Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-11
BASEB4LL as A BUSINESS.

| One of the comic papers presents, in re-
cent number, the game of baseball in its diff
fcrent phases, and with its various haps and
mishaps, and writer in the Western Monthly
furnishes an appropriate text for those droli
| Illustrations.
Baseball this writer shows us, has become
a business with several famous clubs; and GER
tainly to one who does not play ii, it seems
that with balls as hard as iron, hurled with the
| swiftness of bullet the game can scarcely
any longer be called an amusement.
"Ten dollars a day, five dollars more for
hotel bills, and twice as much more for rail
road fares" seem to be the wages of a pro-
fessionl base-hall player Salaries wert
fist paid, we are told, 10 catchers and pitch
her, and finally to other members of a nine;
and it was reserved for Chicago to systematic
the business of base ball. The business be-
gan by one club, which had achieved some
fame tor skill, travelling through the cou ntry
to play with local clubs, ambitious 10 try their
bats and win glory. The two clubs, on such
trials, shared the pts from gate money,
and the famous Cincinnati cred Stockings"
made, in 1868, seven thousand dollars in the
season, besides their expenses, by such ex-
hibitions.
"This (says the writer whose account we
are tolowing) was too much for Chicago IT,
bear. She would not see her commercial
rival on the Ohio bearing off the honors OF
the national game, especially when there was
money TO be made by beating her. So Chicago
went to work; and you must know that III
! Chicago the first thing TO do toward any
| achievement is 10 form II stock company. In
Chicago nobody builds a church, pickles
winters stock of cucumbers, or starts
clothes pin shop, without first forming joint
stock company under the general statute.
Accordingly, last November a call was is
sued 10 those interested in seeing Chicago
armed with first class base ball club to as
semble and organize for the purpose. The
shares were fisst dispose of-six hundred at
twenty-five dollars each, fifteen thousand
dollars in all; on which sixty per cent was
called Gin before the receips began TO tell
against disbursements. Besides these six
hundred shares, which are held by forty
eight different persons, there are one hundred
and fny honorary members, who pay ten
dollars year each and get a season ticket.
4 weli-known sporting man was sent East
to M gutate tor II complement OF bail players
to WOO the nine, as one might say. lie
visited Philadelphia, and engaged one of the
best feeders of the Athletic CLUB; he swoop-
cd dowa on New York, and bore away four OF
the Eckford players, including their greatly
priced pitcher; he descended upon Troy and
Lansingburgh, and captured from the famous
| tinymakers their great catcher and three other
favOri,es. To secure these, and entice them
westward, it became necessary TO offer large
salaries compared with those paid at the East
The catcher was to have twenty five hundred
dollars season, as a consideration for keep
ing sober, retaining from ungentlemanly
conduct, and catching the regulation ball two
hours of an afternoon during the ball season;
another man, for playing second base MAIN
tanning dignifed demeanor and acting rs
captain of the nine, was to receive two thou
sand dollars for the season; while the remain
der were allowed fifteen hundred dollars each,
all necessary expenses while onthe wing be-
ing. az course, paid from the companys
funds
That is the business" of base ball plainly
it has ceased TO be popular amusement, and
has become SHOW rival of the horse
race.
.'rhe Chicago nine--or the white Stock
ngs, as they are popularity known--is the
only prominent nine hired absolutely for fixed
salaries; and the club proper, or company,
the only one founded in the manner described.
The Cincinnati or Red Stockings club has
now, | believe, Il charter of Incorporation;
but it is much more of club and less of a
corporation. II deyotes the profits of its
starring tours to the adorDment OF its club
rooms, Sc, and does not declare dividends
out and out as the Chicago club intends do
ing. One of the Cincinnati playing nine is Il
broker in good business at home. OF the
noted eastern clubs, the Mutual is an old
organization, Of social sort, with New York
aldermen enough in it TO give it decided po- /
ltical character. The playing nine haye an
iGisaSSi Gisaiai 61 is61 6dee16iH ft ~ N = y