The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-12

CT SEYMOUR PlTCdING THE BALL.
ment and tho reserve rule went into effect.
On the 1st day of May Mr.. Young had on
his books minor leagues paying for na-
tional agreement protection that en-
braced 85 clubs located in 80 cities Of the
Union. Since that date several other
leagues have obtained membership, bring
ing the number of clubs up to the nineties.
Add to these the IL National league clubs
and we find more than 100 cities, handed
together, operating clubs under this great
constitution of the national game, with a
common law governing all and the reserve
rule as the bulwark Of the great structure.
These 100 clubs employ more than l 800
professional players, who receive not less
than 81 500, 900 in salaries every year.
The present comprehensive reserve rule
came in with the national agreement
which was framed in the winter of 1888.
The agreements predecessor of year was
the tripartite agreement entered into by the
National league, the American association
and the Northwestern league in the fall of
1882. Those three organizations embraced
about all there was of professional clubs at
that time. A. G. Mills of New York, rep
resenting the National league; I, repre-
senting the American association, and a
in New York late i'm 1882 and banded the
three organizations together under the
tripartite agreement, at the same time rails
ing the reserve limit from men to II
players for each club. Next year other
minor leagues applied for membership un-
der the confederation and it was then de-
cided to make the agreement national and
open its protection to all reputable baseball
ni1o ic1, a ND
ply with membership requirement.. At the
same time all limit was taken from the re-
serve privilege Since that year the prog
ress Of baseball has been steady in circuit,
prosperity and strength, excepting the two
years Of unfortunate warfare in 1890 and
1891.
In 1882 the American association sprang
into existence. There was no national
agreement then and no general reserve
rule Yet the Cincinnati club that year
engaged n championship team for a total
salary of less than 10000. Now the low
est salary roll in the National league is
$25, 900 n year. AT that time not more
than 800 players were drawing n living
salary and all the money paid to players In
year did not amount to $50, 900. No club
owned property, because there was not
enough stability to- the game to warrant
the expenditure Of money on grounds or
buildings. The stands were mere excuses
put up for temporary use A baseball
franchise then had no value. Now, 10
years later, the most Improbable club in
the National league couldn't be bought
for S25, 900, whereas the most profitable are
held at $3.50, 900 each. The national agree
ment and reserve rdle have made it prac-
ticable for the Philadelphia club to dedi-
cate property worth sl,000,0OO to the
game, with the Boston and Chicago clubs
not far behind, and has warranted the New
York club in paying $50, 900 year rent.
In the faco OF this showing few an
archists among the well fed, well paid pro-
fessionals are talking Of war upon tho M
tional agreement which Is giving employ
ment at fancy salaries to hundreds of them
who would without baseball De barely
earning n living AS rule the profes-
sional baseball player is thoroughly selfish
and thinks only of himself and his imme-
diatc advantage. IL IL well illustrated by
the Louisville player to whom some nd
miring friends presented handsome gold
watch. As he received tho valuable chro-
pometer his admirers fairly held their