The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-28
Science
Baseball
CHAPTER II.
THE PLAYERS

-en the turf, draw strict line
Che amateur and othe profes
most branches of athletlc
Rbia professional means to TAX
tkward in the social scale anc
lmation of fellow men.
nt exception TO this rule l.
UhThe chief reason for this II
Vpall in the United States anc
mi longer is upon a doubtful
va ranks as an established anc
trade. In addition the game
xceptional qualities of body
and in consequence perfect
lH,ndition, involving moral re
mot only is insisted upon
W exceptional rewards.
=. arlier days of the game pro
pslayers were looked upon, IN
Is Justly, as ruffians or at
~aut ne 'eredo-weels. In many
cities of that time the afro,
met of the hired athletes,
bals and misbehavlor on and
Id, gave the sport and its
d had name. Players of that
4 fecruits who looked upon the
means of gratifying nomadic
" Of them expected to con
,.e sport, aud regarded an en-
sas a summer outing, TO be
il having a good time.
hsof that era came when base
ae a paying commercial ven"
vas placed upon a business
ring the early days of the
= ,ague, as well as the smaller
ub owners, managers and
isvested in the game for the
vie sport itself and without
fht of getting any monetary
hey expected to lose money;
Y to regain it through the
n the team would give them
titles, rather than IN actuaI
= the gates, They organized
.lted their teams from that
Some of the owners were
4 en-, backing teams as an
II or from n personal pride.
I no recognized basis for sal
the average was low, and
mly the adventurous or the
ppy athletes from the back
Sttoms of cities. While here
r were men of character and
an, decent. clean young men
The game, the average of the
y low, morally and intellec-
% owners began to perceive
-s,ort was the latent rival of
rr in financial possibilities
" might become the greatest
Enterprise in the world, the
4 curbing rowdyism among
y and of obtaining men OF
n and mental equipment inn
elf upon some of them. A
..eld ont for the o:d order OF
e majority, however, became
" had seen crowds suddenly
-ttend games; whole cities
ugust against teams and their
Happened in Clev veland. Balti-
once in New York. The
n decided to cater TO the
protect them from the in
kyilings and the coarse words
some of The men. l
the Hcommercialization or
. to be regretted from some
the fact that IT has abol-
4 yism, brought a higher,
al more sportsmanlike class
Into the game and put Il
brains. commcnds the bust
stration. With the beginning
prosperity to owners, who
5truggled against loss and
sfuin, a higher class of men
ed to the profession. The
|lnlt some of their best men;
tes, who under ordinary con-
I'D have remained al home
business were lured to the
ne chances of big salaries
bnors.
lution of conditions began
Brotherhood fight. which cuI-
the revolt of The PLAYERS
4 ne game was beginning TO
years of struggle, salaries
vng higher and higher, the
we're bidding against each
e services Of the best play
pt respect, baseball is one
9st of all business ventures.
= owners in the league are
business, sharing receipts,
'perlty and advcrsity, Yet
te these business partners
A 10 beat each other on tho |
take each others PLAYERS
Whem. The National league
from the start been mer-
thls unavoidable condition. |
Il {ed profits largely. the club |
Eht to abolish by agreeing |
~ salary limit. whereby the |
~ paid to any PLAYER was |
p The players reyoIted |
reduction Of salaries. organ.
league, and salaries leaped |
Ss that figure, bringing dis
everyone concerned.
fation of peace reduced sal
but they increased steadily |
plext ten-year period as the |
IN popularity aud returned |
snl receipts. The National |
Wnaugurated another salary |
~ Rpaign in 1890, which ended |
~en the American league in.
eid and sent salaries to
ning again by bidding Tor
The restoration Of peace
reached so high a lieure
offered chance of quick
nigh class OF youths who
Ifeted. Salaries fell after
eet; but have continued TO
suliy and healthily to the
ps among tho players which
ieheue bad strIven in vain
W were accomplished as a
rar between the American
teagues. Up TO that time
ement In professional base
rampant; aud the players
tomlnenee considered them
beyond control of their
ne young players entering |
"a In many instances fell |
4puence Of the disorderlv
became their allios. The
Eue, ralding the National,
most of It's star players,