“Well, I have the promise of almost every one of them. If we get the backing now, I’ll have them together and practicing so soon it will make you gasp.”
“You haven’t named your shortstop,” reminded McGann.
“Haven’t settled on the man for the position. Can get any one of three. Don’t worry about that.”
“What do you say, Gowan?” asked McGann. “Are you ready to go in with me to back this team on the terms stated?”
“Yes,” answered the stout man, “I’m with you.”
* * * * *
Shortly after this the baseball world was given a sensation. McGann and Gowan’s Outcasts made their first appearance in Ridgewood, N.J., easily defeating the locals. The next day they played in Hoboken and secured another easy victory. Their first Sunday game was with the Jersey City team of the Eastern League, and the score was eight to five in their favor. Then followed five games with the strongest independent teams in the East, and five more “scalps” were garnered to their glory. On the second Sunday they played the Giants of New York in Hoboken before a mob of people that simply overran the grounds. The score was three to one in favor of the Outcasts, and their reputation was made. They sought games with the New York Yankees and the Boston champs, but the managers of these two teams seemed attacked with a sudden severe case of “cold feet.” Although they had given McGann reasons to believe they would play his team, this happened before the Outcasts were organized and had made such a bewildering record. After this happened they couldn’t seem to find any open dates. Manager McGann challenged any and all teams in both the big leagues, the winners to take the entire gate receipts after expenses were deducted.
The Outcasts had arrived.