The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-14

War on Coast in Past Few
Years Has Cost Club Own
erS Many Dollars.

Is the Indian sign on baseball on the
Pacific coast?
1t begins to look that way. and the
more you delve into ancient history or
the longer you think about the present
situation, so much the mare are you apt
to come to the conclusion there is life
sized hoodoo lurking somewhere about,
says one writer. What IL is and where
1t is no one seems to know.
How would you like to have the wad
that has been dropped by the various
Well, rather. 1t would make a good nest
egg and last for years to come.
Long before the time of the Pacific
TO maintain a league in California San
Jose was at one time a member of the
league-just for a brief part of a year 1t
was not paying proposition. Harris got
tired of digging up money to meet def
cts and San Jose was dropped
For a brief time the California State
league made money. That was about the
time that Portland was experiencing diff
ficulties with w. H. Lucas. Harris was
looking with covetous eyes toward the
north, for he believed that a Pacific
Coast league would be a paying PROPOSE
ton.
Portland HurdIed.
Portland hurdIed. and while Dugdale
should fast, other parties in Seattle were
induced to finance team in the coast
combination. That was three years ago,
and the war meant nothing but the loss
of money on all sides. The heaviest loser
was Hart the San Francisco man who
put his money into the Pacific National
teams in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
McClOskey was manager of the San
Francisco team, and the way he spent the
coin was a caution. Before Hart called
quits and announced that he had sunk
matter of $4,000, d statement that has
generally been accepted as true The
Portland team of the same league also
lost a considerable amount of cash New
grounds were constructed on the East
Side and a full team put into the field.
All this took capital, and it is probable
that $4,000 would not cover the loss.
Dugdale, of the Seattle Nationals, was
probably more successful, as he had the
people of his city with him and they
gave him good support at home.
Seattle Heavy Loser.
On the other side of the fence. in the
coast league, the Seattle team was the
heaviest individual loser. ] p. Agnew,
when in Portland recently, said that the
losses of the Seattle team for the past
three years would amount to about $40,
600. which is considered a most conser-
vative estimate.
land coast league team dropped $4,000.
according to the best figures obtain
able, and the second year was something
like $4,000 in the hole.
San Francisco has come nearer MAX
ing money than any other club, but those
while Oakland and Los Angeles have
been satisfied to secure sufficient money
at the gate to pay the bills.
Last year was more successful fnan-
ciaIly than for some time past Even at
that. Seattle continued to lose and Ia
coma. was a poor drawing card. Sacra-
mento was forced to quit baseball, and
Helena, Butte and Boise have never re-
turned the money invested. Altogether,
it is safe TO say that within the last five
years fully $500. 900 has been sunk by the
various clubs interested.
Just what the loss will be this season
no one is aole to foretel. 1t will certainly
amount to something, and unless San
Francisco TeViVeS in a measure, which
does not seem probable. the loss will be
heavier than ever on the men directly
interested in the clubs. Altogether, it is
better to have been merely a fan
Salt Lake Also Loser.
The above from coast paper gives d
fair idea of the big losses in baseball in
the past couple of years. but Salt Lakes
interest in the fight that has been waged
is overlooked. This town has had a touch
Of what a baseball war costs, and has
probably sunk $1,000 during this time
Salt Lake, however, is the first town to
get wise to itself. 1t has seen the utter
foolishneSs of trying to finance a team
in losing league, and is content to lay
back until conditions are such that a
club owner has a chance to break even.
When this time comes, Salt Lake is ready
and willing to again launch team in
a minor league.