The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-09-12
A SPLENDID RECORD
Disclosed In Career Of Won der
Ahe-Made Big Money In
Base Ball.

ChrlS Won der AQe record III DaSe-
ball was remarkable one. He start
ed with little or nothing, got to the top
sheaf OF the baseball stack, stayed |
there a long time. and the men after !
battling gamely and perseverinsly j.,
against awful odds, surrendered only
when his last gun had been fired
No matter what else may be said OF
him, no one can justly accuse him OF
cowardice or penuriousness. He did
not acquire his wealth by being tight
listed or stinting himself in his man.
ner OF living The best room in the
best hotels was not too good for the
ST Louis chief. He wore good clothes
and his bar bills on ordinary occasions
ran from SIS to $40 a day.
Won der Abe was high roller in
all the name implies. He was not a
gambler ami probably never bet over
S. note at a time on any game OF
chance. hu, he was fond OF pleasure
and the company Of good fellows. and.
he was more than a prince in "stand-
ing HIS turn
Won der Abe rarely ever refuses q
cal. for aims. III he had in his posses
sion at the present time the money
he has given away to mendicants. and
has been tilched out of by playing on
his good heartedness, he would pro5a-
b.y have been able to weather his
financial storm.
A certain player on the old ST. Louis
Browns WAS sustained by the charity
OF Chris during three hard winters.
This unfortunate, who was wrecked by
dri:.k. had houseful OF children. Won
der Abe bought boots for the tots and
frowned the wolf from the threshold.
A certain baseball writer who was
instrumental in booming the Browns
in the championship days fell i'll and
was kept from a charity hospital by
Der Poss President, who footed every
III contracted by the ill reporter.
Chris has extended the helping hand
to many broken down ball player,
and evil was often returned for the
good that came straight from the heart
of the generous Teuton.
Won der Ahe's introduction into base
ball is indicative of his gameness and
liberality. In 1880 professional base
ball had proved such failure in St.
Louis that the city was without
representation in the league. No one
would invest dollar in the game. At
this time AL Spinks and Eddie Culber1
were running emi-professiOnal team
called the Grand Avenues. They play
ed at Sportsman's park. The stands
at the park were wholly inadequate.
Won der Abe at the time was running
a little grQcery-saloon at the corner o.
St. Louis and Grand avenue
Messrs. gilbert ant: Sphinx proposed
to the then little grocery keeper that
If he would build suitable stands at
the park they would share the profits
with him. At the time President Won
der Abe had little money, not over
$oVOV He showed his pluck by in
vas,ing all his wealth in building
sta'r.s AT Sportsman park.
It WIS like bookmaker standing u
tap He played his bank roll. Il was
either make or break" with the game
German 1t proved a make" The
games drew big money. Won der Abe
had the bar privileges as we'll as a
share of the receipts. 1t was not long
before he had back not only his $4,000
investment, but many thousand dol
las With it.
in 1889, President Won der Abe.
along with Justus Thorner Of this city;
the late Horace Phillips of Philadei-
phia, and Billy Barnie met in the back
room nj a Pittsbu:g saloon AMI organ
lied the American association.
Won der Abe made big money in 1882
but in 1888 was his banner season His
team did not cost him a great deal.
Salaries were very light at that time.
1t is said that the salary list OF the
Browns for the season was not over
$4,000 The Browns made head
finish" with the Athletics of Philadel-
phia, for the championship 1t is est!-
mated that Won der Abe cleared over
100000 that year.
In 1885 1856, 1887, and 1888 Won der
Abe had one OF the greatest baseball
teams ever organized. 1t won the
American association pennant in the
four seasons named and captured the
worlds championship in 1885 and 1856.
The team that won for Won der Abe
his great name in baseball was made
Kemmler, Doc Bushong; pitchers, Bob
Carruthers, Dave Foutz and Nat Hud-
son; first base and captain-manager,
Robinson; third base, Arlie Latham;
O'Neifl; center field, Curt Welch; right
field, Hugh Nicol.
The Brotherhood revolt robbed Won
der Abe of his players, and was really
the beginning of his downfall. He
struggled gamely. but to no purpose
Then his son turned on him and sued
him for a big sum of money. His wife
got a divorce. In 1891 he fought the
Brotherhood. In 1891 he fought the
National league almost single handed
Won der Ahe's manner and his fnan-
ciaI asp. sition did not make him pop
ular amnrg the PLAYERS. During the
days Of 1891 he was deserted by Stiv-
etts and Boyle, Chamberlain and King,
as great quartette of ball players as
ever were uniformed
His park was systematically patron.
lied. He tried outside ventures. race
tracks night and day, shoot the chutes
and vaudeville. When he needed ready
money to push along his enterprise he
sold player or two.
Won der Ahe's brokerage has netted
him $4,000 in ten years. That is an
average of $4,000 a year-not a bad in
come for broker.
Here is a list of some of the men
developed and sold by Won der Abe:
Carruthers, FOutz and Bushong. sold
to Brooklyn for $1S;950.
Breitenstein sold TO Cincinnati for
$4,000.
Staley and Beckley sold to Pittsbur.:
for $4,000.
Curt WEIGH and Whoa BIZ"
Gleason sold to the Athletics for $4,000.
Pink" Hawley sold to fittsburg for
$500 aad Red Ehret.