The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-05-25
BASEBALL.
Its About the National
Game as a Business.
he Expense Attendant Upon Maintaining
a First Glass Club.


a First Glass Club.
Twelve or fourteen years ago it was
reelected that baseball would ere now be
ne of the things Of the past. In those
hys clubsw were organized on the narrow
st monetary margins, mostly by spccula-
i've and irresponsible men, who, in many
asses, when it cam to paying their debts
allied to do so, and ut once declared that
here was nothing in baseball, and that
would soon die u But instead it
as struggled along, year after year, un-
il it is now the leading American sport,
nd is backed by some Of the wealthiest
aen in the country. To-day there are
thoroughly organized and fully equipped
light associations rs follows: The Ma
ional League, eight clubs; the American
association, with eight clubs; the South
rn League, with eight clubs; the New
England League, with six clubs; the
inter- State League, with eight clubs; the
Northwestern League, with six clubs,
nd the Gulf League, with six clubs.
fhcsc eight organizations employ over
100 men, whose salaries for the season
Vill aggregate 81, 600, 600 or more. The
alary list alone of any frst-class club,
cots up from $25, 900 to $40, 900 q year,
nd individual salaries, in some instances,
lave nearly reached So, 900 a season, and
n many cases they have range from ST.
100 to So, 500 for the season. But there is
10 class of public amusement or sport
which, when properly conducted, gives
letter returns than baseball.
The travelling expenses of a club, form
luitc an item in the expenditures, and
generally foot up to $40, 900 or more dur
ng the year.. This includes all railroad
ares and accommodations at first class
hotels. Each club has about 12, 900
niles to cover during it's regular cham
Nonship season, not to mention how
many more while playing exhibition
games. Then there is the additional
lost of keeping the grounds in proper
playing condition, besides paying gate
ncn, ticket-takers and special men en-
,loyed about the grounds. All these
hings are well understood by those who
lave studied the subject, and they know
ull we'll that n large capital is required
% properly conduct the business. The
lay has gone by when half a dozen men
AN organize n club, unless they can
'how that they are financially able to
carry out their engagements during the
cason. A year or two ago fancy sala-
les were paid in n great many instances,
md players who happened to receive n
title notice demanded such ~cxorbitant
prices that it came near running some of
Inc clubs. To avoid any unreasonable
prices by players, the leading organiza-
ions have passed n rule limiting Il play
.r's salary to So, 900 and doing away
with the advance money system except
ust enough to defray travelling expenses
It the beginning of the season. The
paying out of n large sum of advance
money during the earlier part of the sea-
ION proved n great burden to most of the
clubs, and the abolishing of that system
mas met with general favor throughout
The country. A year or two ago n good
first or third bascman could not be en-
gagged for less than 81, 200, and from that
up to 50, 200. A first-class second base
man could obtain from Sc, 900 to So, 900.
A short stop with any reputation wanted
from 81, 500 to So, 500 n year. Outfcldcrs
command from 81, 500 to So. 500 for the
season. The pitcher, who is u very i'm
portant man in the nine, especially if he
has any known abilities as a twirler,
would make a modest demand of from
So, 900 to So, 500 for his seasons work,
and then he would want 4 man to alter
nate with him. There arc some men
who are really worth more than the ST.
600 limit, and they should be paid in ac-
cordance with their merits but there
must be a line drawn somewhere, and
the men who make unreasonable demands,
because they happen to do we'll
a season, should be kept down to
the limit. For So, 600 for one hours
work, six days in the week, for seven
months in the year, isgood compensation.
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