Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-02

MEN WHO CONTROL BASE BALL
Pointers About the Major League
Club Owners.
BEFORE GETTING IN SPOTLIGHT
ban Johnson, Dictator, Once n Cine
cInnati Reporter-Murphy of the
Cubs Also n srIbbIer from
the Same Town.

base ball magnates7 Where did they come
from, and how did they break into the ma
tional gamer" This question was put up
to The Sun man during the recent con-
clave Of major league club owners in this
city. A combination of good fortune, en-
thusiasm and business acumen may be
said to have produced many Of the moguls
now in control of Americas most popular
sport. Some magnates have brains and
money, while there are others whose sole
equipment is unadulterated nerve and
plenty OF Il. A few may be regarded as
base ball accidents, but there isn't one
OF them who is not a thirty-third degree
fan. All OF them are naturally out for as
much money as they can gather from the
public, but not a few of them are inter-
ested in promoting the sport for the amuse-
ment and notoriety to be derived from 1t.
The biggest man in base ball just now
Is Byron Bancroft johnson, president OF
the American league. Fifteen years ago he
was a reporter on a Cincinnati newspaper.
In reporting the games played by the Reds,
Johnson became a close friend OF Charley
Comiskey, then the manager of the team.
Many evening they spent together at the
Ten Minute club in Redland, where the
1890 - otNASC VA NoAhAAA6 q
waiter at the expiration OF ten minute
intervals. 1t was there that Johnson and
Comiskey Matched a plan to otganize the
Western league, which was later expanded
into the present powerful American league
OF which Johnson is the recognized leader
and Comiskey, the owner of the Chicago
White Sox, is the backbone.
Johnson was a first class newspaper
man. He did general work at times, one
of his famous stories being that Of a
lynching bee in Kentucky. He reported
the Corbett-Sullivan fight at New Orleans
and other famous glove contests between
champions, but he made a speciality Of
base ball and became an expert. johnson
draws a salary of SIS, 900 a year now as
the chief executive of the American league
and is signed up to a contract that has
seven years to run. He is a big man,
physically and mentally, and is the
possessor Of an iron will. When he de-
clared recently that John M. Ward could
not be elected president of the National
league without a base ball war the mag
mates, Of both major leagues knew that
Ban meant what he said, and he was
allowed to have his way.
Comiskey has worked his way from the
ball field, as captain and manager OF the
ldAiouS Gl. LOUIS bTOWnS, VINO won IOuT
american association pennants in a row
twenty-five years ago, to the position of
one of the most influential and wealthiest
club owners in the country. Comiskey is
a fighter and a thorough base ball man.
He knows the game from Alpha to Omega.
He has been so successful with his Chicago
American league club that he is reputed
to be worth more than $500, 900. Comiskey
does not travel with his ball team, how
ever, but takes life easy. He leaves the
wear and tear of the ball season to a man
ager who Just now is Hugh Duffy, once a
star Chicago and Boston player.
Charles w Somers, vice president Of the
American league and principal owner of
the Cleveland club, is a millionaire coal
merchant whose money, in a large meas
ure, helped johnson and Comiskey to ex-
pand the American league circuit. When
funds were needed to put clubs In Cleve-
land and Boston Somers was there with
the coin, and II is a fact that he stood
ready to finance the club placed In this
city II Frank ]. Farrell had not been dis
covered. Somer's partner. John f. Kill
foyle, is a Cleveland real estate man who
has plenty Of money and is for the Ameri-
can league to a finish.
Farrell, the owner OF the New York
Americans, was a turfman of note for
many years. At one time he was a part
ner of Julius Fleischmann. former mayor
OF Cincinnati, and together they cam
paigned a powerful string Of horses here,
including the famous Blues. When F.eisch-
mann retired from racing Farrell went
ahead on his own hook, buying many
thoroughbreds with a lavish hand and
always betting extensively. On the tracks
ne met John McGraw who was anxious to
transfer his Baltimore American league
club to this city, and after some persua-
sion Farrell agreed to put up the money
for the venture. But McGraw suddenly
signed with the Giants, and Farrell then
determined to get into base bail at any
cost.
When the American league. having lost
Baltimore, decided to invade this city,
Farrell got the franchise and spent sic, 900
in building the present park on the hilltop
before he opened the gates. That was eight
years ago. but It is said that Farrell, be-
cause of many reverses, has so far been
unable to show large profits on his in
vestment.
The Boston Americans are owned by
General Charles II. Taylor, proprietor of
the Boston Globe, and his son. John 1.
Taylor, who is the president Of the club.
The general paid more than 500. 900 for the
franchise and players several years ago
and has received this outlay three or four
times over. Young Taylor controls the
clubs stock in HIS own nam and has dis
played much skill in the development of
a fast team. He has picked up some star
players himself and is one OF the most
enthusiastic fans among the msgnates.
Benjamin f. Shibe, chief owner OF the
Philadelphia Athletics. is a millionaire,
He has been the maker Of base balls for
many years in conjunction with A. j..
Reach and A. G. spalding Bros. He had
no idea OF becoming a magnate until
Johnson. Comiskey and Connie Mack be-
gan 20 talh business with him. Uncle
Ben. as he is Familiarity called, was not in
the best OF health at the time, and he
feared that his duties as a club owner
would prove too great a strain. But
nowadays. hale and hearty. the old fellow
The Washington club has had many
owners since the American league took
that city into the circuit. but the most
progressive and enthusiastic is T.. c.
Noyes. owner of a newspaper in the ma
tion's capital Mr.. Noyes has set out to
get a winning team, and last fall he Sc
cured James McAleer as manage at slo,-
900 a year.
r.. l. Hedges. the owner OF the ST. Louis