The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-15
MUCH MONIES
INVESTED IN
BASEBALL GAMES
Owners of Major Teams Control
Property Reaching Into the
Millions

baseball clubs will talk business to-
day. Eight of them holding National
League franchises will assembled at
the Hotel Breslin. New York, while
the other will convene in Chicago in
answer to the call of President john
son OF the American League. The
adoption of the schedules, the an
nouncement of the new umpires and
a few minor changes in the playing
rules, together with possible trades
for players, are the things most in
teresting to the baseball public. These
investments in real estate and base
hall plants and they control the ser"
vices of the best players in the pro-
fession- They are the governors OF
the national game. inasmuch as they
elect the members of the National
Commission, Johnson, Lynch and
Hermann, and also pay handsome
salaries to Johnson and Lynch as
rival league presidents
1t is almost impossible for outside
circle as purchasers of clubs unless
losing propositions are suddenly
thrown upon the market, as in the
cases of the ST. Louis Browns and the
Boston Nationals. both tailenders last
season. Even then big money must
The control of the Boston Nationals
was recently secured by William Hep
burn Russell and others for a triHe
more than 100000. But the clubs
property is still mortgaged for $780,
600. and the present weak condition
of the team does not indicate a pro.
fitable season. President r. L. Hedges
of the ST. Louis Browns almost sold
the bulk of the stock and the big
arena in the Mound City last Decem~
her. as a syndicate agreed to pay
$535.oo0 for the Hedges shares. There
was a hitch. however, and the deal
was called of, but another sale may
he effected this week.
IT Is estimated that the franchise
held by President John L. Brush,
chased for less than s1.000,000. The
club is said to have made more than
half that amount in the last five
years, yet in 1895 Andrew Freedman
bought 81 per cent of the stock for
$4,000, when interest in the game
who controls the Highlanders, will
have a new stadium at Kingsbridge
soon that will cost 100000; includ-
ing title to the property. If the play
ers were for sale you couldn't buy
Chase. Ford. Sweeney, Daniels, Vaughn
and knight. named for the sake of
argument for a lump sum of $50, 900. In
fact Mr.. Farrell says he wouldn't dis
pose of his American League team
for any price that might be offered.
President Ebbets refused 100000
for the BROOKLYN club more than a
controlling interest In 'srf1e Chicago
Cubs for $4,000 six years ago and
has cleaned up half a million in
profits Charles A. Comiskey, owner
of the Chicago White Sox, admits
that he has made more than 100000
since joining the American League
ten years ago and last season he
opened a ball park that involved ar
outlay of more than 100000. The
worlds champion Athletics made
millionaire baseball manufacturer
last year and played at home in a
$500. 000 amphitheatre.
The Pittsburg club has earned a
fortune for its stockholders who own
Forbes Field, playing surface of
Gently. built q new park costing more
than 100000, while Gen. Charles H
Taylor andShis son, John l., have just
purchased valuable property in Bos-
ton for magnificent new home for
the Red Sox- Within another year
new grounds and grand stands will be
constructed by the Washington, De-
troit and Cincinnati clubs, regardless
OF expense, as the baseball business
has grown to enormous proportions
ana new accommodate LOT the
crowds are necessary.
President johnson of the American
League said the other day that base
ball has only just begun to enjoy
widespread prosperity and that the
game will continue to grow in popu-
larity all over the country until every
club. big or little, will be able to de-
clare a fat dividend. So it can be
readily appreciated that the men. who
control the sixteen major league clubs
today are considered extremely lucky
by many would-be investors who are
on the outside.
All this prosperity is due to the fact
that peace reigns in the ranks of or
saniZed baseball, a state of affairs that
was brought about seven years ago
when the rival major leagues ceased
fighting and arranged matters on a
business basis. 1t is true that there's
:ome i'll feeling in the big camp and
that there's considerable jealousy
but big men like Hermann johnson
Co,niskey, Lynch and others who hold
the whip hand have engineered in
such 2 manner that serious trouble
Is well nigh impossible.
The only thing to be feared is the
formulation of another big league,
financed by men who are anxious to
have fingers in the pie, and as there
are many of these persons ready to
put up the sinews Of war, the COVER
nors of the sport expect some such
movement next year; if not then, lat
er on There is so much money ir
baseball that permanent monopoly
that's what the prophets say.