Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-12-22
THERE'S MONEY IN BASE BALL
The Personality OF Some Prominent
Men Connected With the Sport.

who attended the recent convention held
in New York there were many men OF
high social position, a few milllonalres
and not one who was not well fSed,'
as far as money is concerned. Prominent
in this distinguished company was the
Boston 'trinity'-three in one or one IN
three-Sodin, Conant and Billings. They
are otherwise known as Mike kellys
three bosses and the "triumvirs." They
are all engaged in business enterprises in
Boston and they went into base ball be-
cause they saw money in it. Some years
ago they formed the triune, squeezed the
! other stockholders out Of the Boston
club, elected themselves to the chief Of
fees, and now own all the stock OF and
grounds of the Boston club.
They divide annually between $50, 600
and s75, 900 earned by the Boston club.
Just now they have a mania for high
priced players. 1t is trustworthy re-
ported that during the past three years
the Trinity has spent $50, 900 for star
PLAYERS. Soden is smooth faced, boyish
looking and taciturn. Conant wears
redish whiskers and moustache. Pros
perity and good living have combined to
give him a nice round ~embonpoint. Bill
ings is like his confrere, round and Jolly.
He dresses very quietly in darksmaterial.
He has q quick, nervous way of speaking
and is very positive.
Mr.. Brush, the brains of the Indianap-
| oils club, is one of the most uEprepossess-
ing men in the league. He wears aderby
hat about two sizes too large for his head
and has the general appearance of a
"hayseed." But he is acknowledged to
be one Of the shrewdest base ball men in
the country. In business he is clean,
| close and concise. BY his own personal
ity he has kept the Indianapolis club in
| the league. 1t is said that his fertile
brain originated the idea of classifying
the players.
w. A. Nimick, president of the Pitts
burg club, is not a handsome man. His
long hair sweeps down over his jaw like
wisps of nay. His eye is bright and
twinkling and he wears good clothes.
He stands high socially in Pittsburg.
The brains of the Pittsburg club are To-
Gated under the plug hat of Mr.. Converse,
one of the directors. he is a millionaire.
He is tall, thin, scholarl, locking and Pc
| culiar.
John B. Day of the New York club is
a striking personality. His eyes are keen
and dark. He is known among base ball
men to drive a sharp bargain, to be very
secretive, but to live strictly up to the
letter of his agreement.
Walter Hewitt of Washington succeed
ed his father in the control Of the Colon
els. He is a base ball player and is in
terested in real estate. He is rich and
stands high socially. He is reputed to
have made a fortune out of the option on
the ball grounds in Washington. He is
a college graduate, sia"" in statue, good
looking and wears his Lair in p%ompadoul
fashion.
The man who commands universal re
spect and consideration in baseball circles
is Harry Wright of Philadelphia. He il
conceded to be the best baseball teachel
in the country. He is an Englishman,
crickster and an all round athlete. He i
SO years old, wears specs and a gra,
beard and mustache and plain clothing
He IS credited with having $50, 600 lait
away in an old baseball shoe.
Col. John j. Rogers of Philadelphia j
the lawyer Of the league. He has a larg
practice in Philadelphia and moves in tn
best society of the Quaker city. He ha
served his state in the capacity of sen
ator and is now a member of the gov
%ernor's staff. He is an eloquent afte
dinner speaker.
Al Reach, president Of the ~Philadelphi
club, is a handsome, compact little ma
of about so. He looks ten years younger
He has made a fortune out of baseball
supplies and is piling up the dollars ever
day. He was at n time an excellen
second baseman and can still field a bal
with sreed and accuracy.
One of the biggest base bail men.in Clevt
land is George Howe. His sOcil conneC
of his intimate friends. He will be tn
probable appointee for collector of Gus
toms Of the port of Cleveland. His hobb
!, book. He is a grand nephew of Howe
the sewing machine man.
= Another prominent Cleveland base baI
lover and manager is Frank Deli. Rob-
3 son, president Of the Cleveland club. Ii
t is more than a millionaire, and is Target
intesested in rapid transit stock of a
kinds.
The boss Of the association, Mr.. Charlie
Byrnes of Brooklyn, sat up ali night t
revise the playing rules. He is one 0
the keenest and most popular base bal
men in the country. He is short, stout
ruady checked and bright eyed, and al
indefatigable worker. His opinion i
!, universally respected as coming from
head Of good horse sense.
AL S~palding. president Of the Chicago
club, who left San Francisco the othe
day for Australia. has made more money
out Of base ball than any other man il
the world. He is credited with being
millionaire, and expects to increase hi
wealth materially while abroad. He lief
San Francisco S15. 900 ahead in his ven
ture, the proceeds of exhibition games
He is a tall man of athletic build, ant
would make money in any business. Ii,
was a bad pitcher twelve years ago. III
does the scheming for Chicago while An
son does the work. Between them the,
manage to coin $50, 600 annually out o
their team