Denny McKnight
Encyclopedia
Harmar Denny McKnight was the founding owner of the Allegheny Baseball Club of Pittsburgh in anticipation of playing in the new American Association
. He founded the club on October 15, . The club then became known as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys (now known as the Pittsburgh Pirates
). McKnight also managed the club at the beginning of the season.
player Sam Barkley
. In March 1886, Browns owner Chris Von der Ahe
offered Barkley for $1000 to Allegheny, the first team to pay the money. Billy Barnie
, the manager of the Baltimore Orioles
, was able to have Barkley sign an undated contract with his team and wired the $1000 asking price to Von der Ahe. However Von der Ahe had already secured a deal with McKnight who was still the Alleghenys' owner. Barkley was convinced by Von der Aheto play for the Allegheny club instead of Baltimore. However the Orioles appealed the decision by McKnight, who used his position as the President of American Association to decided where Barkley would play. It was later decided that the American Association would suspended and fined Barkley for signing with Allegheny. However McKnight refused Barkley's punishment and did not tell Barkley he would be suspended for the year. Barkley sued the Association, but they settled out of court with suspension being lifted although the fine stayed in place. Baltimore was offered and accepted Milt Scott
as payment. For his role in the controversy, McKnight was ousted as American Association President. This then led Allegheny President, William A. Nimick
, moving the team from the American Association to the National League
.
of the Players' League
. With a decimated roster, the team experienced what is still the worst season in franchise history, going 23-113. The battle nearly ruined McKnight, and he was forced to return his franchise to the league. However, almost immediately after this, McKnight joined the backers of the Burghers as a minority owner, which then repurchased the Pittsburgh National League franchise and rechartered it under a different corporate name. They were thus able to legally recover the services of most of the players who had jumped to the upstart league a year earlier..
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
. He founded the club on October 15, . The club then became known as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys (now known as the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
). McKnight also managed the club at the beginning of the season.
American Association and move to the National League
McKnight served as President of the American Association until he was ousted in . His ouster was result of a controversy surrounding St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
player Sam Barkley
Sam Barkley
Samuel E. Barkley was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, he played for four different teams in six seasons from to .-Career:...
. In March 1886, Browns owner Chris Von der Ahe
Chris von der Ahe
Christian Friedrich Wilhelm von der Ahe was a German-American entrepreneur, best known as the owner of the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the American Association, now known as the St. Louis Cardinals....
offered Barkley for $1000 to Allegheny, the first team to pay the money. Billy Barnie
Billy Barnie
William Harrison Barnie , nicknamed "Bald Billy," was an American manager and catcher in Major League Baseball. Born in New York City, he played as a right fielder in the National Association in 1874-1875...
, the manager of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
, was able to have Barkley sign an undated contract with his team and wired the $1000 asking price to Von der Ahe. However Von der Ahe had already secured a deal with McKnight who was still the Alleghenys' owner. Barkley was convinced by Von der Aheto play for the Allegheny club instead of Baltimore. However the Orioles appealed the decision by McKnight, who used his position as the President of American Association to decided where Barkley would play. It was later decided that the American Association would suspended and fined Barkley for signing with Allegheny. However McKnight refused Barkley's punishment and did not tell Barkley he would be suspended for the year. Barkley sued the Association, but they settled out of court with suspension being lifted although the fine stayed in place. Baltimore was offered and accepted Milt Scott
Milt Scott
Milton Parker Scott was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors between and . He is buried at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.-External links:...
as payment. For his role in the controversy, McKnight was ousted as American Association President. This then led Allegheny President, William A. Nimick
William A. Nimick
William A. Nimick was the owner of the Pittsburgh Alleghenys/Pirates baseball team of the National League from through . In 1887, Nimick purchased the club from Denny McKnight. He sold the Pirates to William Kerr and Phil Auten in 1891.-References:*...
, moving the team from the American Association to the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
.
Players' League
The Alleghenys were severely crippled during the , when nearly all of their stars jumped to the Pittsburgh BurghersPittsburgh Burghers
The Pittsburgh Burghers were a baseball team in the Players' League, a short-lived Major League that existed only for the 1890 season. The team included a number of players who had jumped from the National League's Pittsburgh Alleghenys , including Hall of Famers Pud Galvin, Ned Hanlon, and Jake...
of the Players' League
Players League
The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League , was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century...
. With a decimated roster, the team experienced what is still the worst season in franchise history, going 23-113. The battle nearly ruined McKnight, and he was forced to return his franchise to the league. However, almost immediately after this, McKnight joined the backers of the Burghers as a minority owner, which then repurchased the Pittsburgh National League franchise and rechartered it under a different corporate name. They were thus able to legally recover the services of most of the players who had jumped to the upstart league a year earlier..