Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-05-04
PLAYERS RECEIVE
PRETTY FAIR PAY
MAJOR LEAGUE MEN AVERAGE
OVER 5000 A SEASON FOR SIX
MONTHS WORK.
TINKER DEFENDS MAGNATES
shortstop OF Worlds Champion Cubs
Admits He Could Make Nothing
Like Present Salary Without Repu-
tation to Fall Back on--Story Of
Jack Doyle.

tation to Fall Back o%n-Story Of
Jack Doyle.
The public never has had a very
clear idea OF just what the bali play.
ers received in their envelopes on the
list and 18th OF every month from
April until October. Many think that
every ~well.known player gets al least
81, 900, and that the most famous stars
draw down from $4,000 70 $40, 1000. And
the public's sympathy has all been
with the players until very lately, There
have been so many phony hold-outs, re-
tirements and threats TO lump to the
outlaw league by players who never
intended 10 do anything but jump right
into the band wagon when the proper
time came that the dear old public has
switched its sympathy -or quite a
chunk Of Ito the club owners who
have outgrown the position OF slave
owners and barterers in human chat.
tells"
Still others think the players are do
Ing pretty well to drag down as much
as $4,000 for a season on the diamond.
If all the big league payrolls we're
summed mp and an average taken II
would be found that the players re-
ceived about $4,000 TO So, 200 apiece for
the six months work or play, which
eve way one happens TO look at 1t.
Does $4,000 seem like a pretty fair
remuneration for a seasons work.
The public Is divided on that. but prob
ably there are as many who would
say that an average OF $4,000 is just.
Joe Tinker of the Gubs-and he is
one OF the players whose contracts call
FOR quite a bit more than s3,000-weni
to the defense of The magnates not
long ago and said that they We're more
than generous in paying salaries.
when I think" said Tinker. ''of tho
way | used to work as a lather for SIS
a week before ! became a professional
baseball player | have to stop and
shake hands with myself for my luck
In being able 10 draw major league
money. | couldn't earn the money the
Chicago club pays me doing anything
else if | didn't have my baseball repn-
tation to fall back on. And want to
say that the ball player has a pretty
good time earning that salary. Al least
| do, for | love TO play ban. BEING
paid a good salary for The pleasantest
task on earth Is what | call a pretty
fine arrangement. am satisfied and
| think right down III their hearts All
the players have a good deal to be
thankful for
The surprise given Jack Doyle's IA
Their when he first saw his son Johnny
play a game tYpihes The light In which
a part Of the fans view the bah play
er's life. Jack had been mighty good
to his parents. and every payday sent
part Of his salary 70 the old folks al
IIolyoke. Mass. They knew he was
getting a biz salary, and his father
thought Jack must be working like a
slave to earn SO much more money
than he had in the mills around Hol-
yoke. One day when the BROOKLYN
club. which Jack was with AT this time.
visited Boston for a series Jack went
down to Holyoke to visit his parents
and persuaded his father to return
to the city with him and watch a
game.
The old gentleman went. His first
shock was at the luxurious quarters
the players oocupied-at no tx
pense to themselves Then came the
game. The elder Doyle WIS disgust
ed. 1t wasn't what he thought It was
going TO be. He believed the thou
sands of fans utterly crazy whom they
got excited during he heated moments
Of the play.
With the game over-won by a
hit by !ack the senior Doyle
was greatly relieved Not at Brook
Iyn's victory or AZ his sons fine base
hit. but al the chance 10 consult his
on an important matter.
Jack. do you really tell me that
he money you have been sending MS
s honestly earned asked Mr.. Doyle,
Sr, in great anxiety.
why. sure, said Jack. surprised
hat he hadn't been congratulated for
a hard game. But why do
tou ask"
well. | just couldn't believe It wss
possible for you 10 be getting all that
money for kickine up didos in hose
short pants. / am glad your Auut
Mary didn't see Won II was loo easy
or the old gentleman.
How many ball players would be
BILE 10 earn $4,000 in other lines OF
.,ndeavor2 There are some. hui mighty
'ew. Fielder Jones is passing MP a
ialary of $4,000 To look after business
interests. but business interests made
possible by i"udiciO0s investment OF the
money he earned as a bail PLAYER
like Donlin. with his wife, Mabel Hite.
las been making 8 900 a week all win
er. but merely ON he strength Of his
baseball reputation Take away the
baseball popularity earned on the ball
ield. and few OF The players could
.ather the shekels 30 bountifully as
hey do by playing ball.
The ball PLAYER Of today is q bust
Jess man in the sfrictest sense as far
IS saving his money is concerned
Win only a rare exception here and
hese the boys an save as much OF
heir salaries as possible. That is As
t should be. and highly pleasing 10