The Washington herald., 1907-10-20

Chicago. Oct. 19-BasebalI fans have
an undying interest in salaries OF ball
players. Reports have been spread of
the huge sums of money in the game and
Of the enormous salaries paid the play
eTs themselves.
All Of this is simply gossip. for. except
IN a few isolated cases, the information
is grossly incorrect. When Napoleon
LajOie was secured for the Cleveland
American League club the current gossip
was that Larry was paid a salary Of
$1,000. Later lawsuits in the Federal
courts developed over the services Of this
player, and when officials Of the CIeye-
land club were put on the witness stand
II was learned. under oath that LajOie
was getting not more than 70 per cent Of
the salary originally credited to him
Nobody knows what Frank Chance
draws down as manager of the Cubs. but
President Murphy has stated for publica-
ton that he gets more money than any
other player ever did in the big leagues. /
and that means in the country. His sal |
airy as a player is large. for he is one of !
the stars Of the game Added TO that is |
his salary az manager Of the club; and I
besides this are the dividends he receives /
for the Zoe shares OF stock he holds In /
the club, presented 70 him By Charles T. /
Taft when the club was originally pur- 1
chased from James A Hart Frank
Chance doesn't have 70 work during the 4
winter for a living. His parents were 4
wealthy, his father having been a banker 1
at Fresno, and at his death left Frank
something over $4,000 TO begin life with. /
Chance is Hberal-spirited. but never is /
wasteful and foolish with his money. and /
the result is that to-day he is one OF the 4
wealthiest ball players in the country /
He is a stockhoIder in a number Of large /
corporations in this country.
Fielder Jones Wealthy.
The income Of a ball player is two or 1
three times above the ordinary income Of |
a bank cashier OF even the president Of /
the bank in the country town. and ii is /
no wonder that the bail player is highly /
thought Of by his fellow-townsmen. A
player Of the grade Of Fielder Jones. !
manager Of the Chicago White Stockings,
would have made a success Of any busi- /
ness that he entered. He is the highest /
type Of a ball player. and has already 1
made a success Of business ventures and |
is a wealthy man.
The average ball players salary is be
tween 500 and $500 season. Every /
fan, after the regular season Is over,
most every PLAYER puts in two or three /
weeks playing exhibition games and 4
makes from SEQ to 500 more. Tie man /
ayers and captains salaries run much \
higher than those OF the ordinary player 1
A manage is paid according 10 his Jhil- /
ity and according TO the position OF his .
team at the close OF the seasons race.
Anywhere from S4oo0 20 $1,000 a ses son
Is paid managers. A ball players salary 1
also varies according TO his ability and /
popularity.
As Drawing Cards.
A star pitcher or a catcher will some
times receive twice the amount in a
six months contract that another player
on his team gets and NAV not BE- of
any more real value TO the team IN
winning games, but he will be A greater
drawing card.
Jimmy Collins. third baseman for the
Philadelphia American League team, Is
one Of the highest paid DaH players out
side Of managers now in the game Con-
ME Mack, manager Of the Philadelphia
Athletics, thought that Collins would Re
great acquisition to MS team, for it
was weak at third. and so a deal was
made whereby Knight. the young thi.d
baseman OF the Athletics. was traded TO
the Boston team for Collins. There was
a big difference in the salaries Of rhe two
men. for Collins contract called for
$3.50 each season for an3t5ar two yC8rs.
and Knight was only a yOunCSter and /
was playing for the ordinary figure given
20 the beginners.
The Boston owners were very glad TO
get rid OF Collins and mis- big cont.
II order 10 induce him t. 90 t. the
Philadelphia team they gave HIN 500
more. and so Collins received $3.50 for
his playing last summer He WIS worth
il TO the Athletics. however. for ms play
ing on third strengthened the team TO
such an extent that he put them inlo
the race and they fought it oGl to the
very last week with the Detroit Tigers