The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-02
Some Of the Men who have Grown
Rich on Base Ball.

The professional player of today, pro-
viding he possesses ability of the right
order, fares better than the ordinary
member of any other profession. Al
Spalding, the President of the Chicago
Club, is perhaps. the richest man in the
business to-day, and AL Reach, the or
ganizer of the Philadelphia Club, is an
other who has laid away something for a
rainy day. Sp%alding's wealth is estima
ted at between $500, 600 and $500, 600.
and Reach's possessions are placed at the
same figures. Jim Mutrie organized the
Metropolitan Club of New York, and
cleared nearly 800, 600 the first season,
but none of the money went to Jim, and
he is as poor to day as when he started
out. Billy Barnie played in better luck
than Mutrie. He and Hauck, a Balti-
more bill poster, placed the Baltimore
American team in the field last year, and
scored a great hit, the club making near
ly $4,000 its first year, with the prospect
of nearly doubling that amount this.
-Four years ago Barnie hadn't $50 to his
name. To day he can draw his check
for $50, 900, or something not much less
than that amount, and this is doing pref
ty well for one who started out with the
reputation of beinga broken-down catch
er. Emil Gross, who catches for the
Chicago Unions in their coming games
here, owns $50, 600 worth in real estate
in Chicago. but this does not represent
his earnings, he having fallen heir to the
property. Mike McGeary has made
enough money out of base ball 10 build
several houses in Philadelphia, and Arson
of the Chicagos has bought a farm with
the proceeds Of his earnings, and also
owns stock In the Chicago Club.
George Wright WINS quite an estab-
lishment in Boston, and Harry Wright,
now managing the Philadelphia Club, is
also doing we'll, out neither have mere
wealth than they know what to do with.
OF the St. LCcis players, Dunlap of the
Unions is the most solid man, while
Gleason of the American team owns the
house he lives in, and is pretty well fixed
financially. George Strict owns a neat
home in Cleveland, and Latham is anoth-
er thrifty and well-to>do player. But
these men are about all there are Of the
present and of the old rank and file who
are even well to do. OF course others
have made money in the business, but
they did not belong to the old ranks. Lew
Simmons, for example, knew but little
about base ball until about three years
ago. when he. Sharsig. and Mason or
ganized the Athletic Club, and the trio
since that time have cleared between
5000, 00o and $500 900 on the venture.
Theirs was the grateSt success. financially,
ever scored in the base ball world.
The poorest paid club in the American
Association to day is the Louisville.
Neatly all its players were reserved men,
aud nearly all were frightened into
signing $1,000 contracts. This gave the
players DO money TO spend for whiskey,
or something worse. aud as a result they
are in tirst-class fix and playing first-class
ball. The New York League team Of
last year, which was called. The 10,
600 Gilt edge Nine made the poores
kind of a record for itself, the time O
the players being mostly taken Up il
spending their salaries, in4teai of TRAN
ing and getting in ,.im for play. Tn,
Chicago pi..e OF this year, perhaps III,
Highest salaried nine 10 the League
seems to be following in the rut of las
years New York Club, and the high
salaried nine which represents st. Loui
in the American Association is not doiDi
SO we'll this year.