Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-22
"a ID eIiuW .GNI "a ~ q ~ -
Salaries That Command the Services Of
sgi Educated .Base-B Men. M

"There is good deal of head work
about baseball" said Manager j. j..
Mntrie the other day at the Polo grounds,
"and The proof of it is seen in the con-
siderable number of colegians and stu
dents who have made their mark in it, and
adopted it as profession. So far as the
remuneration is concerned, there is every
reason why they should do so, for first
class base ball players now receive salaries
which would be considered prizes by many
young ministers, lawyers, and doctors.
There are now 81 professional clubs-eight
in the American Association, seven in the
Interstate Association, and eight in the
Northwestern League. This requires say
$50 skilled players, and the competition to
secure the best has gradually run up the
salaries, until it is not an uncommon
thing tor a first-class player to receive
more than So 700 for eight months work.
An ordinary salary is from ST. 200 to 81, 500
for season. The combined salaries OF the
and those of the New York League to
about the same sum. You may judge how
sharp the competition is when AL Reach,
manager of the Philadelphia team, offered
$4,000 season for four men, and could
not get them. Do you see that young fell
low in the Chicago nine who just caught
that ball so beautifully in the centre
field ? He was getting $40 week working
in paper mill not long ago. This season
he refused an engagement at So. 500 and
must be getting more.
There is Ward of the New York nine.
He is close student, and has kept up his
studies while earning a first-class salary
as ball player. Last winter he coached
the Princeton students and kept up his
studies. He intends to pay his way through
college by his earnings as ball player.
Richmond, who formerly played as pitcher
for the Worcester nine, the first left-hand-
ed pitcher. aud splendid one, is the son
of an Illinois Baptist minister. J.. H..
Humphreys. of the Cornell class of 1888,
has just accepted an engagement to play
with the New York League Club Tones,
the famous Yale pitcher, has accepted an
engagement with Western League club.
Knight. of the Yale class of 1878, accepted
IA three-years' engagement to. pitch for
Harry Wright in Boston. Hodgeman, a
graduate of the Hartford High School,
when prepared to enter Yale, was offered
a three-years' engagement at a handsome
salary as pitcher, BUT declined it. Downer,
another Yale man, has frequently been
offered remunerative engagements. AL
len, who formerly played with the SYRIA
cuse Star Club and other professionals, is
now dentist in Buffalo. Hutchinson, ana
other notable Yale pitcher, was offered
high salary and a position in a prominent
law Office in New York to play here.
Bushion, of the Cleveland Club, the we'll
known catcher, studied dentistry, and paid
for his tuition with his earnings as ball
player. Mcclure, formerly catcher of the
Bostons and of other CLUBS, is now den
fist in Scranton.
''The contracts with professional play
ers are now 80 strict that only men who
have pretty good habits can live up to
them. From the opening of the season in
April to the close in November prefes-
sional must play in about $50 games. To
do this he must be temperate, must take
regular sleep, and must keep IN good
health 1t is erroneous to suppose that
professional players are sluggers and row.
dies or drunkards. Such men do not last
long in prominent positions now. A pro-
fessional player is liable to expulsion if be
is seen in pool room, and gambling is
strictly prohlbited.-N. Y. Sun.