The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-01-30
Why Do Pitchers Get More Than
other Baseball stars7 Is In
teresting Question.

d T.. he. .s. d b
The interesting question has often
been raised as to why, as a general
rule, the best pitchers in the country
are paid more money than men of
equal ability playing other positions on
he ,liamondi - 90 @FER ~
There are many arguments pro and
con, but there is no use denying that q
good pitcher is always able 20 com.
mand higher salary than the player
who is in the game every day, playing
either behind the bat, the infeld or
outfield.
ny Cobb, Eddie Collins and one or
two Others are dragging down fat con-
tracts, which run into the fve-hgure
mark. But they are getting no more
than Walter johnson, Christy Mathew
son and other pitchers who might be
named.
And take the rank and file Of pitch
ers, even in the minor leagues, where
they get more on an average than
other members Of the teams, unless
they are stars which come from the
major leagues and who have an inflated
idea of their own values.
Take, for instance, the Portland Club.
II is a well known fact that Harry
Krause is the highest priced man on
the team, as far rs regular players go.
After securing Krause, Manager Me.
Credie made special trip to San Fran
cisco to see him on his way to the train
ing grounds last spring, and adjusted
what little difference there was in their
figures before Harry reported.
At the start of the season Krause
was of but little use to the club, los
ing practically every game he pitched.
But he became stronger during the fin
ish Of the race, and was worth every
cent he was paid, as far as his work
was concerned. Krause drew down be-
tween $3.50 and $500 per month for the
entire season, and is probably the high
est priced player IN the league, with the
possible exception Of Overall or some
Of the other San Francisco. former ma
iOr league stars. n
Now take 1t on the other hand. IL Is
well known fact that Mike McCor-
nick, who spent most of the time on
the bench watching the others play,
drew down $500 per month for his mac
tivity. Still, the McCredie kept him
during the entire season, but refused to
be bunkoed longer, and handed the
| veteran his release.
II has been rumored that some Of the
other clubs---Venice, for instanee-pafd
more money in salaries than the Beav.
ers, who won the championship Per-
haps SO, but il they did it cost the
Venetian management a bunch Of coin.
| Without absolute yerifcation Of the
figures, there were eight men on the
payroll of the Beavers this last season
who were drawing down 1915 per
month for the full season Of seven
months. q.
And there were several of the pitch
ers who were getting the top figure.
Which is all very well, and they should
get all they can out Of it, as the time
the average ball player can draw down
the big salary is short, in the majority
of cases. . ....,.
1t stands to reason that pitcher IL
one of the most important cOgs in the
baseball wheel. Without good pitching
1t is hard to win o majority Of games
played. On the other hand, what about
the eight other fellows in the game.
1t resolves itself into question OF
hitting or pitching. Take the early
part Of the present season, for instance
when the Beavers were dropping game
after game, ard by low scores.
i Why was thisH Not because the
pitching was bad. Not so that you could
notice it, The pitchers were going at
az even better clip than they were lat
er in the season. ~ ~,
What, then, was the matteri Simply
this. The team 'fwasn't hitting. .
There was no doubt of this. Time after
time the Portland pitchers were beaten
by one or two runs in small score games
and through all of the trying periods
when the Beavers sank gradually into
last place, the hurlers were more than
doing their part, and the critics along
the entire circuit gave Portland credit
for having by far the best staff in the
league. ars. .a
| What happened when the men reeov