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Lot # 906: Scarce 1915 Federal League Buffalo Bisons Base Ball Club Program

Starting Bid: $300.00

Bids: 23 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall Classic 2022",
which ran from 11/20/2022 7:00 PM to
12/10/2022 10:00 PM



The Federal League was a third Major League in 1914-15. The league was sometimes referred to an as "outlaw" league because the Federal League "raided" National and American League teams for players. Presented is a very scarce 1915 Federal League Buffalo Bisons Base Ball Club 6x9" program. It is from a game at Buffalo's Federal League Stadium between Buffalo and the Kansas City Packers. The Buffalo team was also known as the Blues at this time. The Federal League was part of a famous lawsuit that challenged baseball's reserve clause as a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Eventually, in a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Major League Baseball was not subject to provisions in the Sherman Antitrust Act. The program has 20 pages, including covers. The program, which is officially called a scorecard, has "Buffalo Federal League Base Ball Club" on the cover. Beneath the cover is written "Official Score Card 1915." The scorecard part of the program has the printed prospective starting line-ups for each team, minus a pitcher. The players had no uniform numbers in 1915, but the roster is listed for each team. The scorecard is not scored. The most famous Buffalo player is first baseman Hal Chase. The program has interesting ads, and as a sign of the times there is a small ad on each page reading "Votes For Women" or a similar message and the full back cover is an ad for votes for women in the national election on November 2, 1915. The fascinating program/scorecard also has the home and away schedule for the Buffalo team and a section called "Inside Dope." At the time, "Dope" was a common term that was slang for information. The program is in excellent condition, and it provides a great look at baseball's past in the short-lived third Major League, the Federal League.

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