Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-21
Some Base Ball Salaries.

New York sun.
''There is a good deal of head work
about base ball." said Manager j. J.
Mutrie the other day at the polo grounds,
''and the proof of it is seen in the consid-
cradle number of collegians and students
who have made their mark in it.,
and adopted it as a profession. SO
far as the remuneration is con-
cerned, there is every reason why
they should do so, for tirst-class base
ball players now receive salaries which
would be considered prizes by many
young ministers, lawyers and doctors.
There are now thirty-one professional
clubs-eight i'll the league, eight in the
American association, seven in the Inter
State association and eight in the North
western league. This requires say 800
skilled players, and the competition to
secure the best has gradually run up the
salaries, until it is not an uncommon
thing for a first class player to receive
more than So, 900 for eight months work.
An ordinary salary is from 81 200 to
81, 800 for a season. The combined
salaries of the Metropolitan team
amount to S2O, 1000, and those of the
New York league to about the sama
sum. You may judge how sharp the
competition is when Al Reache, mana
ger of the Philadelphia team, offered
$4,000 a season for four men, and could
not get them. Do you see that young
fellow in the Chicago nine, who Just
caught that ball so beautifully in the
center feld1 He was getting 80 a
uoal worl;no in , n,nar mill MOI Ion,
ago. This season he refused an engage.
ment at $4,000, and must be getting
more.
''There is Ward of the New York nine.
He is a close student, and has kept up
his studies while earning a rst-class sal
airy as a 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 a
ball player. Richmond, who formerly
played as pitcher for the Worcester nine,
the first left handed pitcher, and a splen.
did one, is the son of an Illinois Baptist
minister. j. IL. Humphreys, of the
Cornell class of 1883, has Just &C.
cepted m engagement to play with the
New York League club. Jones, the
ihihouS ialo pllclicT, HAS dCCeptSu All Oil
gagement with a Western League club
Knights of the Yale class of 1873,
accepted a three years engagement t,
pitch for Harry Wright in Boston
Hodgman, a graduate of the Hartford
high school, when prepared to ente,
Yale, was offered "A three years engage
ment at handsome salary as pitcher
but declined it. Downer, another Val,
man, has frequently been offered remuner
ative engagements. Allen, who formerl,
played with the Syracuse Star club, anC
other professionals, is now Il dentist il
Buffalo. Hutchinson, another notabl,
Yale pitcher, was offered a high salar,
and a position i'll Il prominent law offic,
in New York to play here. Bushion, o
the Cleveland club, the well-knowl
=, catcher, studied dentistry, and paid 70
his tuition with his earnings as a bal
; player. Mcclure, formerly catcher O
| the Bostons, and of other clubs, is now
! dentist in Scranton.
Z, "The contracts with professional play
ers are now so strict that only men VIII
have pretty good habits can live up t
, them. From the opening of the seasol
in April TO the close in November a pro
/, fessional must play in about 100 games
To do this he must be temperate, mus
take regular sleep, and must keep i
good health. 1t is erroneous to suppos
that professional players are sluggers an
rowdies or drunkards. Such men do nc