The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-06-12
WHAT BASEBALL COSTS.
HiSh-SaIaried PInyers-Pftchers the
Most COstIy-Ground Fitting, Priv
iIeges, Etc.

High-SaIaried PInyers-Pitchers the
Most COstIy-Ground Fitting, Priv
IeGes, Etc.
OF the thousands who daily witness a
baseball match, very few have any idea
of the actual cost OF maintaining a first
class professional club during a season
Very few ever stop to inquire about the
expenses receipts OF q club during the
seven months in which the games are in
progress, but are apparently contented in
paying their money TO see the high sstla-
ried men play for their amusement This
is probably just as satisfactory, as man
ayers as well as players, are not Over-anx-
ious to give any approximate figures as to
the loss or gains OF the speculation.
When engaged TO play ball for the sea
son each player is compelled 10 Sign con
tract, in which tho amount he is to re-
ceive, how 1t is to I've paid and other i'm
poI Itant points, are clearly stipulated.
The contents of these documents are
known only to the parties interested un-
less it is desired to make the agreement
known.
The lowest estimated cost Of running
first class baseball club Is as nearly rs
can be estimated about $4,000 a year.
Tho salary list OF the clubs vary some
what, but n representative nine, such
the team Of New York Providence. Bos-
ton or Chicago. average between s25, 600
and $40. 900 annually. The average salary
paid to individual players is between
81 800 and y, 500. Some of the men, how
ever, receive more than this. In addition
to this extraordinary salary list, the ex-
penses of the players while they are tray
cling Is fully covered by the club, as the
men are only taxed fifty cents day.
aref IL
hotel accommodations. as well as various
expenses on the road. The expenses for
travelling annually foot up to about slO.-
0OO, and the number of miles covered by
each club is about 100. The next large
item on tho expense list Is the renting %
suitable grounds As many Of the clubs
have this year been compelled to find new
quarters. the expense OF fitting them mp
with grand stands and other requirements
will somewhat increase the bills. The
renting, however, of grounds amounts TO
about Slo, coo year. In addition to this
the services OF the gatemen, ushers, ticket
takers, and other attendants amount to
5000. Advertising and various other
items will bring tie total for the club
fully up TO S65,0oo, the amonnt stated, IL
not more
Each player in the League Is compelled
to furnish his own uniform, as we'll as the
bats he plays with. In the American
Association. however, the club furnishes
the uniforms. The first year or two q club
y
start n new club requires additional ex-
penSe. The expense OF securing the release
OF good player from the club he Previ-
ouSly played with must be taken into con-
sideration and a higher salary must be
offered to induce him to make the change.
When the release Is secured, advance
money is paid in order to prevent his sign
ing with another club. The advance of
money Is often a mere speculation, rs the
players subsequently prove unsatisfactory
and the club Is so much out. Thousands
pf hOll arp mai mn tryh "a nd
vance system every year. When a good
nine becomes drawing card it pays
well, but not before that. The salaries of
the best paid men run about as follows -
First and third base men average from
5000 to 5000; second base men, 3. 800:
shortstop, 5000; outfielders. from 81 500
to s., 500 according to their ability at
fielding and batting. good catcher
rarely receives less than $1,000 and often
as much as Is, 900. The pitchers are the
most expensive players in club. The
position IS the most difficult to MI and the
game depends largely upon the power OF
his delivery Radbourn, the champion
pitcher Of the League last year, Is content
ed to remain with his own nine at 81, 500.
Mccormick and Shaw, who was recently
refnstated, are being paid =, 800 each for
this years work, In addition to the pay
ment OF the fine that was inflicted by the
League managers
sweeney viii cost Manager Lucas even
more than this sum. O Rourke was in
duced to leave Buffalo and join the New
get over -, 500. Ewing and Ward, of the
<ew Yorks, receive about 81 600. Mullane,
OF Cincinnati, has cost that nine S, coo.
Hecker, Louisvile's great pitcher, and
the champion OF the american Assoc;a-
ton, Is demanding from S3, 500 TO 81, coo
for the seasons work. Calvin gets 5000
from the Buffalos, whose salary list Is not
far from $4,000. In all of the principal
clubs there are players whose salaries run
from s., 500 to $, 800 year.
Where the money comes from is appar-
usually make money. The League charges
fifty cents admission to their games In
the League the home club is compelled to
pay the visiting nine thirty and one third
Der cent. of the entire gate receipts of
every game. The visiting club only al
lows nine persons to pass in free OF charge
and all above that number have to be ac-
counted for by the home managers In
addition to the admission fee about one
hall OF the patrons pay IN extra quarter
Tor seat in the grand stand. This the
visitors have nothing whatever to do with
When 1t IS stated that in the larger cities
the interesting games between the strong
clubs draw from 800 to 10 GOO persons the
mystery will DO somewhat solN ed Then
the various privileges that are let out on
the grounds amount to considerable. For
instance. the bar and refrcshment coun-
ters turn in from 100 to SlU,O0 q year;
while tie contract for selling score cards
is not as small as might be supposed, and
the ground, IL II Is n good one, is seldom
unused. When baseball is not being
played upon it, other clubs engage it for
athletic and all sorts Of sports. During
season fifty-six championship games are
played on the home grounds. These are
infersDersed with exhibition cannes