The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-04
SOME BASE BALL FIGURES.
Why the Game Did Not Prosper In the
south in the Pest.


south in the Pest.
A MORNING NEWS reporter on his rounds
yesterday, found Mr.. d. A. Long and sew
eral baseball enthusiasts looking over a neat
map that shows the location Of the different
cities in the Southern League for the coming
season and the mileage between these cities
The map idea is interesting, as it easily
furnishes a means OF quickly arriving at the
cost Of maintaining a club on the road.
In former years the Southern League
covered almost the same general territory,
but contained fewer number of cities 70
break the long jumps Therefore, the ex-
pense OF travelling then was much greate-
than at present. Again, there we're many
OF days in season caused by these long
jumps, whereas in the coming year not .
single day will be lost.
In 1883, taking Birmingham, for example,
the club would leave home TO play a series
Of four games in New Orleans. From that
point 1t jumped to Charleston, a distance OF
S24 miles. The club was composed Of
fourteen men, and the mileage for the team
would represent II $50 miles for one person,
aud 81 cents rate per mile amounted to
$2SS 40, adding to this sleepers at $2S, and
four meals for the entire team at S42, and
the total foots up 1858 40 for travelling ex-
penses alone in making one jump.
The club lost one day In making this
jump. Surprising the attendance at this
game COST would have been 1000 at 25
cents, the receipts would amount to $500,
one-hah OF which would have gone to the
visiting team. This $3.50 lost by not being
able to play. added TO the
travelling expense, brought the expenses
Of one jump up co $60S 40. Including the
cost of the team during the four days it
remained at Charleston for board bills and
carriages, the sum total for q single trip
amounted to S764 40 outside OF salaries,
balls, bats, etc.
The club Will carry only eleven men and
get 2-cent rate on the railroads. For
eleven men at 2 cents per mile for 34S miles
the cost will be SO Sc. sleepers S12 and one
meal SIS so, amounting altogether to $94 Oo.
Next season the clubs will play three-geme
series in each city, end the expense OF keep
ing team for that time will amount to
but $40 so. The hotel rates will be 81 so
per day and the clubs will 60 to the grounds
in street cars Free No games will be lost on
fore, it can be readily seen
why base ball in the south was unsuccessful
up to the past season. The difference in the
cost of running a team in the south in 1885,
1885 or 1888 and the present will be $764 40
against Sl43 80 for one trip. The expense
has been cut down to less than one-fifth,
and during this time the south has been
growing to a great extent and the people
haYe become better posted In regard to the
national game, which reasonably guaran.
tees larger and better attendance In other
words, the expense Of running base bali
has been greatly decreased while the income
from the larger attendance has been greatly
increased.
The Savannah club will play SO games at
home and h6 abroad. Surprising each game
averages 900 people, or 1872 900 in ell, and
each club gets so per cent. OF the gate re-
ceipts, or 1919 cents for each person, 1875
times 1900 will foot up Sl6,500. During
the time the club isiplaying at home at least
one-half of the attendance will occupy seats
In the grand stand. This means 80, 900 peo-
pie ia the grand stand and s., $50 IN receipts.
with proper management $50 per game
can be taken in from privileges and ad-
vertistng on the grounds. This will amount
to $500. The total then will be S2e o59.
or more than double what will be- required
to ran team here.
Nothing has been decided yet In regard
to locating the park, as the street car com
panies are all trying 20 get it on their own
lines. The matter will be settled however,
this week.
Manager Manning is already correspond
ing wish many OF the best ball player In the
country, and will gather together for Sa-
represented q southern city.
Up to the present time Mr.. Long has
made No effort to place any OF the stock on
account of being busy arranging for park
and other matters, but he will begin doing
so at once.
Augusta and Charleston have already
issued over 100 season tickets, which goes a
great ways to assure the success of base ball
in both places. Savannah cannot afford to
be behind her neighbors in this respect.
Every base ball lover and the people GEN
orally will no doubt do their part in
making Savannah one Of the best ball towns
in the south and help set the pace for the
others to follow
Savannah is assured Of an excellent club
and the people ought TO do the right thing
by it and give the game the support it
deserves.
Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
Pittsburg and other National League clubs
have written for dates with SavanuAh's
team in the spring, and some good ball
playing will be seen here before the regular
season opens.