Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-23
DAILY
POST MTELLIGENCER


From a recent article in q New YORK
sxehauQs Ne giean the following: There
are now 81 professional ciubs-eight IN
he League. eight In the American A.
.ooIstiou, seven In the Interstate Asso-
oastion and eight In the Northwestern
League. This requires $50 skilled
players, and the competition 70 secure
the bsss has gradually run mp the sal
ssies, until II il not an uncommon WING
for . first-class player 70 receive mofe
than saOD for eight months work An
ordinary salary 10 from $lo 70 ~
~, . ssssou. The combined salaries OF
AZ the Metropolitan team amount 70
40 600. and those of the New fork
I>aoue 70 about the same sam Ine
contracts with professional players are
nov 10 strict that only men who have
pretty good habits can live up TO shera-
From the opening Of tbs season IN
April to the close in November a pro-
fessional must play in about I'D games
To do this he must be temperate, muss
sahe regular sleep, and must keep In
Good health. 1t Is erroneous 10 snpPoss
that professional players are siugeers
ana rowdiss or drunkards. Suoh men
40 NOT Last long in prominent positions
.ov. A professional player ID liable to
sxpu,sisu IL hs II seem in pool room
ana gambling IL strictly prohibited. II
has become q matter Of business 70
make the game respectable. There are
In all the larger cities places where
games are played BY professionals and
an admission fec charged. Tho rental
and fixtures Of these places require
capital. Respectable people patronize
the games, and the management CANNOT
s6ord 70 have disorder. The tendency
therefore, has been 70 give permanent
employment TO men who are settled AND
steady In their ways. Speaking OF the
change in the character Of professional
PLAYERS. the article says:
Yormeriy tho professionals were noted
Cor sneudina ali the money they made
Nov they aTe noted for their prudence
Al. ..oaoh Of tho Philadelphians II saie
10 b worth $4,000. Arson OF ehe Cni
saao nine ID veil of. The wfignts 0,
0ho Boston Club belong 10 . family o.
professionals who have been known II
Vhis country for thirty years a. ball ant
cricket players. They are steady men
and one Of them has a large store II
Boston for the sale Of sporting goods
SpauIding Of the Cinci"nati and Chicae'
Uubs, formerly the pitcher for tn
Boseons, u nov in business in Chicago
and II said 10 be well on.
Tho popularity Of baseball az Al
amusement in college life has doubles
induced 10 many graduates 10 becom
professionals, and today the professions
clubs Of the country number anon
their players q large percentage o
young men Who learned to play at col
Ises. The surroundings Of the gam
have bssu 20 much improved Of lat
yesrs that the personnel Of attendant
hes been raised, and the encouragement
Of gambling has removed a Fruitful
cause Of dishonesty in match games
Players must b temperate, cool. viii
qaiek Judgment and decision. An erro
Of quarter second may lose q game
We are glad 70 note these facts IN re
letion 70 our national game. Baseball
viii always continue popular as a tes
Of science. Judgment. muscle and drill
II II IL not allowed 10 degenerate int
simply q hippodroms performance
whsssin the result depends upon moth
Ing bat tho pleasure Of the manage
nsnt.