Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-09
INTERESTING STATEMENT.
The Club has More Than Paid Ex-
penSes So Far This Season.
PREPARING FOR A GOOD TEAM.
President 0'NeilI Has an Option and May
Purchase the Team Outright.
THE SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

A gentleman connected with the local
National League team, in a confidential
talk with The DISPATCH yesterday, di-
Vulged some interesting secrets concerning
the affairs of the company. Under pledge
not to use his name the privilege of publish
ing his statements was granted. The gen.
tleman said:
SIT is thought by great many people in
terested in baseball that our team is in very
bad shape. The fact of the matter is the
affairs are now better, from a financial point
Of view, than they were at the beginning of
the season. Our expenses have been ex-
tremely low, much below anything that has
ever been required to run the team the first
few weeks OF the season. We have
allowed the club to change dates q
couple of times, and it resulted in
q gain to the company. Lock at
Cincinnati for instance We secured a great
deal more than the guarantee for every game.
We were given 80 per cent of the receipts
there, while here we would not have taken in
the guarantee. All through the East we have
been very successful and our receipts more
than paid the expenses all through. The re-
suit is that to-day the team is not cent loser
on the seasons work, but is really ahead
STATE SECRET.
at is not generally known that the company
was in debt at the close of last season, but such
was the case. We had pretty hard lines raising
the full amount to pay off the last months
salaries. We did it however, and the old play
ers can't say they were not well treated. l need
not state the exact amount of the indebtedness,
but 81 500 would cover it. Some of that has
been paid and that, too, out of this seasons re-
ceipts There is plenty of money behind the
club to pay the full amount if necessary, but we
are in hopes that everything Will be coming
our way shortly and we will have no more
trouble.
Another thing that caused a considerable
loss-not great deal, but it all counts-was
the fact that nearly every player released has
been let go while in debt to the team. This
policy of advance money is the cause of that
trouble and don't believe it will occur again.
In my opinion the ball player must hereafter
save enough money in the summer to keep him
over winter or handle pick. 1t is too much
of risk to pay these men big sum of ad-
vance money and believe it will be stopped.
Now l don't want you to think that the
Indebtedness hanging over the team puts us
in distress. 1t does not. 1t is really small
matter to what it was at one time. Why we
were Just getting our affairs in shape and
thought we were ready to put frst-class team
In the field tEis season, when the Brotherhood
revolt came and Knocked our plans into
cooked hat We will do this by another
season, however, and believe that Mr. O'Neill'
viii give us winning ball before many days.
HE HAS AN OPTION.
''Mr O'Nei1l is doing his best for baseball in
Pittsburg, and it viii not be his fault,if there
is not good team to represent the city in the
National League. He took hoSd of the club at
q critical point. The boys Sere not playing
winning ball. not because they did not try, but
for the reason that someef them were not fast
enough for present Sompany. Mr., o'Neill is
wedding the team oft and doing his best to
strengthen it. lie will certainly succeed and
will then have the credit for making something
out of nothing.
president 9Nein has full control of the
affairs of thetclub. In fact he may be consid-
cred the owner of it. At the meeting of the
directors held recently he was given an option
on the purchase of the team outright. Whether
or nCt the option has run out do not know
Neither do know what he has decided to do
bUt he will probably take it, With his un-
rIOubted business ability. L feel sure that he
would not only give the city winning ball but
Will make il a paying investment. The public
will support team if il wins games, and that is
one Of the things that draws crowds We will
have that very thing here shortly and believe
MIR. O'Neill will be given the proper encour-
national game.
when the team returns on the 18th the
gates Will be thrown open to 25-cent tariff,
and, in my opinion. the division of the crowds
will gradually grow in our favor 1t was i'm
possible to get the people out at so cents when
cents.
Now, one more thing in conclusion. The
local Players League are not dancing with Joy
at the present state of affairs. I'll not say that
they're sorry they ever dabbled in baseball,
but they're not happy"