The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-23
BASEBALL GOSSIP
OF LIVE INTEREST
BY MANHATTAN

New York, May 21.-It is safe to say
that the salaries paid professional base
ball players have risen faster than in
any other kind of work on the face of
the earth. In many cases no one out
side the magnates themselves knows
what Is paid. In the case of Hans Wag-
ner of the worlds champion Pirates, no
one knows what the mighty swatter
draws down on pay day.
Ty Cobb is accredited with getting
10000 a season, but whether these are
the exact figures or not is not def-
nitely known. He may get more; UNI
doubtedly he doesn't get less.
There are men In the United States
Senate who do not make as much money
as big league baseball player, fgur-
ing on $4,000 for seven months work.
Carried out on the ratio, Ty Cobb or
Hans Wagner would make nearly
$4,000 year.
Frank Chance. the leader of the Chi
cago Cubs, gets around $4,000 sea-
son, and so does Christy Mathewson of
the Giants. In Mathewson's case his
reward is greater than most OF the 9TH
ers, for he receives this vast pay for
pitching in from rs to As games year.
Larry Lajoie of Cleveland always has
been a big money maker since with
the Maps. His actual reward is shroud-
ed in mystery, but it's safe wager
that 1t is not below $4,000 annually.
and perhaps much more There are
scores of men who get from $4,000 to
$4,000 a season. This is far higher SAL
aries than the vast majority of emf
nent ministers receive. -
When baseball was young and CO.
miskey, Hudson. White, Arson, Will
hanson and Ewing were in their early
twenties, salaries were not large as
compa red to those of today. Many stars
were lucky to get $50 a month. Each
player in the worlds championship
games in 1885 between Anson's Colts
and Comiskeys st. Louis Browns got
about s41 for his "rake-off' of the re-
ceipts. Just imagine Hans Wagner and
Ty Cobb smiling at $41 each during the
late series between the Tigers and the
Pirates.
According to one rumor a big base
ball war Is brewing between the Ma
tsonal and American leagues, and it is
scheduled to break at the end Of the
nresent season. 1t is said that the Ma
tional lea que will break away from the
American next fall. and instead of the
two working in harmony there Will be
keen competition between them.
If this should come to pass II might
furnish better and cheaper baseball, but
II would not last and eventually would
prove bad for the game. wars OF such
a nature invariably fail and some mas
ter hand gathers in all the pronts.
Outhelders and catchers predoml-
nate in the managerial positions in the
American league. Jennings OF detroit
was a former catcher Jack O'Connor
~ st. Louis, Mcguire of Cleveland
Stallings of New York and Connie Mack
of Philadelphia were all formerly eaten :
ers. McAleer of Washington and Duny
of chicago were former outfelderss.
Two pitchers who made 1allure Oh
their stay with the Nationals last sea-
aon are very apt to be found IN fast
company again next year. Iney are
Tom Hughes and Jesse Tannehill, botn
of whom are pitching as well IN tne
American association for Joe Cantlilon
as thew ever did in tn cir careers. Clubs
which are weak in pitchers VIII not
hesitate to give these veterans announcer
chance If they show good form all sea-
son for they stand better chance OF
coming hack than some Of the young
sters do of making good in fast COM
pany.