As rumors of the Black Sox Scandal persisted, MLB leaders looked for ways to punish & curtail gambling. At the time the three-man National Commission consisting of AL President Ban Johnson, NL President John Heydler, and Reds owner Garry Herrmann were in charge of Major League Baseball. When the owners asked Herrmann to step down, the Commission was deadlocked at two. Frustrated, a plan to replace the Commission with three men who had no financial interest in baseball. Heydler convinced all eight NL teams and three AL teams to support this plan and dissolved Major League Baseball.
(Note: this actually happened in 1920 & led to the creation of the office of Commissioner).
With the dissolution of Major League Baseball, the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Browns are sold and merged into their Federal League counterparts. The Boston Braves owner purchases the Kansas City Packers and merges the teams to form the Boston Bees. The Philadelphia Phillies (renamed Greyhounds) and Cleveland Indians (renamed Spiders) join the Federal League. The remaining former MLB clubs join to form the United League.