The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-08
game ATTENDANCE
is OFTEN PADDED
Actual Paid Admissions at Base
ball Games Usually Below
Estimate.
BIG LEAGUES MADE MONEY
White Sox and Athletics Lead,
With Earnings OF About
100000 Each.

NEW YORK, December Mot very
long ago somebody complied an un-
official set Of attendance figures re-
sulting from the championship games
played by tile teams Of the American
and the National Leagues. 1t WIS
shown that the American League, as
whole. had drawn total OF $685.
16i. while the National League had at
tracted 2.73T.T9s Indicating an increase
in the patronage of the former and
falling Off for the latter.
In the American League Chicago
was posted AT the top, with 666,30I. or
an average attendance of S.963 per
game. while in the National League
New York carried off the honors with
5ss,s5o, an average OF 1887.
These attendance figures were COM
piled from the estimated crowds and
alleged turnstile counts as handed out
by some of tho baseball managers.
who believe in eXaggerating every
thing IL there Is n chance to secure
some free advertising.
But, as Il matter Of fact not one
of the big major league clubs gave
out the exact paid attendance at any
time, for the reason that some years
ago It was decided that such course
was not good business policy.
1t is but natural, therefore, that con.
seryhtive baseball men have been ridi.
cuiIng the exaggerated attendance fig.
nres in both OF the major leagues, az
they have been promulgated by persons
who were unable to secure the true
facts in the matter
whnt stalltngs Figures.
When you figure on actual paid at
Tendance for a whole season" said
George T. Stallings. a veteran manager,
who was discussing this at the New
York American League clubs Offices
to-day, you will find that 100000 Is
about high-water mark.
Il don't believe that any of the major
league clubs ever played to more than
this number of spectators. paid. be-
tween April and October. and those
great profits.
Granted that the expenses OF
major league ball club are heavy 1t
has always been an accepted fact that
an average daily paid attendance of
1000 per day, ut 90, SO and rs cents,
would pay expenses. With 154 games
to play at home and abroad. a club
can average a trine more than $500 a
game and break even on the year.
with about 1000 paid spectators as
m average, club can operate on this
basis with. say. pay roll OF $4,000,
so that II this average keeps up, which
is never the case n grand total of 3o0.-
10 paid admissions for whole season
:: travelling at fast clip. There is
60 doubt that attendance figures at
ball games have been swelled to an
ABSURD degree"
Earnings OF League Teams.
Every American League club made
big money last seasNn while the Ma
tional League clubs also did much better
than In 1906 In this city, the New
York Americans played to more people
thun ever before. while on the road
they did an enormous business. Their
profits will reach all of $4,000 ON the
year. The White Sox earned probably
100000 for Comiskey. while the Ath-
letics cleaned UP nearly the same
amount
The Detroit club earned $4,000: the
Cleveland club made perhaps $4,000.
with Boston in the same boat. st.
Louis was probably $4,000 ahead,
while the Washington club wound up
with about $4,000 TO the good. The
proiits Of the New York National
League club have been estimated at
ABOUT 100000, while the Chicago club
cid equally weE
Iittsbnrg ,.antr Philadelphia each
made more than $4,000. with Brooklyn
about $4,000 TO the good. Cincinnati