The Democratic advocate., 1883-07-21
Salaries that Command the Services
of Educated Baseball Men.

"There is a good deal of head work about
baseball" said Manager J. j. Mutrie the
other day at the polo grounds, "and the
proof of it is seen in the considerable num-
ber of collegians and students who have
made their mark in it, and adopted it as d
profession. So far as the remuneration is
concerned, there is every reason why they
should do SO, for frst-class baseball players
now receive salaries which would be con-
sidered prizes by many young ministers,
LAWYERS and doctors There are now thirty
one professional clubs-eight in the Amer
lean 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 for frst-class
PLAYER to receive more than $4,000 for
EIGHT months work An ordinary salary
is from 81 200 to $1,000 for a season.
The combined salaries of the Metropolitan
team amount to $4,000, 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 Phlla-
delphia 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 centre field? He was
getting $40 week working in paper mill
not long ago. This season he refused an
engagement at 81, 500 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 frst-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 a ball player. Rich
mond, who formerly played as pitcher for
the Worcester nine, the first left-handed
pitcher, and a splendid one, is the son of
an Illinois Baptist minister. j. ii. Hum
phreys, of the Cornell class Of 1888, has
Just accepted an engagement to play with
the New York League Club. Jones, the
famous Yale pitcher, has accepted an en-
gagement with Western League club.
Knight, of the Yale class of 1878, accepted
three-years' engagement opitch for Harry
Wright in Boston. Hodgeman, a graduate
of the Hartford High School, when pre-
pared to enter Yale was offered three
years engagement at a handsome salary as
pitcher, but declined it. Downer, another
Yale man, has frequently been offered re-
munerative engagements. Allen, who for
merly played with the Syracuse Star Club
and other professionals, is now a dentist in
Buffalo Hutchinson, another notable
Yale pitcher, was offered high salary and
position in prominent law office in New
York to play here. Bushion, Of the Cleve-
land Club, the well-known catcher, studied
dentistry, and paid for his tuition with his
earnings as a ball player. Mcclure, for
merly catcher of the Bostons and Of other
clubs, is now a dentist in Scranton.
The contracts with professional players
are now so 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 a professional
must play in and about $50 games. 10 do
this he must be temperate, must take reg
ular sleep, and must keep in good health.
1t is erroneous to suppose that professional
PLAYERS are sluggers and rowdies or drunk
ards. Such men do not last long in prom
inent positions now A professional player
is liable to expulsion if he is seen in pool
room, and gambling is strictly prohibited.
N Y SIM