Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-04-28
BASEBALL.
Facts About the National
Game as q Business.
The Expense Attendant Upon Maintaining
Tist-Class Club.


Timt-Olass 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 thcnarrow
est monetary margins, mostly by specula-
tive and irresponsible men, who, in many
cases, when it came to paying their debts
failed to do so, and at once declared 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 100000 or more. The
salary list alone of any first-class club,
foots up from $2j, 900 to $40, 900 year,
and individual salaries, in some instances,
have nearly reached $1,000 season, and
in many cases they have range from $2,-
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 club, form
quite an item in the expenditures, and
generally foot up to $1o 600 or more dur
ing the year. This includes all railroad
fares and accommodations at first class
hotels. Each club has about 1900
miles to cover during its regular cham
pionship 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-takcrs and special men en-
ploycd 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 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-
RIGS were paid in great many instances,
and players who happened to receive a
little notice demanded such eXorbitant
prices that ii came near running some OF
the clubs. TO avoid any unreasonable
prices by players, the leading organiza-
tions have passed a rule limiting aplay-
cr's salary to 1000 and doing away
with the advance money system except
! Just enough to dcfray travelling expenses
at the beginning of the season. The
paying out of large sum Of advance
money during the earlier part of the sea-
son proved 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 good
first or third bascman could not be en-
gagged for less than 81, 200, and from that
up to 81, 200, A iirst-class second base
man could obtain from $4,000 to $3 900.
A short stop with any reputation wanted
from So, 500 to 50, 500 a year. Outfeldcr'
command from 81, 800 to $4,000 for the
season. The pitcher, who is a very i'm
portant man in the nine, especially if he
has any known abilities as twirlcr,
would make modest demand of from
$4,000 to So, 500 for his seasons work,
and then he would want man to alter
nate with him. There are some mer
who are really worth more than the So,
600 limit, and they should be paid in ac
cordancc with their merits but there
must be line drawn somewhere, ant
the men who make unreasonable demands
simply because they happen to do wei
during a season, should be kept down tt
the limit. For $1,000 for one hour.
work, six days in the week, for sever
months in the year, is good compensation
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