The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-15
BASEBALL CLUBS
WORTH MILLIONS
MAJOR LEAGUE MAGNATEs HAVE
ENORMOUS SUMS INVESTED
IN PLANTS.
BIG RETURNS FOR MANY
EVEN DEsPIsED TAiL-ENoeR
TEAMS ARE LOOKED UPON
As uEsiRAslE PROPERTIES
BY PRACTICAL eusl.
NESS MEN.

NEW YORK, Feb. 15.-Basebais
and the money invested in the game
has become quite a topic among busi-
ness men. apropos of the meeting OF
the magnates OF the two major
leagues.
These sixteen club owners repre-
sent large investments in real estate
and baseball plants and they control
the services Of the best players In
the profession. They are the COVER
nors of the national game. inasrnuch
a. they elect the members of the ma
tional Commission. johnson. Lynch
and Hermann, and also pay hand
some salaries to johnson and Lyncn
as rival league presidents.
II la almost Impossible for outside
capitalists to break into this charm
ed circle a. purchasers of clubs I'M
less losing propositions are suddenly
thrown upon the market. as in the
cases OF the St. Louis Browns and the
Boston Nationals. both taiienders last
season. Even then big money must
be paid for q majority of the stock.
was recently secured BY William Hep
burn Russell and others for trifie
more than $ieo, 900. But the clubs
property IL stiIl mortgaged for s2se.-
eco, and the present weak condition
of the team does not indicate profl-
table season. President r. l..
Hedges. OF the st. Louis Browns. AL
most sold the bulk of the stock and
the big arena In the Mound City last
December. as a syndicate agreed 20
pay $63s,oe0 for the Hedges shares.
deal was called OFF. but another sale
may be effected this week.
Million For Ono Club.
II is estimated that the franchise
held by President John T. Brush.
owner OF the Giants. could not be
purchased for less than 100000.
The club IL said TO have made more
than half that amount In the last ave
years. yet in 1895 Andrew Freed
man bought 81 per cent. of the stock
for $4,000. when interest in the game
here. was at low ebb. President
Farrell, who controls the Highlanders.
win have q new stadium At Kings
bridge soon that will cost $500, zoe.
including title TO the property. II
the players were for sale you couidn' I
buy Chase, Ford, Sweeney. Daniels,
Vaughn and Knight named for the
sake of argument, for a lump sum OF
$4,000. In fact. Mr. Farrell says he
wouldn't dispose of his American
League team for any price that might
be offered.
President Ebbets refused 5000 eco
for the Brooklyn club more than a
year ago. c. w. Msrphy bought "a
controlling interest In the Chicago
Cubs for &f1n. 0ao six years ago. and
has cleaned up half q million in PRO-
fits. Charles A. Comiskey. owner Of
the Chicago White Sox. admits that
he has made more than &1e9. 900 since
joining the American League ten years
ago and last season he opened ball
park that involved an outlay OF more
than 100000. The worlds cham
pion Athletics made 5000. ooe for Ben
tapain r, ,Shihe, the millipnalre base
ball manufacturer. last year and play
ed at home In a 100000 amphithea-
tire.
More Money Invested.
The Pittsburg club has earned a
fortune for fts stockholders who own
Forbes Field. a playing surface OF
equal value. The Cleveland club re-
Gently built new park costing more
than 100000. while General Charles
II. Taylor and his son. John l.. have
Just purchased valuable property in
Boston for magnificent new home for
the Red Sex. Within another year
new 9ruunds and grandstands VIII be
constructed by the Washington, De-
troit and Cincinnati clubs. regard
ieas OF expense. as the baseball busi-
ness has grown to enormous proper
tons and now accommodations for the
crowds are necessary.
President johnson. of the American
League said the other day that base
BAH has only Just begun 10 enjoy
widespread prosperity and that the
game will continue to grow in papu-
iarity all over the country until every
club. big or little. will be able to de-
clare fat dividend. So II can be
readily appreciated that the men who
control the sixteen major league clubs
to-day are considered extremely lucky
by many would-be investors who are
on the outside.
Prosperity Due to Peace.
All this prosperity Is due to the
fact that peace reigns In the ranks
az ORGANIZED baseball, a state Of at
fairs that was brought about seven
years ag0 when the rival major leagues
ceased lighting and arranged matters
on Z business basis. 1t II true that
there's Some III feeling In the big
camp and that there's considerable
Je8l0uoys put Dig men itke f1GITnAHH.
JOHNSON, Comiskey. Lynch and others
who hold the whip hand, have en-
gtusersd IN such 4 manner that serious
trouble d well nigh impossible.
The only thing to be feared Ii the
formation Of another big league, A.
nanced by men who are anxious 10
Aave fingers In the pie. and a. there
are many OF these persons ready to
nut up the sinews OF war. the COVER
nors Of the sport expect some such
movement next year; II not then. later
on. ThAre In 10 much money In base
bail that 4 permanent monopoly does
not seem possible. At least that's
what the prophets say.