The Washington herald., 1913-01-09
Fortunes Not Made
in National Game
Owners of New Parks Find
Serious Problems Confront
ing Them.
CONNIE MACK GIVES TALK
Special to The Washington Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald
Philadelphia, Jan. ST asked a caller
at my Office the other day." said Con.
ME Mack, ito name me all the men that
he could recall that had retired from
baseball with a fortune made out of the
playing end of the game.
This man." cantinued Connie, took
out a pencil and started to figure. After
several minutes OF the study he gave II
up. He couldn't name one man.
''Then / named the one person that
could think of. This was Ned Hanlon
the former manager OF the Baltimore and
Brooklyn teams. Hanlon was a player
manager. and club owfier. And yet when
We look into his case closely II will be
found that Hanlon retired on the profits
which he made out of real estate rather
than from his savings In baseball.
THE immense growth of baseball y
continued the manager OF the Athletics,
has reached the point where II has
caused the club owners to sit up and
think. The cost of building new plants.
the large increase in the salaries OF the
players, and the other expenses have
grown to such proportion that II has be-
come a serious question with the mag
mates as to what Is to be done IL they
are to get even a fair rate OF interest
on their Investments.
"It has ben several years since the
Athletics paid a dividend. Here We have
been working for years to one purpose.
This is to build a park which would
take care OF our patrons and then TO pay
for It We planned the venture at
Shibe Park three years before We left
Columbia Park. and We have been four
seasons at Shibe Park. during two OF
which We were worlds champions.
Anafhar Iurcstu.enf.
AT the end of all these years We
found ourselves confronted with he
problem of how we are going to live II
the expense OF running a modern
major league baseball club are to be
maintained. To meet the situation We
have been compelled to add another
10000 TO our Investment at Shibe Park
for the erection of a new bleacher In
the outfield and for changes to the old
bleachers in right. and left field. Instead
OF declaring dividends We have been
working night and day to pay for our
new park.
There was weIl-known minor
Lacquer at my office one day this winter.
This man said he was amazed at the
quality of baseball which we had given
the people of this city at the prices we
had been charging. He said:
"Tn my travels last summer / went
to see a game of baseball In one of the
smallest towns supporting a league
team. was charged 60 cents for
seat in a ramshackle grsndstand. A few
weeks later 7 visited this city. and / Sc
cured one Of the best seats at Shib Park.
in the lower deck OF the finest grand
stand in the country, for 80 cents. The
Athletics were playing Detroit that after
noon. was simply amazed. and said to
myself: How do they do Il? The people
in that little town charge 90 cents for
seat at a game TO see unknown men
play. when here can get the best seat
at Shibe Park and see the cream Of the
talent. men like Cobb. Crawford. Collins.
Baker, Barry. and others. play for 80
cents
THE situation" concluded Manager
Mack. is giving minor league as we'll as
major league club owners a lot of
thought. The problem will have to be
met by each club According to its own
ideas of what is best for itself and its
patrons. The step which We have taken
in erecting a new -bleacher and In chang
ing the prices was one which We did not
take until II was actually forced upon US
by conditions that were not of our own
making One of the reasons for the
largely Increased outlay to run a ball
club is the rule which has caused clubs
to add more men from time to time to
their rosters. There was time when
sixteen men was the maximum limit.
Then II went up 90 eighteen, and now
We are allowed TO carry twenty-five men
all the time and thirty-fve men part of
the time. II some of the club owners
had their way We would be permitted 10
have forty-five players How they can
stand It is more than l can see."