JAYSON

                                           RECRUITS

HIS

                                                     COUSIN 

                         Stephen Pollard

February 3, 1902

Silver Spring, Maryland

Jayson Gannon as looking out of the window of his house, watching the snow coming down on this early February day. But his thoughts were on the upcoming 1902 Washington Eagles baseball season and how to improve his team which had finished in 2nd place the first two seasons as the team manager.

 His thoughts were turning in his head as he stood at the window watching the snow continue to fall. Jayson was thinking of who the team could ac- quire to help put the team over the top in the American Conference base- ball league.

 Jayson’s loving wife Caitlyn was standing at the living room doorway, observing him standing at the window, watching the snow fall. Caitlyn almost knew what was on his mind, knowing of his concern for his team and how to improve upon it in order in making the Washington Eagles a perennial contender as he did when he was managing the Cincinnati Knights, winning 7 league pennants and 6 baseball championship titles in his 10 years there as the field manager.

Walking quietly up to him and putting her arms lovingly around him, Caitlyn said, “what’s troubling you dear”. Jayson let out a deep sigh and responded “I think that I will have to talk with team owner George Statler, I would like to see if we can contact the Philadelphia Clippers owner James Adams and my buddy Paul Williamson about the possibility of acquiring my cousin Franklin Forsythe to bolster my pitching staff. When Paul Williamson be- came the manager of the franchise when the National Conference Baseball League began play in 1892, the team did not become a pennant contender 

until 1894, the year that Franklin Forsythe joined the team”. “I am sure that you can get a trade deal completed to the satisfaction of all once you get the ball rolling”, Caitlyn said in response. “Now just relax and do not stress yourself out. Now let’s sit and spend some time together and let the snow do it’s thing”.

The following Monday, sitting in a suite meeting with team owner Gerald Statler, Jayson brought up the subject of possibly acquiring the services of Franklin Forsythe. Jayson provided the team owner with Franklin’s pitching record since he became a professional baseball player since he was 17 years old. Continuing his pitch to Gerald Statler, Jayson said, “having pitched for the Newark Sea Gulls for 3 seasons , the New York Majestics for one season and the Philadelphia Clippers for 8 seasons, overall he has pitched for 12 seasons, compiling an overall record of 308 wins and 169 losses for a .645 winning percentage. He also has registered 96 shutouts and 2 no hitters.” Gerald Statler said “that’s is very impressive, tell me aver- aged over 8 years”. Jayson Gannon proceeded with the following informa- tion that Gerald Statler was seeking to know”. Well, he averaged 48 games pitched, 44 games started, 360 innings pitched, 182 strikeouts, 25 wins, 14 loses, 8 shutouts and a 2.42 ERA”. Gerald Statler wanted to know, “how did hecdo in Championship Series”. Being funny, Jayson responded, “I thought that you would never ask”, the laughing at his own joke, Jayson said “at Cincinatti we faced Philadelphia in 4 Championship Series, of course we won 3 of them, his record was an amazing 6 -3, and plus the 2 Champion- ship series with Newark he was 3 - 0, altogether he had a 9 - 3 record”. “Sounds like he does not shy away from the big games and can handle himself well”. Jayson responded “he is a great competitor”, laughingly he said “of course it runs in the family”. Gerald Statler now in a serious mood said, “now that’s the family that I want to have around”. Definitely satisfied with what he had heard, Gerald Statler said, “OK, you just relax and take it easy, I will take it from here, I will contact James Adams and Paul Williamson and see just what kind of deal that I can make with them”. 

With that both men stood up and shook hands, then departed in separate directions.

 On the Monday March 3, 1902, everyone involved from the Philadelphia Clippers got together with those involved from the Washington Eagles met in the Washington Plaza Hotel meeting room suite. Philadelphia owner James Adams was with Paul Williamson and Franklin Forsythe, Washing- ton owner Gerald Statler was with Jayson Gannon.

Getting the meeting underway, Jayson Gannon spoke up first saying, “that after a great deal of thought, he felt that it would be a great opportunity for the future of the Washington Eagles to acquire Franklin Forsythe, that his presence on the team will put the Eagles franchise over the top and would make the team the jewel of major league baseball, and of course two cousins would be uniting to make it all possible, plus, it would also make Franklin Forsythe the best major league pitcher of all time and I predict that being a key part of the franchise becoming a major dynasty that will go down as one of the greatest baseball teams in major league history in the years to come”.

Paul Williamson responded, “Jayson, you and I spent a lot of great years together with the Philadelphia Diamond, and we know each other well, and if there was someone or some team that I would even think of trading my ace pitcher to, it would only be if you were involved, plus, you and Franklin would be uniting, two cousins making a team into a dynasty that, and just like you, I think will be the greatest team of this decade”. Continuing, Paul Williamson said, “everywhere that you go, that team becomes a dynasty. In the 1870’s you led the Diamonds to become the dominant team, then in the 1880’s you went to the Gold Sox’s and led them to many titles, and in the 1890’s you led the Knights making them the dominant team, and now you are on the verge of leading the Eagles to be the dominant team of the 1900’s, your teams have finished in 1st place 22 times in 30 years. I do not think that there will ever be anyone who will ever match that, and 7 out of 

those 8 years that you did not win the pennant, you finished in 2nd place, your teams are always in the pennant hunt, there is not anyone who can match that”.

Standing there listening, Franklin Forsythe was smiling broadly, both the team owners, James Adams and Gerald Statler were also smiling, then James Adams spoke up and sais “I could not think of a player to have a better opportunity fall in their lap than Franklin playing for the Eagles, when you are already the premier pitcher and are offered the opportunity to become the ultimate all time premier pitcher”. Gerald Statler then spoke up  and said” I guess that with everything that has been said, I assume that it is a deal”. James Adams said to Gerald Statler, “yes, it is a deal and I am not looking for an even trade, all I will ask for is some sort of financial compen- sation, say $20,000 and if you say yes to that amount and you give your approval it is a done deal, to which James Adams and Gerald Statler shook hands and the deal was completed, making the reunion of the two cousins complete.

Jayson Gasnnon and Franklin Forsythe then shook hands, then Jayson said to Franklin, “you will not not regret this move, it will be the greatest thing that will happen in your life and it will bring you fame that will be beyond your imagination”. Franklin responded saying, “and I hope that I will never let you down”. Jayson’s reply to that was “from what I have heard you have never let anyone down and have always been the prime example of excellence”. Franklin excitedly said, “and I can not wait to get our wives and kids together, it will be one big happy family and my wife Jeanne will get along well with your wife caitlyn”. Jayson responded “yes, I am looking forward to it”.

The two groups wrapped up their meeting, leaving the suite and upon leaving the Washington Plaza Hotel, said their goodbyes, wished each other well and departed with the realization knowing that the status of baseball and that of premier teams was about to change.

 (C) 2021