Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-12
CLEAN-CUT REASONS.
Foley Points Out Why There Should
Be Two Ball Clubs in Boston.
THE BIG TRlUMvIRs ARE GREEDY.
Mr.. Hamlin, of Buffalo, to Introduce Very
Novel Feature of Team TrottiDg.
TIE SHEFFIELD HANDICAP WINNER
rcoRnEsroSpExcE OF THE DISPATCH. I

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH
Boston, Jan. 10.-The American Asso-
citation will meet in New York next week,
and then it will be settled whether Boston
will be represented by an Association team
next session. President Soden, of the Bos-
ton League club. thinks that Boston cannot
support two clubs, and that both would lose
money This is a strange tale to relate,
when the Boston Brotherhood club made
money last year with q schedule that con-
ficted So times with their League oppo.
nents. The Boston League club did fine
business after the club made its escape
from the last position in the race, and only
for bad business away from home the club
would not have lost cent. The last Brook
1yn games would have been the most profit
able of the season in this city, but all but one
of the games were lost through stormy weather.
The game tn at was played came off on muddy
grounds and less than a thousand spectators
were present.
There are men in this city who would be
happy if the triumvirs would allow some other
capitalists to run the League team for season
IL the League hackers are afraid Of losing
money; and what's more, they will pay Soden,
Billings and Conant 5000 piece to stay out
for one season. With any kind of club here,
Boston is dead sure money maker IN the
League, and even allowing that the attendance
drops of nearly 100000 people from the 'S9
record, the club would :hen come out close
to $4,000 ahead. The attendance in 'S9 was
onlya a little short of 100000, and, certainly,
with strong team in the field-a point already
assured-theclub will draw 100000 people to
the South End grounds. This is a business of
rake-of would be sec, 900. The grand stand has
only to do half the business of.'S9 to make So
600, and this amount added to the $50 600 would
leave the club ahead by several thousand dol
lars on the Boston business alone after all ex-
penses are paid.
Next season. to my way of thinking, will be
the most profitable in the history of the League
if good judgment is used in selecting the play
ers. There will not be weak team in the
whole organization, and this fact alone will add
thousands of dollars to the treasury of the Bos-
ton club while on the road. This money will
be clear profit, and good sum It will amount
to in 20 games "Ifs" don't count in Boston.
The club has been money-maker since 1852
and three seasons in succession-'Sl,' 81 and 'S9-
the club cleared profit of over $780, 900 sea-
son. Now, how is it possible for club run by
three shrewd and wealthy men to lose? Soden,
Billings and Conant know they cannot lose. but
you see. they are looking ahead for more big
profts, and they won't make so much in case a
stroug opposition team is located here. How
ever, think 1t will take the average Boston
enthusiast long time to make the concession
that Association ball is up to the League stan-
dard. This point alone is a feather in the
League clubs cap, as the Association team
will have to charge a 50-cent admission fee in
case the club is allowed Boston franchise
A great many prophets have already booked
Mike Kelly for next seasons Chicago team,
but it would not surprise me TO hear of Kelly
signing cast-iron contract with the Boston
League club. Director Conant is dead set on
having Kelly with the Boston team, and Bill
ings was always strong Kelly man up to the
latter end of 1889, when the only made his
famous Garrison finish in Cleveland-a chump
play of Kelly'S that cost the Boston club the
championship. 1 understand that Director
Conant was the man who filled Kelly up with
wine on that occasion, and the Boston
triumvir had an object in view, namely: To
find out from Kelly if there was any truth in
the story that the Brotherhood players were 60
ing to break away from the League and take up
with new hackers. Some people say that
Conant was Just as much to blame as Kelly,
but fail to see where that kind of an argu.
ment holds water. Kelly appeared on the field
SO full of tangiefoot that he had to be removed
from the grounds. Fine conduct for the cap
tain of ball team! Conant swearsl that AL
Spalding must pay good stiff price for Kellys
release if the Chicago magnate wishes to see
the old Chicago favorite in white stocking
uniform. Kelly can overcome Soden's OBJ
jections il he kelly will sign cast-iron con-
tract to keep away from drink and fast com.
pany. CHARLES ]. FOLEY.