The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-20
BASEBALL PROFITS.
New York and Boston Have Made the
Most Money This season.

NEW YORK, Sept. 19.-Baseball mag
mates are balancing their books and many
are the things they are learning. Chris Won
der Abe is reported as saying that he had
lost enough money on the st. Louis play
ers this year to buy brewery. That like
most of his statements, will have to be TAX
EN- with grain of salt. 1t is probable that
they have not won much money this year,
however.
That the game has been injured by the
mercenary methods of some of the twelve
clubs owners is well known, but there is
more profit in the business than in any
other business, in which like amount of
money is invested. That is true of the New
Yorks The franchise here has always been
one of the most profitable in the League,
but there was a period last year when the
team was not a strong drawing card. That
is a fact easily accounted for, when the
style of ball put up is taken into considera-
ton At home this season the Giants have
been a strong attraction. Under many adj
verse circumstances the team has been lib
orally patronized and at the end of the
season the club profits viii not be far from
$4,000.
No other team in the League has made
more money than the New Yorks except
the Bostons. The methods of the Boston
management have been those of any well
regulated amusement, and the scenes of
rowdyism common on other diamonds have
not been seen in the Boston grounds All
this has conduced to the success of the
club and it is estimated their profits will
be not less than Sl25,000.
Baltimore's team is a strong attraction
in the West where it has reputation for
scrapping hardly to be desired by any other
respectable body of players. In fact, the
champions draw large crowds away from
home. In Baltimore the team has to de-
pend mainly on tougher classes for it's sup
port as many of the better class have
long since learned that it is not safe to
go to the ball grounds with wives or daugh-
tiers unless they are Indifferent to bad Ian
guage The management of the team has
been foolish enough to send out false turn
stile figures in the vain hope that the facts
may be kept from the public of other cities.
For a crowd of 444 report is sent out
that the attendance was 5000. A conserVa-
tive estimate of the teams earnings this
season is 0,090. With patronage at home
like that Of the New Yorks and BOstons
the teams earnings would have been
double that amount.
The receipts of the Chicago team have
been large this summer despite the fact
that the team has been playing only aver
age ball The team is the most expensive
in the League to support. Arson insists that
his men have the best of everything Arson
is one of the strongest drawing cards of
the League, and the owners realize that it
would be an unwise move to lose him. The
club profits may amount to $4,000.
Philadelphia has the largest grounds of
any League city. In addition, ii is what is
termed a 25-cent city, that Is, it depends
upon the patronage of workingmen. Des
spite all this they may finish the season
with only SIS, go to the good.
The Cincinnati club at present is suffering
from a strong crusade of the better class
against the team and its methods and hence
il is impossible to get any idea in a general
way of how the club will end the season.
The owners Of the Cleveland club will
have probably $4,000 to their credit at the
end of the season.
The Louisville management has made eff
forts TO strengthen the team with the play
ers from the minor leagues, selling some
OF its best men. The owners win be lucky
If they break even
The Brooklyn season has been a bad one
and there are all sorts Of reports about