Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20
REWARDS OFFERED
BY BASE BALL
Many Players Have Acquired a
Considerable Share of the
Worlds Goods.
BY REVERE RODGERS.

Professional base ball at the present time
offers bigger inducements to young man,
without influential connections, than any
business that l know of; and this is the
reason that there has been such an influx
of college graduates into the game, as these
husky youths believe 1t is far better to
draw $1,000 to $1,000 for six months work
than to be patientless doctor or client
less attorney. Look at AL Spalding, for
instance, once a crack pitcher and now a
millionaire. Al Reach, the famous second
baseman of the old Athletics. Is another.
Sullivan, once center fielder for the Wash
ington club. Is one of the wealthy men Of
Boston. and George Wright, a great short
stop in his time, gives employment to more
than hundred men up In Hub city.
Tim O'Rourke. who is still playing the
game, though he cavorted about the dia-
mond in the days of Spalding and Reach,
owns a considerable part of Bridgeport.
Conn, and John Ward, once the famous
infielder and captain of the New York
Giants, Is doing a tremendous business in
Gotham, and now plays golf with the 400
Dannie Richardson, at one time the short
stop for Washington. is conducting the
largest wholesale and retail business in
New York state. Roger ConnOr owns pref
ty near all OF Waterbury, Conn, while his
old partner. the famous heavy hitting Dan
Brouthers, three times champion batter of
the National League has more property
in Wappinger Falls than ali the other squat
ters put together.
Jim White. the deacon" Hardy Rich
ardson, and Jack Rowe, who, together with
Dan Brouthers made up the famous De-
troit big four have all bank account
that will last them while Buck Ewing, the
sensational backstop of the New Yorks of
80, lie in bed and listen to the alarm
~,
and yet eat porterhouse steak and mush-
rooms. Ned Hanlon is also well fixed, and
his proteges, McGraw, Kelley, Jennings and
Keller, need never lift their hands to work
again If they do not wish. McGraw Is worth
over 100000. and he Is only thirtyfour
years of age. He went to Baltimore twelve
years ago. poor, friendless boy.
Keller at thirty-five owns apartment
houses in New York now valued at $1,000
and up to few years ago his father was
driving a Brooklyn street car. Jennings Is
a graduate Of Cornell Law School, and
practices law in the winter. Joe Kelley is
a man of property. The writer remembers
when not one of these men had aught but
his salary. Jim Mcclure, for long time
with Washington. but now playing with
the New York Yankees, is said to be the
owner of everything In Albion, Mich, and
Clark Griffith, of the same team, is reputed
to have vast, ranches in Montana, while
Jack Chesbro is credited with numerous
memories, farms and houses at North
Fred Clark of the Pittsburgs Is a land
owner in Kansas, and Hans Wagner has
money in every bank in the western part
of Pennsylvania. Deacon Phillip, the great
pitcher. ownes extensive grazing land out
in Dakota, and Ritchey and Leach draw
Standard Oil checks every month on ac-
count of oil lands in Pennsylvania
Sandow Mertes of the Giants lost money
In the San Francisco earthquake, but still
need never fear the wolf at the door Frank
Bowerman Of the same club owns Michi-
gan timber lands and in the off season is
a prosperous iumberman. McGinnity Is In
the iron foundry business out in Indian
Territory, and has prospered. Lave Cross
of the Nationals. it Is charged, has more
money stored away than Capt. Kidd ever
dreamed of burying COmiskey, Arson,
Charley Farrell. "Cy Young. Casey, Dr.
neen the two Donovans, Bill Clarke. Stein
feidt, Kester, Carey and many more of
these knights Of the diamond are all re-
ported to be well fixed, and 1t Is a safe bet
that 90 per cent of the major league bail
players are provident and can put their
hands on money wherever needed