The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-24

AAAuSAAS SAASS A/nJOAO 40 IAO Al6ACok od1d
ried man playing ball to-day and also
the highest salaried manager. That
should be worth something to those
who wish to know"
Whatever their actual salary figures
may be, there is no doubt that in the
cases of Lajoie, McGraw and Keller
the 1901 expansion movement of the
American league Is responsible for the
amounts.
One of Big Four.
Lajoie played with the Philadelphia
National league club in 1900. After
McGraw had organized the Baltimore
club and taken it into the American
league, Lajoie was one of the Big Four
-LajOie, Griffith, Collins and McGin-
nity-that Jared the National league
to it's foundation by jumping to the
younger organization.
Lajoie played with the Athletics
during 1901, in spite of the attempt of
Col. John 1. Rogers of the Phillies to
eajoin him. But the doughty colonel
did not tire and finally, in the spring
OF 1902, when the season was under
way, secured an injunction restraining
Larry from playing with the Athletics.
During the court proceedings Rog-
ers testified that, as a player, Lajoie
could not be replaced, Nevertheless,
when Larry announced his willingness
to resign with the Phillies, Rogers re-
fused to pay him the salary he had
received from the Athletics
Then Somers of Cleveland came to
the front, took UP the Athletics con-
tract for 1902, and signed Lajoie for
the following three years. At the time
it was stated that the great player
received substantial bonus for sign
ing the contract under which he was
to be paid $4,000 for his services for
three years. Somers made this per-
sonal contract, with no restrictions
whatever on the player.
At the end of the season of 1908, al
though the Cleveland club did not
finish better than third in the pennanL
race, Somers announced that Lajoie
as drawing card on the circuit had
in one year more than made good to
the club for his three years pay.
Some Others.
Certain it is that with possibly the
single exception of Christy Mathewson,
no individual player has attracted the
fans to the games like Lajoie
Barney Dreyfuss, when making his
offer to wager on Clarke being better
paid than Lajoie, did not state the
figures In his managers contract, nor
did he name the player or players
whose salaries exceed that of Clarke.
Pittsburg critics have stated that Hans
Wagner is paid $1,000 for his seasons
work. Possibly the Flying Dutchman
is the player Dreyfuss had in mind
when he doubted Lajoie's position as
the premier salary boy.
Leave it to the New York fans and
they would probably vote unanimously
that Christy Nathewson is entitled to
the highest salary as player alone if
he does not receive it, and that with.
out detracting from their good opinion
of McGraw's worth to the team
Matty is no fool and consequently he
realizes his value to the New York
club as pitcher and as a drawing
card. When it is considered that
never peep of dissatisfaction on the
salary question has emanated from
Factoryvieel, Pa, where Matty win
tiers, the fans can presume that the ex-
collegian is perfectly satisfied with the
salary he received from the club that
makes more money than any other in
the land. To place Matty's figures at
least as high as Lajoie's would not be
a bad guess.
Keeler's Case.
Much that is said of Lajoie and Mat
ty applies to Willie Keller. When he
announced to Ned Hanlon in the fan
of 1902 that he would jump to the
New York American team unless the
Brooklyn club met the offer made him
by Ban Johnson in behalf of the Amer
lean league and named the figures,
Hanlon gasped for breath and laid
down his hand at once: Brooklyn
can never pay that salary to any
player" said the man who had more
star players taken away from him in
war times than any four managers put
together. Keller than signed with
Johnson for two years and refused the
offer of $4,000 advance money.
Nevertheless, at the suggestion Of
Clark Griffith, check for the amount
was sent to Keller, and he carried IL
In his pocket until well into the season
of 1903. II don't want to be paid"
said Willie, in explanation, until do
the work.
Keller has since signed another con-
tract with Frank Farrell, owner of the
Highlanders, after putting in the fig
ures himself.
There is no more popular player on
the American or National league cir
cults than Keller. His place has
never been even nearly filled on the
Brooklyn team. And nowhere is there
more consistent batsman or a fielder
whose knowledge of the batters, his
instinct, his intuition or whatever IL
may be called, taxes him as near
where the ball will land. Catches that
look easy for Keller would in many
cases be difficult ones for other field.
ers.
Collins Comes High.
1t took big money to get Jimmy COL
Inns to jump the Boston Nationals and
take charge of the Boston Americans.
At the time the amount was said to be
$500 per annum. Since then it has
been reported that Collins salary was
raised. While 1t is true that at pres
ent there is q GOODNESS between Presi-
dent Taylor of the Boston club and
his manager, nobody has said that
cut in VOllins' salary is contemplated.
Club owners, managers and players
In the cases mentioned refuse to state
the amounts the men are paid. Lajoie
takes the ground that nobody cares
what his salary Is SO long as he makes
good, but that does not apply to the
average fan. who is interested In
everything connected with his favor
lite player.
Judge: Customer-Why don't you
tack up this do 1t now" motto? It's
been lying around on the counter for