The Washington herald., 1910-12-19
Off Season Agrees with Oueer Milan Bowling Billiards. Other Sports
MILAN TAKES ON WEIGHT:
PREDICTS GREAT SEASON
Nationals Center Fielder Enjoying Life Down il
Tennessee HOme-Other Sporting Gossip.

! the real white elephant" of the national
game, and yet, after all, the investment
might prove TO be enormously profitable.
one never can tell what viii happen in
baseball
There is no more interesting chapter in
the whole history OF the game than the
one devoted 10 the history of the estab-
lishment of the American League team
at the Hub.
When the men in command of the young
and struggling organizat bOn-then at open
war with the old league-decided to put a
club in Boston, President Ban Johnson
and Vice President Charles W. Somers
made pilgrimage 10 that city to look for
financial hackers for the enterprise.
They arrived at the Hub in zero wealth
er, but the temperature of the atmosphere
was red hot when compared with that OF
the hearts OF the men OF money in Bos-
ton. The two officials of the new league
sought out such well-known writers as
Tim" Murnane, Jake" Morse, Walter
Barnes, and Others and obtained from
them list OF Boston's richest fans, some
of whom might be interested in the en-
! terprise.
For two days and two nights Johnson
and Somers kept up this search for men
who would put up the amount of money
necessary for the purchase OF grounds,
the building of stands, and the hiring of
players.
Everywhere they went they heard the
same old story; The Boston National
League club was firmly and eternauy es-
tablishedi had been a Yeritable gOlu mine.
and would continue so 10 be, even if a
rival club were to invade the city. Money
invested in a new club would pot only be
thrown away-the men investing IL would
be subject TO all kinds of ridicule for their
folly in fighting the old team.
Worn and weary, Johnson and Somers
returned to their hotel.
Let's hunt no further for money" said
Mr.. Somers.
What do you mean?" Mr.. Johnson
asked
Il mean that l still think this is the
city for an American League club. and
that I'll put up the money to establish it,
Therell be a howl about syndicate ball,
but as soon as the club is on its feet Ill
sell it, There'l be plenty of men who
Will want il in year from now"
President Johnson Immediately began
negotiations for a ball park With unlim-
tied backing he had no trouble in obtain
ing a lease on grounds on Huntington
avenue, almost in the very heart OF the
Hub. The players engaged for the new
team were already popular in that city
Boston fans besan TO sit up and take
notice
On the opening day the new park WAS
jammed. and it was jammed almost every
day when the new club was at home that
season.
On Bunker Hill Day that year the BOs-
ton Americans played TO l4.000 people In
the morning and 1900 in the afternoon.
The Boston Nationals on the same day
drew $50 people in the morning and $50
people in the afternoon.
The profits of the new team that season
were much more than enough to pay all
the cost of leasing the park, building the
stands. and paying the salaries of the
players. Mr.. SOmers sold the club for a
fat sum and IT has made close TO 81, 800 900
for the owners since that time.
No. one never can tell what is going
TO happen in baseball Either from the
viewpoint of the box Office or Of the
playing field.