The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-07
NATIONAL COSTS
over A MILLION

New York, March with the
issuing of the National league sched-
ule Pres. Tom Lynch declared that
the total mileage Of the eight clubs
this year would be s9,733 The Chi
cage cubs will do the greatest travel
ing, a distance of 14,579 miles, owing
to the fact that they make four trips
to each OF their western rivals. The
pirates are next, with 1880. a num-
Der of jumps heavily for Sunday games
counting heavily for them. Boston
comes next with 11,224 miles, closely
followed by st. Louis. with 11,OS1, these
two clubs being at the opposite ex-
IRENE of the circuit and therefore be-
ing compelled to travel farther The
Cincinnati reds have 1862 miles to
go, the giants 110,574, the superbas
1897 and the phillies S,426.
Figuring an average of twenty men
at cents a mile, the total railroad
expenses of the eight clubs will be
in the neighborhood of 1897 600, quite
sum of money in itself. The hotel
rates are higher nowadays than they
were a few years ago; in fact, the
lowest per man at present is $3.50 per
day. Taking twenty men per team.
stopping at hotels at least seventy
seven days-severaI clubs have more
the total hotel bill for the eight teams
is $4,000; $4,000 would be a more
reasonable figure. That makes on 4
conservative estimate a total of $780,
900 so far.
There are other angles Of travel
ing, however. There are sleeping car
berths and meals, to be provided.
Taking again the basis of twenty men.
the sleepers alone total close to 500, Co.,
For meals en- route, for which most
clubs allow 81 per meal per man, and
at least $4,000 to the expenses. That
makes about $355,OO0 for travelling.
At home, there are the salaries of
officials to consider, wages Of the help
rent Of grounds, the ticket supply, the
purchase of baseball, special police
men, printing, wear and tear and a
thousand and one things. Some clubs
can run their expenses down a bit
lower than others; for instance the
Boston club gets along more cheaply
than the New York. However, $780,
900 will about cover these items. Now
comes the biggest item, the salaries
Of the players. A conservative aver
age in these days Of high living would
be $50, 900 per team. making a total Of
$3.50, 900. Here are $780,000 handed out.
That all? Not yet. President
Lynch's salary was fixed at $4,000:
John Heydler draws a fair emolu-
ment for being secretary, there are
clerks and stenographers to pay and
the two league officials do some trav-
cling. The staff of nine umpires Is
another expense the magnates have
to meet. These average about $4,000
per man, or $4,000. Their travelling
expenses are paid as well. Here is a
small item involving about $4,000.
Roughly estimated, although the fig
ures are nearly correct, the National
league spends $1,1S1, 900 a year to give
the fans high class baseball. Some
enterprise this! On the basis Of so
cents per admission, 1t requires an an
nual attendance Of 100000 rooters to
let the magnates break even. Last
season it was estimated that 3,7O5,57
persons visited the National league ball
park, paying 81, 75, so and 20 cents
each, or, say an average of so cents.
At that rate the total receipts were
abount $1,862.787, or a profit of s67l,
1877 for the eight clubs. 1t is evident
that 25-cent ball would not pay.