Ramsey County History – Summer 2004: “Say It Ain’t So, Charlie! The 1897 Dispute between Charles Comiskey and the St. Paul Labor Trades and Labor Assembly over the Opening of Lexington Park”

Say It Ain’t So, Charlie! The 1897 Dispute between Charles Comiskey and the St. Paul Labor Trades and Labor Assembly over the Opening of Lexington Park
Author: David Riehle

On April 30, 1897, the famed Lexington ballpark opened to the public. The St. Paul Saints were then managed by Charles Comiskey and were part of the Western League. At the time, professional baseball was the most popular sport with members of the public, many of whom were part of a growing labor movement. As the ballpark opened, a series of disputes arose with organized labor. The union leaders fought against signage in the park for non-union businesses and demanded that only union musicians play at the games. To enforce their position, the Trades and Labor Assembly instituted a successful boycott until matters were resolved.
PDF of Riehle article