The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-18
MILLIONS SPENT
ON BALL PLAYERS
Clubs Laid Out Large Sums
For Players In 1915.
WHAT GAME HAS COST.

When it is realized that the major
and minor leagues paid out for players
alone q little more than 100000 in
the season just ended the financial diff
ficulties of a summer beset with poor
attendance can be understood. And,
mind you, this does not include the
Federal league. 1t is estimated that
the purchase and salaries of players
for those eight clubs are in the neigh,
borhood of 100000. This would put
the grand total of dollars taken away
by ball players in the neighborhood Of
100000.
Verify, the ball player is getting the
cream of the game!
These figures were secured from the
official report of Secretary John 81.
Farrell of the National Association of
Minor League Clubs, combined with
the unofficial estimates of men profess
sionally connected with the major
leagues.
Notwithstanding the falling off of at
tendance, said to be due to u feeling of
hard times attendant upon the war in
Europe, bad weather and the wran-
Cling of certain magnates, the salaries
of the players have been increased.
Even the purchase prices have grown.
1t is very evident therefore, that when
the attendance falls off the owners
only suffer The players get their mon
ey regardless of conditions.
Mr.. Farrell points out the rather in
teresting fact that but forty minor
leagues We're eligible to start the 1915
season as against forty-four in 1914.
/ Ten of these leagues did not begin the
season and five of the thirty which
/ started did not finish. OF the twenty
/ five that managed to stand the gaff
and continue in business this year not
! one made money. This latter state
ment is not made on the authority of
Mr.. Farrell. He did not mention that
but it is the opinion of the owners who
/ assembled i'll San Francisco.
AS proof that the bad weather was
largely responsible for the financial
troubles Mr. Farrell shows that in one
minor league 105 games were post
poned on account of rain in a four
months playing season.
Say, for instance, that in a little
league the money taken in at a game
would average $500. That means S52.-
500 sacrificed to the rain, and in a
small league that is quite a bunch of
bills. 1t would pay the whole seasons
| salary list for three of the clubs.
| In the minor leagues 5,472 players
| were under contract. Estimating the
! salaries of these men at 81 900 for the
i season, which is conservative, the bush
i leagues paid out S5,472O00 to athletes
/ This does not include the money paid
for the purchase of these players. L
Il would be impossible to estimate tina
with any degree of accuracy. Some
i players were bought for 500, while
Il others brought as high as 500. Som,
II of those turned back by the big leagues
II cost the minor league owners 81, 800
/ At any rate, it would run over 100000
T. In the two major leagues there wer
: employed regularly 400 players. Thes
received on an average $1,000 a year
The National and American leagues
therefore, paid out 100000 in sal
aries. Add to this 100000 for the pun
1 chase of players, and it has cost tn
4 major leagues, in round figures
/ 100000
l None of these figures apply to til
cost of transportation, hotel bills, VI
] keep of grounds, cost of building, sa
aries of managers, secretaries and oil
er officials. Just to give an idea wha
that means, the cost of operating th
New York Polo grounds during til
summer is upward of 81 900 Il day.
If the expenses, outside of player
could be put into the grand total,
! would be found that the magnates ha
n spent during 1915 more than $4,000
H 600 for operating expenses alone.
II Mr.. Farrell in his report to the n
H tional association shows that SIPS, 81
II passed through his Office for drafte
H players, optional agreement playe
II and others released by purchase. tt
II National association has to do wit
minor leagues only. The report of Il
II national commission, showing VIII
II was paid out for players in the b
II leagues, is not ready. 1t should be
very interesting document
II Though it may be inaccurate, V
will assume that the average price
= franchise and grounds in the b
league is $4,000. That is not lare
The New York Giants, for instanC
could not be bought for double tn
amount.
The sixteen clubs therefore represe
an investment of $4,000, O0O-that
\ a property Investment
\ Add to this. the S2O,OOO,OOO for oper
81 ing expenses, and it will be Observ
n that baseball has an overhead expen
of S33, 100000
They must take in that much fro
the fans to break even.
Now, can you wonder at what hf
pened when the attendance began fl