The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-20
WILL BUY FOUR CLUBS.
Cost the National League $4,000 in
Solid Cash to Reduce Circuit

New York Dec 9O-It will cost the Nat
ional league So. 900 in cold cash to reduce
the baseball Circuit to eight clubs For
ceps will have to be used to extract the
coin from Seden, Freedman and other en-
terprising and thrifty members of the
combine but the chances are they will
produce in the end. On paper the Nat-
ional league will be asked TO pay $162, 500
for the Baltimore, Washington, Cleveland
and Louisville clubs, but the actual cash
consideration will come much nearer $780,,
600, which would require assessment
of $6,250 on each of the remaining eight
clubs, this amount to come out of the
gate receipts
The propr1etors of the four properties
involved have held three meetings since
the adjournment of the National league
on saturday, and they have agreed upon
a programme. Baltimore, Washington
and Cleveland demand $4,000 each as COM
penSatiOn for quitting the league and
Louisville asks for $125O0, bringing the to-
tai up to $l62,500. For this sum the four
cIuDs VIII surrender franchises, players,
grounds and all rights and privileges now
owned oy them; Their contention may
Brooklyn Baltimore coterie, who said:
The sum asked for is not exorbitant.
The players to be turned over to the
league would bring $4,000 at a distribu-
u9n saIe, ana the grounds and FRANCHISES
when resold, would bring at least $4,000.
That would leave comparatively small
amount for the league to pay"
This view seems somewhat extrava CANT
however, in view of the present condition
release the following players: McGraw,
Brodie, Alec Smith and Sheckard. Of this
bunch McGraw would probably bring
en- over by Brooklyn The remaining play
ers would be dear at $4,000.
Washington has several good men, no.
tably, Freeman, McGann, Mercer and
O. Brien, and there would be considerable
demand, probably for Dineen, Padden,
Barry, Kittridge and Slagle
President Wagner values these nine
men at $4,000 They might bring $50 COO,
but $4,000 would be a much more cOnser-
VatiVe figure. Cleveland has for sale
Quinn, DOwd, Harley, Hughey. Sugden
and a couple of lesser lights, while Louis
vile is reduced to Hoy, wills, thinner and
one or two others whose names are not
familiar. If all the players mentioned
might bring $50, 0O0 That is about the
way they will be appraised by the special
committee, OF which John T. Brush is the
chairman.
AS to the franchises, the value of these
assets will depend somewhat upon the fu~
ture of the four cities involved. If Wash
ingtOn, Baltimore, Cleveland and Louis
vile go into the minor leagues, east and
west, the franchises will hardly be worth
more than $1,000 each, or $4,000 in all.
Possibly the grounds would bring some
thing, but that, too, would depend upon
circumstances.
1t is probable that the National league
viii agree to pay $4,000 to $125,000 for the
recover what it can by means of a dis
tribution sale. In that case, the league
magnates will take large chances and at
the outset they will be called upon to pay
a. cash difference of about $50 900. OF course
the money will be well invested and will
be recovered in time, and that is what all
parties concerned are figuring on.