The Long Wait

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis's delayed decision in Federal League of Professional Base Ball Clubs v. National League spanning the period February 1915 to February 1916. After attorneys for organized baseball filed their formal answers to the Federal League's allegations on behalf of each of the twenty-one defendants, all that remained was for the parties to wait for Landis to issue his opinion. The Federal League continued its preparations for the 1915 season while also also fighting off attempts by the American and National Leagues to steal back more of its players. As the weeks continued to pass without a decision, the Federals once again began to explore a possible settlement with both leagues. This chapter discusses the Federal League's petition asking Landis to lift the preliminary injunction against Armando Marsans, its settlement negotiations with organized baseball and how the peace process was impacted by the Baltimore Federals's grievances, and Landis's dismissal of the Federal antitrust suit “without prejudice.”