The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-06
National Game Has Brought Big
Returns to John King.
Worlds Greatest Catcher Prob
ably Out Of the Game.
WISE INVESTMENTS
Have SweIled His Wealth to
Eighty Eight Thousand.
His Business in Kansas City
Requires Entire Time.

Kansas city. April 6.--If John @.
Killing, considered by many to be tne
hest catcher baseball has ever pro-
duced. adhere faithfuAy 10 ms m -, the
game. he will be one of the very rev
national FASTENERS Of great merit anu
fame who have quit the sport "nlie a.
the zenith of their playing f pTw1 ~
TCverv winter the papers are rul! OF
s4nriss Of star players who have play
ed their last season. AZ,
Of the farewell tour" game IN MS
IT'S simply little thing s. Q. 90 pu1 hasn.
ing up the golden coin bit raster
ff,sx, he can see the pile grow while
wearing a mask and windpao;
Many are the tales Of bail players
who have business interests to require
sheS, a4tention sufficiently to keep
them out of baseball, especially Wnen
said baseball pays them juicy tnou-
lands. but these tales usually nourisn
IN winter and Idle die aW ;Gr Is Is an. an ePcep
ton. According to Kings own ngureS
~ In worth IN the netghbornood OF
10000 And he's made 1t all himsen.
John estimates that In the iast 81 Elk
vAara he has averaged a saving OF 20
100 a wear from his baseball salary.
Therers a sum Of $4,000 in savings
from six years Of national past1ming.
Nrlinr has $4,000 tied up In Two OIL
iiard halls in this city, and ne says
that In the last three years he has
made at least $4,000 in the billiard
business. Five years ago King
bourht a bo-acre tract Of ground just
S,I,tside the city limits here.
He paid 5000 for the tract no9 1hs
limits beyond Kings property, and
John values the 50 acres at $4,000. He
has other real estate which ne values
al $1,000 Here's q table that king
himself arranged:
billiard halss ....... .--.-..-.... $oO'VoO
FIfty-acre farm ........... SO'ooV
Total $500 ''...'-'''' .|oo,oV0
Killing has been seriously considering
the passing up of professional base
bali ever since his return from the
last worlds series. Several months
ago Killing leased the second, third,
fourth and fifth floors of the Houston
building on Walnut street, right In the
heart OF the business district. He
sunk a lot Of money in improvements,
and put in an elegant billiard hall on
the second floor. He has the figures
TO show that the rent from the other
three floors will be sufficient to give
him his billiard hall rent free and $50
a month to boot King has worked
IN an excellent billiard business in
this place q business that he figures
will make him $150,00o in 10 years.
And that Is the reason he has decided
TO cut out the baseball. He desires to
stay here, keep his trade going in the
summer and watch the shekels come
IN.
that John began seriously to figure on
remaining here. In letters to Johnny
Evers and Steinfeldt he said he prob
ably had winged his last pill to them.
Last Saturday John reached his de-
cision. He Is done with professional
baseball II the proposed City league
is organized king will captain the
Missouri Athletic club nine. Sunday
ball will be played. John will catch.
and he says he has q laundering desire
fans may have the opportunity to see
one Of the greatest backstops in the
history OF baseball In a new position
on the rubber. John says he has a lot
'.But what If the Cubs should hit a
bad slump, and their pennant chances
be slipping awayT' a friend asked
king. What II you could pull your
ming the glove and the mask, wouldn't
you go backf"
mo. sir. "said King, with a nod of
his head and a faint hint Of a belying
smile: '.ft's q matter Of business. why.
I've already bet two suits of clothes
and several hats that won't play ball
with Chicago this year. might go
back next year, don't know about
&hat-but I'm going to stay out this
year. This position here looks mighty
good to me. and I'm going to give it
q try"
but suppose the Chicago manage
ment should make you a big offer,
suppose they should offer you a bigger
salary to play ball." persisted the in
terviewer, wouldn't you get back in
the game them"
"I have no kick to make about my
salary and like Murphy and Frank
Chance. Both are good fellows. Oh,
of course, IL they should offer me
money enough, I'd consider 1t. ia be
crazy II I didn't. But they won't do