The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-23
ABOUT BALL
Oklahoma Man interested in
the American Game.
GIVES INTERESTING DATA
He Wants to Hear From Okla
homa City and Guthrie.

The following letter has been received
from a Oklahoma baseball enthusiast. He
wants to hear from Guthrie and Okla
homa City:
To the Editor of the Eagle.
1 note with a great deal of satisfaction
that the baseball issue has become lead
ing news item of your paper, and that
there are yet number OF live enthusiasts
in this neck of the woods.
1 hope a few lines more of discussion
will not go amiss, in view of the difference
of opinion existing among your CORE
spondents as to salary, circuit and Incl
dentals.
owe an apology, however, to the Win
field management for dating my letters
from that beautiful little city, as l am
really not a resident of that place, and
hope to hear from some OF the fans
there on the question, as L consider that
Winfield has the only managerial talent
of any city in Southern Kansas in the way
of approaching the possibilities and prob
abilities of having a f1rst-class team and
playing even Oh the SApSiloC.
It's hard to see how Brother Alexander
would pay a $500 per month salary list
and play to crowds that average $50 a
game For the latter is the best you can
possibly do, take the season through, and
with this patronage you need have no fear
of quitting loser. Two years ago En-
roria, Junction City and Topeka paid
from 500 to $40. In the south, Coffeyville
guaranteed the players SIS and board ana
gave them the profits on the gate. In
dependence paid the highest salary or
any team in the state-S450 for the last
two months of the season-and quit $500
loser on the season. Last year there was
no regular organization in the south, the
teams playing wholly On the cooperative
system, and players were anxious for
position at $50 a month. The latter was
the market price for battery people in the
north, in such cities as Junction City and
Topeka Emporia played mostly on the
cooperative plan-after making failure
of from $40 to $50 month.
From facts, figures and experience, a
$500 limit will allow two pitchers at $75
each and other players down the scale to
s25 and $50. The Western association
limit is $500, the Texas league $500. They
pay pitchers $125 per month, so it can
be reasoned from this what you can do
with $500 at your disposal each month in
the way of salary.
Figuring salary at $500. board $50, incl
| dentals SIS. exclusive of transportation,
and playing every day in the week at $50,
or say even $40 per game, would place you
about even on gross receipts. Then pay
your guarantee of $50 or S25, or privilege
to visiting team and figure where you
are to get out. This is playing at home.
where you are supposed to make your
profit This average on receipts may be
a little low, but it is better to figure on
that basis, to be on the safe side. With
the manager rests the failure or success
of teams, particularly Of this class, and it
is usually the case that there is about
sixteen people in all these towns who own
one share Of stock, each apparently, or
rather think they know just a little bit
more how the team ought to be run than
the other fellow-result, no playing. no
management, no profit. The one-man
| power, to do or not to do, solely and
wholly as he chooses is the only possible
! road to success.
What's the matter with Guthrie and
| Oklahoma City that they don't speak W
and make known the prospects in their
cities of getting in the game? Ell Reno
has said she can if she wants to, and II
competitors. Confidence is a grand thing
| even in baseball.
It is to be hoped that the Wichita meet
! ing will be a success and that articles for
the corporation of the Southern Kansas
! league will be duly filed and the game &c
| -,,ar-iI, IN uTNDOO