The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-06
1Snso ball ns u business,

the noted Base Ball player "when the
| first admission fec of 10 cents hoad
was charged by the Atlantics OF Brook
| lyn. 1t occasiOnnd n vigorous kick
Tor up to that time bnse ball had been
| tho game. but the crowds didn't dimin-
lsh, and when tho Rcd Stockings, of
Cincinnati, went East they charged 50
cents admission and got large crowds
from the start. / have soon crowds 30
dense that the gates were closed long
| before tho game was called, and, foar-
ing rush il the gates should bo opened
to admit tho players, tho latter had to
climb tho fence. The great base ball
eyont OF this country WAS the formation
OF the league, composed of representa-
tives OF tour eastern and four western
clubs, formed III 1876. 1t hns raised
Tho tone of base ball, made it noxt to
Impossible for players to soil out q game
and resulted III inspiring degreo of
confidence in tho game that horse rae
ing doesn't enjoy. The penalty for
throwing a game is expulsion from tho
league with no prospect Of reinstatc-
ment. -Four men were expelled from u
Louisville nine on charge of throwing
game, and although they havo applied
every sc'tson for admission to tho League
they have been refused. This league is
one OF the most perfect and strict Or
ganlzatlons in the country. It has dis
couragod pool selling and done away
almost entirely with drinking on the
part OF tho players. This league was
organized by the late w. A. Hubert.
member Of the Chicago Board OF Trade
man OF promptness and great decision
OF character. L believe that baso ball
instead OF declining will become moro
popular. One of the features suggested
by the League Is IL uniform systom of
salaries, so much for the catchcrs and
pitchers, who aro the most valuable Non
rs rule, so much for the i'll -lielders and
so much for the out -felders.
The lcngue employs four umpires Mt
$500 n month and all expenses. AS to
tho Jlistness OF tho laws, U npiro Burn
nam. now at the Weddcll House, thinks
that the rule mrhing it possible to dis
miss an umpire upon the complaint of
four clubs, without heuring his side of
the story, Is unjust. 'Four clubs,
Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit and Boston,
have combined against me, and 1 ex-
pect to get my walking papers Saturday
night" suid Burnlam. II don't much
care. It's worth $500 a month to stand
the abuse that M umpire has to en-
dure,"
"Has my Of these players grown rich
on tilelr gOod salariesp" was tho part
Ing question thrown at Wright. "Yes
several OF them arc reported to be we'll
of. My brother Gaorge, who invented
many of the tricks, so called, now in
ball playing, il keeping a sporting goods
Store III B"Ston, Sl,nl,iinS, nn old bnao
player, runs n similar business in Chi
cago, and Al Reach i'll philadelphia.
They all do Il big business. The item
OF balls alone Is nj important one. The
regulation ball, fist made by Mann, of
Boston, now costs $15 dozon. 1t is
made OF M ounce of pure rubber
covered with worsted yarn. then Il cover
OF horse hide, then more yarn and then
the outer cover of horse hide. Since n
now ball is provided for each game tho
number used i'll season is not small, A
players expenses are paid by the club
whllo on tho road, but he is assessed so
cents day. The hotel bills aro from
~ to 81 50 n day for each player, and
tho travelling expenses two cents n mile.
Salaries arc paid OH tho 1st and 10Th of
each month";"
GLOW much capital does the League
represcnt?' was asked of George Howe,
ireH!lemt Of tho Cleveland club. "Ihat's
hard to answer" was tho reply, ut
COST $l0, 900 or moro to start this club.
The stockholders had to stand assess
ments until last season, when we made
II little money. This season We Will also
probably make some.