Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-13
Hockey Player
Gets More Pay
Than Ball Stars
Some Receive $1,000 for Eight
Games in the Canadian
Leagues.

NEW YORK. Feb. n.-rhere is a very
general impression in this country that
base ball players in the big leagues are
the highest paid professional athletes in
the world. but this is far from correct.
Few people know that hockey players OF
the professional class receive more money
than the players of the national game in
this country, yet II is a we'll known fact
that the pro" players in Canada receive
sums far in excess Of anything that would
be dreamed Of by the average person. The
actual amount Of cash may not be as
large, but then the playing season for
hockey is very limited, and the men partic-
pate In only a few games during even that
short period, so that, according to the sea-
son Of play, the hockey professional gets
far more for his services than the base
ball man.
As in base ball, there are extra large
sums paid TO some few players, but the
average of the professional Canadian
hockey player might be rated at $1,000 for
participation In not more than eight or
mine games. Az against the average
stipend Of the base ball player, which
might be rated at 1880, the hockey player
is much the better paid. He can attend
to some other business at the same time
that he Is engaged for hockey and thus
increase his income. and this is, in fact,
what many Of them do, some even being
given ~sinecure positions. which require al
most no attention, with big pay attached,
80 that in reality it might be considered in
the nature OF a salary for hockey, as, I'M
less the incumbent of the position were
not a first-class chaser of the puck, he
would not be eligible for such a position.
Aside from what the average professional
hockeyist receives, however, there are
many instances of exceedingly high salar.
les being paid to high class men. Prob
ably the highest salaried player in the Do
minion is Fred Taylor of the Renfrew
team, who receives $4,000 a year. In addi-
ton he holds another position, it Is said,
because OF his hockey ability, from which
he receives ST. 200 a year, and. besides an
this, he gets a bonus IL the Renfrew team
wins the championship. It is said that II
costs 1900 to place seven men on the
ice to represent Renfrew. On this basis
the average salary would be 81, TOO for a
playing season, which extends over only
a few weeks.
The example regarding Renfrew is only
an instance OF that which prevails with
practically all OF the other professional
teams. Cobalt last year paid Art Ross at
the rate Of SO a minute in the match
against the Hailebury team. Two Valves
Of thirty minutes each were played, and
Ross received for his part in the game
$500. 1t is doubtful any base ball player
ever received an equal sum for participa-
ton in a single game. All Of the other
members of the two teams received big
money for their part in the contest. The
match was played at Cobalt In the heart
of the silver mining district. and the min
ers were willing to make a big outlay in
order to get two good teams together, so
that they might lay heavy wagers. Bet
ting is, in fact, a part of the program.
The towns In which the contests are played
are small and could not begin to give in
gate receipts anything like the sum neces-
sary to pay the salaries of the members Of
the teams. 1t is the chance that the back
ers of the teams have to lay heavy wagers
which holds the sport in a class by itself
and makes the Canadian professional
hockey player the best paid in the world.