Evening journal., 1910-02-04
GOOD GAME
WHEN 1T PAYS
But BaSebaII'S a Gamble and
Lots Of Clubs Lucky to
Break Even

CHICAGO. Feb. 4-Is baseball a good
Investment?
In many instances. Il is said It is.
and i'm other cases the answer would
be no, with a capital y. All big league
clubs and many OF the minors make
money. the interest coming in at a tre-
mendous rate. Thirty and even forty
per cent is not at all uncommon. Such
clubs as the Detroit Tigers. the Maps
of Cleveland. the Giants. the Cubs and
tho Pirates are great money-malSers.
The reason is not hard to nnd-they
are pennant contenders. The past year
the Pirates in particular paid big divi-
dends to the stockholders. as the
worlds championship series was fig
ured in.
1t is the club which makes a big
fight all the time that coins money
one instance in point is the squad
owned by Comiskey, for they are scrap
pers, and. as "a result, form an excel
lent travelling team. Persons Ike TO
see The Sox play all over the circuit,
for they scrap to the last ball. a team
may be only a fair drawing card at
home. but big road bunch. Under
this class come the Chicago Cubs. They
are great favorites at the West Side
park. except when they are playing
such teams as tho Giants or the Pi-
rates
Made Money in A. A.
American Association teams last year
surprised the land i'm the amount Of
money they brought i'm. Every team
coined money, and coined il in large
quantities. The cash came in so fast
that all prospects Of invading major
league territory faded away. There
was no cause for expansion. for the
regular circuit paid well enough. Tho
association magnatos have gone along
on the principle of letting well enough
alone"
Much talk has been aroused in recent
years over scmi-pro teams OF Chicago.
Although it is not generally known,
/ it's fact that the clubs in the Chicago
/ city League made more money than
the vast majority Of the minor leagues
/ The clubs which comprised this organi-
( zation would make a nrst-class league
! and in playing strength rank up with
/ the Central League, or even higher
/ Although only two games a week are
/ regularly played by each team. il Is
not at all an unusual sight TO see from
5000 to 10000 at a game. Tho Gunthers
the Logan Squares or tho Lclant
Giants would give even the Glass a
teams hot run for their money in Q
series OF five or seven games
lt's Gamble After All.
Last season. with Jimmy Callahan
Pitcher stack. shortstop Meinke and 9th
ers of major league strength, the Loga
Squares had money drawing aggrega
ton. and the others were just as good. Bu
when a team docs lose money Ia a leagu
1t loses Il in large quantities Many club
consider themselves lucky to break eve
on the season As has often been sal,
and with truth, baseball Is gamble pur
and simple. II YOU are lucky aud have
FIRST division club. things are hne an
dandy.
Cap. Anson Up Against Il.
Much has been written about Cap Al
e son. that grand Old character Of bascba
b who is down and out" But It Is not ge
orally known that old Cap is and alwa,
has been one Of the best all-round athlet
in the world AZ present he is trying
break into some sort OF Job. where ;
can buy bread and butter for himself ar
. his family Il is hard situation for Il
, man who saved the National League ar
who is without doubt the best know
I character who ever played baseball
/ I'm addition to being baseball sta
Anson is a magnificent trap shot bowie
( pool player and three-cushion billiard e.
I pert lie made his reputation as r. bowie
when his team. the Ansons. once won u
national championship He himself WIS q
anchor OF the squad and his work h,
uniformly been splendid. In three-cushio
billiards he takes his hat Of 10 nobody NJ
Z even DeOro or DAILY.
King is Versatile.
Cap, however. is not the only baseba
player who has held two championship
i The much advertised Johnny Killing hl
held the worlds title in pool and ais
was regarded as the champion catcher.
ball player takes TO table games like
duck 20 water. When he is on the roa
with the team he has 10 spend the Tor
evenings somehow. so frequently pial
. friendly pool or billiard game with OF
< OF his mates or with a rival. Hence mo-
Of the players are excellent shots
TWO BIS GO TOGETHER
1t is the fact that ball players like the
games that make so many Of them bnlial
( hall proprletors. There are numerous 81
stances. Jiggs Donahue has one in Oh
cago. and so did Can Anson. until he WI
forced out OF business; Killing has one
q Kansas city. Wild BIZ Donovan at d
4 troit and Mugssy MoGraw al New Yor
q Most OF them make good money and hi
q it profitable to hire a manager while tn,
A are nIavinu hall