The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-27
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
What Base Bali Costs.
|. rd,tor 3, tba IndIanapolis journal.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
In reading your excellent paper of to-day
March 241 was attracted to an article on base
ball playing By the above heading. In reading
the article, am led to ponder over it little
In days gone by have considered base ball
playing as very innocent and healthfnl exer
else, save only the loss of an eye, or finger and
hand 1t was not considered business, nor
pool-selling organization, nor a money making
institution. There were no high fences with
gates to bar the way TO the play grounds. There
was no beer saloon attached, and to play ball ON
Sunday would have been considered a sacriiege.
Now. with all the radical changes which have
taken place in this once innocent recreation,
and to be looked ct in the light which the article
sets it forth, how is it to be regarded
1t demands recognition as lawful
and legitimate business from the courts,
and no interposltion on the part of legislatures
or churches. 1t claims the right-of-way through
municipal jurisdictions, cutting down the moral
law of God, overriding public sentiment, and ar
rogantly and boastingly setting itself up
brilliant enterprise for making money, and Civ
ing circulation To it. 1t estimates the capital re-
quired at $24, 900 00O and to put that amount in
circulation within the circuit of its operations
in the next six months. And now, what is the
modus-operandi by which the business of the
country is TO be enlivened, money made plenty,
and base ball playing proved an institution of
benefit to the country? There are five associa-
tions named as follows: National, Eastern,
Western, Southern and American; each associa-
ton has eight clubs, making forty clubs; each club
Is to receive as salary. or in some way SO, 900,
and in round numbers ST. 900 600 But these clubs
will pay out for travelling expenses to railroads ST.,
900 000 to hotels. none but first class 81 534 400
add to the last item, for strcet-car and bus
rides, enough to make it So 600 000 and then
add the one million paid to railroads, and we
have put In circulation $4000,O00 Bear in
mind now, that this four millions is disbursed,
against only enc million received as salaries.
docs that end the expenditures"
BY no means Fully two million base-balls
are to purchased, averaging 70 cents each" max
ing sl.5O0,0oO. Millions of yards of
yarn are to be used. great indus
try, giving employment to 500 people.
Then there are the bats. the bases,
the uniforms, caps and shoes. A peculiar shoe
is required, costing 50 per pair. See how the
thing swells. The writer adds to his expendi-
lures for the last items 81 600 900 more We now
paid out-$7, 900, and only $lG00000
received for salaries Now you see what
the outlay is He calls it $6.000,000.
But let us proceed TO find out where this money
comes from. Are there heavy capitalists in
in these associations2 "They all expect to make
money" Let Us now bring 1t into financial
shape. The writer seems to have jumbled
things badly and produced no balance sheet.
f1o IL fstiiHuS, taefe 7S pdu OUT PT F0-
ceived by the base ball players 81 200. GEO. minus
$6,5O0.000. The public who patronize the games
contribute SIG 900 900. dedueting Sc, 500 000 and
clear profit to the five associations is shown of
S9, 100000. Truly. this is business. But just
where the $24 DOC. 900 is put out by the base ball
associe rons it is difficult to Does it enrich
or does it mpoversh? The people have paid out
&9.500,000 more than they have received. Who
has got it? A good deal of yarn has been used,
but where is the coth9
There has been great deal of waste wear
and tear of muscle, hut what product have we on
the market in return FOR all this outlay of money
and athletic performances 1t looks to me more
like an institution monopoly of interests for
exacting money from the pockets of the people,
than putting money in. AS well might the
liquor business claim to be legitimate. and as
disbursing millions of money among the poor
and laboring classes of the country. Both are
monopolies, and both tend to make the rich
richer, and the poor poorer Neither contribute
to the moral or material interests of the coun-
try. Both ought to be branded 'anathema."
not entitled to protection Of law, but brought
under the subsection of law S. II. POTTER
TERRE HAUTE, March %