The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-05-27

amples take the Cincinnati Nationals
and the Cleveland Americans. Ohio's
Two Dig show representatives. At the
head OF the Cleveland club are Charley
Somers and John Kilfoyl. two sports-
men with pot full OF money who are
willing TO pay out and who have paid
out year after year as much as or
mere than any other club owners IN
the business. An expenditure OF from
100000 TO 100000 annually for new
talent Is steady occurrence. and yet,
with an all star army gathered to-
gether season after season. Cleveland
has never won n pennant in twenty
nine years OF effort.
On the payroll OF Cleveland clubs
have been such stars as Cy Young
Bobby Wallace. Pat Tebeau. Larry La,
ioie. Bill Bradley. Elmer Flick. Terry
Turner. George Cvppy. Addie Joss. Bill
Bernhard and others who have reach.
ed the top crest OF the game. Yet.
after battling for twcnty-nine years.
Cleveland has her first pennant 20 win.
Charley Somers, one OF the club own
ers, is a multi-millioaire and would
pay any price to reach the top, but he
Is in game where money can't buy
its way without a limit.
cincinnsti's Hard Luck.
Cincinnati is Clevelanl's National
League counterpart. Upon the Red
roster have been some ~ tho greate est
stars the game has ever known-Buck
Ewing. Rid NcPhee Mike Donlin. Joe
Kelley. Sam Crawford. Overall. Sey-
mour. Corcoran and others above the
standard. Garry Hermann. the clubs
chief owner. pays out annually a
princely stipend for talent and would
double this amount 20 win. but Gin
cinnati. like Cleveland. has her first
flag 20 win.
On the other hand. Charley Muir
ply. Of tho Cubs. with no experience
as an owner-a new man to the game
buys a franchise at low figure. OK
ponds little or no money in strength
ening his club. working through
trades. and then wins four pennants
in five years and wins two straight
worlds championships That's base
ball
Real Stars Cannot be Bought.
The helplessness OF money Is one OF
tho peculiar phases Of the national
eame-the absolute inability OF unlim-
tied wealth 10 buy n championship
team. Money will I'll a stable with
horses holding worlds records. money
will buys yachts and automobiles that
can set new marks for speed. hut no
amount OF money will buy enough ball
players OF pennant winning calibre 20
transform n second division team into
first place certainty.
The late Frank Dc Hass Robinson
talked about this subject some years
ago. "Brothcr Stan and / want q
championship team IN st Louis" hc
said. we have spent over 5000 600
trying 70 get one. and stiIl our nine Is
near the foot OF the ladder
Now. the fans in St Louis would
rise grandly TO a pennant winning
team. We would give $500. 900 for
players that would insure MS as good
a team as the Pirates or the Cubs a
team that would attract 5000 or TO-
600 people dny instead OF 1000 or
$500. n team that would I'm al prob.
ability win the flag
but 100000 wouldn't buy such a
team. nor would $1,000 600 Every
+ time 7 think about the hclplossncss OF
wealth in base ball am reminded OF
the stranded mariner who found q
million dollars worth OF diamonds on
a desert island lie would have given
them all for loaf OF bread. but. alas.
there was no bread 70 be had,
There are many club owners in tho
American and National Leagues who
would give almost any sum 20 get 20.
gether a championship team. but the
thing can't be done.
Would New York sell Nathowson
for any sum- Would Pittsburg sell