The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-11
PROFITS OF BASEBALL

I the stand Mr.. Billings generally sits
/ alone. He prefers his own company TO
/ that of any other when witnessing an
exciting contest, for thus his comments
Will not clash with those of anybody
! else
No club owners i'm the country watch
the ticket gate more sharply than those
in Boston Mr. Conant has entire charge
of this department, and woe to him who
is trying TO work his way into the
grounds on bluff. Formerly the pass
cs Of visiting club were good, but now
the home club is supposed TO issue
passes.
The free list of the Boston club is far
greater than any one would imagine and
is greater now than ever before i'm the
history of the game. No season tickets
are sold by the club. but two forms of
season passes are issued. one is i'm cou-
pom form. a ticket being torn from the
| book both at the entrance gate and at
the pavilion. The other is in card form
and is good for admission and the grand
stand during the entire season. The
season passes are supposed to be un-
| transferable. yet the tickets are often
| handed over 10 a friend. The directors
have wrestled hard with this problem
and generally with less success than
with more.
The club runs its own printing ma
chine. and all the cards are printed on
he ground. 1t derives all the profits
from this source. which i'm such a sea-
son as the present will exceed 1000.
The refreshment privilege Is sold and
realizes very handsomely. In New York
! there was sharp competition for the
HfVrt1 4
ly sold for $1,000. 1t can be easily inn
agined what an immense amount OF
business must be done before this sum
is cleared. Beer is openly sold at the
bars and on the bleachers in New York.
Two bars are run, one In the rear of the
grand stand and the other underneath.
Walters pass along the bleachers with
rays of glasses filled with foaming bev-
crages, and on a hot day it takes bar
Iels of lager TO supply the thirsty. Soft
drinks are also sold in New York, fruit,
sandwiches and candy, there being no
lack Of anything which will tempt the
pocketbook.
Another source of revenue Is the fence
advertising, which amounts TO a very
respectable figure. The Boston club gets
very good prices for its spaces.
The Boston club this year will re-
ceive enough from its grand stand to
pay for it's salaries for the season and
sum from it's privileges ample TO COW
er all the travelling expenses Of the club.
1t is easy to see that at the least COM
putation the owners Of the club will di-
vide 500 600 this year.
All clubs are not as fortunate as Eos-
ton. however. 1t is the winner who gets
the spoils. The clubs up in the race will
be the only money makers, but no club
will come near making the money that
Boston will get.
New York had n prosperous year last
season. but will do far better this year
and will be at least $50,0OO ahead.
Baltimore will also clear that figure,
and Mr.. John T. Brush, one of the best
money makers the game ever knew, Will
get a handsome income from baseball
Philadelphia has more money sunk in
its plant than any other club. 1t costs
more to run the Philadelphia grounds
one day than the Boston grounds
week. so extensive is the equipment.
With winning club Philadelphia
would coin money but the patrons have
no use for a loser. The poor playing OF
the team and the absence of team dis
ciplinc will cost the owners a pretty
penny this year.
Pittsburc, usually a money maker, is
not i'm that class this year, owing to the
poor showing Of the club.
Chicago will not make a barrel OF
money. but will have a balance on tho
right side Of the ledger, thanks to sun"
day games.
one of the most expensive clubs in
the country is the Cleveland club. Few
clubs. If any, pay higher salaries. The
attendance at home has been very mea-