Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-07-31
BASEBALL.
Facts About the National
Game as q Business.
The Expense Attendant Upon Maintaining
Fnst-Class Club.

First-Class Club.
Twelve or fourteen years ago it was
predicted that baseball would ere now be
one OF the things of the past. In those
days clubs were organized on the narrow
est monetary margins, mostly by specula-
tive and irresponsible men, who, in many
cases, when it came to paying their debts
fa ! tc do so, and at once declarcd that
there was nothing in baseball, and that
it would soon die out But instead it
has struggled along, year after year, un
til it is now the leading American sport,
and is backed by some of the wealthiest
men in the country. To-day there are
thoroughly organized and fully equipped
eight associations as follows: The Ma
tional League eight clubs; the American
Association, with eight clubs; the South
ern League, with eight clubs; the New
England League, with six clubs; the
Inter State League, with eight clubs the
Northwestern League, with six clubs,
and the Gulf League, with six clubs.
These eight organizations employ over
| 500 men, whose salaries for the season
will aggregate 81, 900, 0Oe> or more. The
salary list alone of any first st-cass club,
foots up from S25, 900 to $40, 900 year,
and individual salaries, in some instances,
have nearly reached 5000 a season, and
in many cases they have range from 81
500 to So, 500 for the season But there is
no class of public amusement or sport
which, when properly conducted, gives
better returns than baseball.
The travelling expenses Of cl..b form
quite an item in the expenditures, and
! generally foot up to $40, 900 or more dur
! ing the year This includes all railroad
fares and accommodations at first class
hotels. Each club has about 1000
miles to cover during its regular cham
pionslip season, not to mention how
many more while playing exhibition
games. Then there is the additional
cost of keeping the grounds in proper
playing condition, besides paying gate
men, tickct-talScrs and special men en-
ployed about the grounds. All these
things are well understood by those who
have studied the subject, and they know
full well that a large capital is required
to properly conduct the business The
day has gone by when half dozen men
can organize a club, unless they can
show that they are financially able to
carry out their engagements during the
season. A year or two ago fancy sala-
ries were paid in a great many instances,
and players who happened to receive a
little notice demanded such cxorbitant
prices that it came near running some of
the clubs. To avoid any unreasonable
prices by players, the leading organiza-
tions have passed rule limiting play
er's salary to $4,000 and doing away
with tie advance money system except
Just enough = dcfray travelling expenses
at the beginning of the season. The
paving oAlt Of large sum Of advance
money duIing the earlier part Of the sea-
son proved a great burden to most Of the
clubs, and the abolishing Of that system
has met with general favor throughout
the country. A year or two ago n good
first or third hascman could not be Gu
gagged for less than 81, 200, and from thai
up TO s., 200. 4 frSt-ciass second bast
man could obtain from s., 900 to s., 900
: \ short stop with any reputation wanteC
from s., 800 to So 800 a year Outfieldcs
command from 81, 500 to 81, 500 for III
season. The pitcher, who is very i'm
portant man Ill the nine, especially If h
has any known abilities as a twirlcr
, would make modest demand Of from
81, 900 10 So. 500 for his seasons work
and then he would want a man 70 alter
nate with him. There are some mel
who are really worth more than the 81,
600 limit, aud thy should be paid in &C
: cordaIcc with their merits but thcr
must he line drawn somewhere, an,
the men who make unreasonable demands
simply because they happen to 10 wei
l during a season. should be Kept down t
the limit. For $4,000 for one hour
work. six days in the week, for sevc
months in the year, is good compensation
I, -N.r YORK NM ant El7rsss.