changes are contemplated.”
Two months after Carey first declared himself a free agent, The Philadelphia Inquirer said:
“Carey took his case to the National Commission and was turned down. He appealed to the National League and was informed that the Pirates had placed him on their reserve list. He also was told under baseball law no other club in the major or minor leagues could negotiate with him without the consent of Dreyfuss. Carey than asked the Pirates’ owner to trade him to the Phillies, but his request was promptly denied. Now, Carey says he will bring an action against Dreyfuss, charging oppression and conspiracy. But even if the courts should declare Carey free to sign with some other ball club his hands would be tied just the same. Carey has been badly advised.”
Within days, Carey seemed to finally agree, The Post said:
“It is known that Max is beginning to awaken to the fact that he can gain nothing by a further holdout, and it is believed he will soon follow his mates to the Columbus (Georgia) training grounds.”
On March 14 it was reported that Dreyfuss sent him a contract calling for $5000, the same amount he received in 1916, The Press noted that “No letter accompanied the contract,” and that Carey returned only the signed contract, suggesting that the relationship between Carey and Dreyfuss was strained.
The Post said:
“Max Carey, renowned free agent, has ceased from free-agenting and will devote his spare moments this summer to road-agenting—on the base-lines, it is hoped.”
Carey’s two-month effort to challenge the Reserve Clause was over. He joined the Pirates in Georgia at midnight on March 15. The paper said:
“When the Pirates awoke from their slumbers and spied Carey at the breakfast table this morning, they gave him a rousing welcome.”
He had a solid season after his foray into free agency, he led the National League in stolen bases for the third straight year and hit .296 for the 51-103, eight place Pirates.
In November of 1917 Carey told an AP reporter in St. Louis that he was “ready to retire.” The report said:
“He is not a holdout, he has not announced that the salary offered by president Dreyfuss does not agree with his figures, but he has departed from St. Louis for the Pacific Coast, and the move may close the baseball career of the Pirates’ sterling center fielder.”
The Press dismissed it “as the annual Carey story,” and said:
“It occasioned scarcely any comment in this neck of the woods, where the fans have come to look upon any off season as really incomplete without some sort of a story concerning the Pirates’ star outfielder.”
Carey signed for $5000 again and was named captain of the Pirates, replacing the retired Honus Wagner.
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