The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-07
BASEBALL NOW
COMMERC|ALIzED
thousands Upon Thousands Spent
by Major and Minor Leagues

New York, oct. 1.-Organized base
ball seems to be on the verge of los
ing its last vcstige of sport for sport's
sake The commercial end of the en-
terpusc overshadows all else. The
managers are out for the money. and
make no bones of the fact. The lust
tor gold is as deeply rooted in the
minor leagues as in the major organ
izations
The two big circuits depend upon
patronage for financial gains. Be
cause of this it is necessary for them
to secure the very best talent To dis
play before the public. Thousands
upon thousands of dollars are eXpcnd-
ed every season by each club in the
National and American leagues for
the sole purpose of terrifying for the
future. Every club owner has several
highly paid scouts beating ali around
the country i'm search Of likely look
ug bush timber. Some have as
many as six slcuthS under salary. Be-
sides these there is "a grand army OF
amateur shaIps, who do business on a
commission basis This policy Of near
Extravaganza is all well enough for
first division aggrcgations-the end
more than justilies the means. But
il is a serious drain upon the pocket
books of the unfortunate holders Of
second division franchises.
Expenditure Is Bio
because of their weaknesses second
division clubs i'm the major leagues
cali for the greatest expenditures. This
makes their let all the more severe.
The money is put up on a gamble, be-
cause a club away down in the race
is lucky To make interest on invest
mont The leading teams, which might
well afford To speculate I'm talent, have
n"t the same crying need To do SO.
tiut those leaders usually string
along in a sort of dog in the Manager"
fashion. and often corral most prom.
isIng talent which they cannot pos
Hhl> use, just To keep it away from
some lowly rival that might utilize
IL To the disadvantage of the strong.
The hold of commorcialism on the
national pastimc has been IDLY il
iustratcd time and time again, but
never more strongly than i'm the
American league this recent cam
raigu Frank Chance could not get
amy assistance from his colleagues,
many of whom had bench warmers
who would have been of the greatest
assistance to New York 1t took him
couple of months TO secure Short
stop Pcckinpaugh from Cleveland.
flrmingham had no use for this play
'r lie wished to turn him back to
Toledo. the farm of the Maps. When
Chances outlicld was performing in
most pitiful manner. Connie Mack
Was carrying six gardeners, any one
cot them superior To- the best the peer
less leader could show.
There was time when the major
''sac3, 10y juggling the market. could
H''lhtlin supporting recruiting
institution. Undesirable talent snatch
'd from the brush" could often bc
turned back at profit. But that
time Is past. The minors-formcr
3lcy-have become the close listed
hdfEala drivers III YOU desire our
5000 men YOU must pay dearly enough
Tor the cast-offs." The minor leagues
u'P'nd upon :he sale of players for
sci maintenance and cannot he
plamoi for getting back at the big
lolloWs on every possible occasion.
MAJOR league magnatcs, who displa !
'oid indifference among themselves.
"'S'rNe no piry when minor loagu
promoters put on the screws.
Major Leagues to Blame.
the major leagues themselves arr
i'Spohsiblc Tor most of the present
u'E commercialism Of the game Al
ways has their attitude been She most
'N''tlhs and the most grasp;ns. As
inns sport has gradually become more
'''d moro of n show business, the
"''hous ot show have attached them
''Ncs. The power of publleity has
"PPealcd To the club owners. who now
''Ne every means of BOOSTING their
'Nh game through press agent stuff.
L''r since the two big leagues went
:" war salaries have maintained the
mshest standard that the fight es-
''p''shed. But the magnates in any
announcements have never failed TO