Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-09
CHANCE TO PILOT
YANKEES;S25,OOO
AL Records in Baseball Broken
When Former Cub Signs
Contract.

Chicago, Jan. 9.-All records in base
ball finance were broken yesterday.
Frank Chance. the man who was kick
cd out of the job as manager Of the
Cubs, signed a contract to lead the
New York American league team for
the next three years at the biggest
salary ever paid in the history Of the
game. The figures were said to be
$4,000 a year and 5 per cent of the
profits.
After their conference OF the pre-
vious day little time was needed TO
close the affair. Frank Farrell, the
owner OF the New York club, met the
Peerless Leader at noontime and once
more they conferred privately in Mr.
Farreu's room at the Congress hotel.
Al 1880 D. II. they slipped out unseen
by any one and went 10 the Office o..
President johnson in the Fisher build
ing. where the papers were signed
shortly after o'clock.
The salary figures were not mace
public by President Farrell. He almost
danced with Joy over the event and
forgot all about the big sum as soon
as he saw the name in ink at the bot
tom OF The contract.
Frank Chance did not give out the
figures publicly either, bat from the
rumors that were spread around and
after an interview with the p. l., one
was led to believe that the $4,000 a
year plus per cent OF the profits are
the exact figures written in the pa
pers. II this is 80, Chance is likely
TO obtain an average OF $4,000 a year
for the next three years for acting as
manager Should he be unusually sue
cessful and win pennant in that time
the amount would be still greater.
This is ono Of the great days in
the history of the American league,
Ia the way II was put by Ban John
son, who crawied out OF a sickbed and
ent to his Office TO help land the man.
Every fan in New York will be
glad to hear OF this" said Farrell, with
all the enthusiasm OF a boy with 4 new
toy.
Chance is one OF the greatest men
the game ever has known and now
he's where he has belonged all the
time. with the American league" was
the statement added by Charles Co
niskey, owner Of the White SOX.
TIN awfully glad 70 be with the
New York club, though I never expect
ed to do this when ! arrived here,
said Chance 1--WE been shown some
real money this time and I'm going 70
do my best 10 earn ii and earn a LOT
for Mr.. Farrell. as well at give New
York a great ball team in the Ameri
can league"
The p L. didn't care 70 return 70 tho
game, but said II he did return II
would be because there was a lot OF
money in H. Consequently when tho
New York club owner and the formel
manager Of The Cubs went into secre
session, II looked as II they would no
agree Chae'e never expected Farrell
would meet his terms.
1T took me q long time to gather VI
my nerve to state them to Mr.. FaT
rell." said Chance yesterday In tan
ing it over. Il didn't want him L
think / wR trying TO hold him up per
scually. and / tried to explain to hin
how much / wanted TO spend one yea
at least on my California ranch.
wanted him to know that | had Gecid
ed positively to keep out of baseball
unless there was so much money in
for me that ] simply couldn't refuse.
Il had decided just how much none
1T would take TO make me so back {
the game and thought there wasn't
ball club in the country which woul
pay il. That's the reason I announce
that | would not take the Job when
arrived here l didn't think Mr.. Fal
rell would want me when ! named tn
amount and still at the same time
thought ! could get It back for him
he would give me the job.
I'VE talked for a long time before h
could coax me to name the amour