Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-19
MONEY IN BASE BALL
Sixteen Big League Clubs Rep
resent Large Backing.
MAJORITY OWN GROUNDS
Outsiders Becoming Envious Over
the Profits Reported Coined
Each Season.

NEW YORK, February 1s-Owners Of
sixteen major league base ball clubs
talked business last week. Eight of them
holding National League franchises as
sembled at the Hotel Breslin here. while
the others convened in Chicago in
answer to the call of President Johnson
of the American League. The adoption
of the schedules, the announcement Of the
new umpires and a few minor changes
in the playing rules, together with posi-
bic trades for players, are the things most
interesting to the base ball public. These
sixteen club owners represent large invest
ments in real estate and base ball plants
and they control the services OF the best
players in the profession. They are the
governors of the national game, inasmuch
as they elect the members of the national
commission, johnson. Lynch and Herr
mann, and also pay handsome salaries to
Johnson and Lynch as rival league presi.
dents.
1t is almost impossible for outside CAPT.
talistS to break into this charmed circle
as purchasers of clubs unless losing prop
ositions 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 be paid for a majority of the
stock. The control of the Boston Ma
tionals was recently secured by William
Hepburn Russell and others for a trifie
more than SlOO 900. But the clubs prop
erty is still mortgaged for $4,000 and
the present weak condition Of the team
does not indicate profitable season.
President r. l.. Hedges of the st. Louis
Browns almost sold the bulk OF the stock
and the big arena i'll the Mound city last
December. as syndicate agreed TO pay
SJ:s.,.CG0 for the Hedges shares There was
a hitch, however. and the deal was called
off, but another sale may he effected.
Valuable Franchises.
1t is estimated that the franchise held
by President John r. Brush. owner of the
Giants. could not be purchased for less
than S1.OGn,O0I. The club is said to have
made more than half that amount in the
last five years. yet in 1885 Andrew Freed
man bought u per cent of the stock for
S49GDo, when interest IN the game here
was at a low ebb. President Farrell who
controls the Highlanders, will have Il new
stadium at Kingshridge soon that will
cost 100000 including title to tho prop
erty. ii the players were for sale you
couldn't buy Chase, Ford. Sweeney,
Daniels, Vaughn and Knight. named for
the sake of argument, for lump sum of
S.O,On. In fact Mr.. Farrell says he
wouldn't dispose OF his American League
team for any price that might be offered
President EbbetS refused S20O,WD Tor
c. w. Murphy bought ii controlling IN
terest in the Chicago Cubs for *llOWD
six years ago and has cleaned UP man
a million in profits. Charles \. Conls-
key. owner of the Chicago White SoA'
admits that he has made more than
S7CuO9o since joining the American
League ten years ago, and last season he
opened ball park that involved an out
lay of more than 100000. The world S
champion Athletics made s2onOeO for
~ III hn hn mi
ball manufacturer. last year and played
at home in a five-hundred- thousan dollar
amphitheater.
Coming Improvements.
The Pittsburg club has earned for
tune for its stockholders, who own FORBES
Field. a playing surface OF equal value.
The Cleveland club recently built q new
park costing more than S3OU,OOo while
Gen. Charles H. Taylor and his son, John
l., have just purchased valuable property
in Boston for u magnificent new home
for the Red Sox. Within another year
new grounds and grandstands Will be
constructed by the Washington, Detroit
and Cincinnati clubs, regardless OF ex-
pense, as the base ball business has
grown to enormous proportions and new
Recommendations for the crowds are nee
essary.
President Johnson of the American
League said the other day that base ball
has ONLY Just begun to enjoy wide
spread prosperity and that the game will
continue to grow in popularity all over
the country until every club, big or little.
will be able to declare fat dividend.
So it can be readily appreciated that
the men who control the sixteen major
league clubs today are considered ex-
tremely lucky by many would-be in
yestors who are on the outside.
All this prosperity Is due to the fact
that peace reigns in the ranks Of or
ranized base ball, a state Of affairs that
was brought about seven years ago when
the rival major leagues ceased lighting
and arranged matters on a business basis.
II is true that there's some Ill feeling in
the big camp and that there's consider
able jealousy. but big men like Herr
mann, johnson. Comiskey. Lynch and
others who hold the whip hand have en-
gineered in such a manner that serious
trouble is we'll nigh impossible.
The only thing to be feared is the
formation of another big league, financed
| by men who are anxious to have fingers
| i'm the pie. and as there are many OF
these persons ready to put up the sinews
Of war the governors of the snort ex-
pect some such movement next year; If
! not then, later on. There is so much
money in base ball that a permanent
| monopoly does not seem possible. AT
least that's what the prophets say.