When the Players\' League folded in 1891, pretty much every player that left the National League or the American Association for the league in 1890 was allowed to return to their original team. However Lou Bierbauer never signed a contract to return to Philadelphia Athletics. The National League\'s Pittsburgh Alleghenys realizing Bierbauer\'s absence in the Athletics line-up soon became determined to sign him at all cost.\n', '

Alfred Spink, the founder of the Sporting News, wrote about the incident in his 1910 book "The National Game". According to Spink, the Alleghenys\' manager, Ned Hanlon, traveled to Erie in the dead of winter to sign him with Allegheny.\n', '

The Athletics, upon learning of this deal, objected to Bierbauer\'s signing and stated that he should return to the A\'s, since that was the team that employed him before his defection to the failed Players\' League. An official for the American Association also objected to Bierbauer signing with the Alleghenys and called the act "piratical." However the Alleghenys contended that since "the [American Association] did not reserve Bierbauer, he was a free agent". An arbitrator agreed, and soon players and fans alike were calling the team the "Pirates."\n', '

Return to Lou Bierbauer Autograph Profile