In mid-June 1885, the Western League disbanded, and a rush developed to sign the players on the Indianapolis roster, a line-up that included Sam Thompson and Deacon McGuire. The Detroit Wolverines of the National League sent two representatives to Indianapolis, principally to sign the Hoosiers' battery of Larry McKeon and Jim Keenan. The Wolverines were outbid by the Cincinnati Reds for McKeon and Keenan but wound up with the Hoosiers' manager (Bill Watkins) and the rest of the team's starting lineup.