Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-15


Of the week. in the shape of
EEvgVgVTS Of q report from Cincinnati,
Ht3 Sen Diego, Chicago and a few
other widely separated CEN
ters Oh news to the effect that a man
had made al offer of 100000 In cash for
the Cincinnati team, and that the deal
was about to be closed. The man him
SELF says he has an option for thirty DAYS
on the team and franchise, and Garry
Hermann says he has nothing to say
about it. That last part OF 1t may be
so, for in other times 1t has been proved
that Garry didn't have a helva lot to
say about the Cincinnati team. But the
sensation Is that any man In possession
of his senses would be willing to put
real money into base ball team The
price offered may not be the entire sum,
out II 1t Is prices for ball teams have
come down materially during the last
rev months. just at time when every
thing else was going up Last year at
this time you couldn't talk about buy
ing bis league team for less than a
million, while minor league franchises
were quoted in the six figures column
Bur times surely have changed, and $780,
600 looks like lot of money to the base
ball man these days.
The Federal league has carried out its
announced intention Of cutting prices OF
admission. and now for u slick dime the
bleacherite may indulge himself in sun
shine and base ball at any Federal park
If he wants a roof over his seat he can
have 1t for a quarter, and for half a dol
lar he can get into the reserved seat
section Of the grandstand;. At Brooklyn,
for one place, the cut in rates hasn't
brought any additional crowds to the
park but 1t may be that Ia time the
populace will see the rationale OF the
proceeding. This is a most vital ques-
ton, and lots of study has been given
1t by well posted base ball men during the
last few months. Among those who fol-
low the game closely, the impression is
strong that next season will see the
price OF admission to bali parks cut far
below the tariff of this season. 1t will
mean a reduction in operating expenses,
and this can only be achieved by scaling
down players salaries, so that If the
prophecies come true the day of Dig
league pay for minor league players Is
at an end. Reduction in admission price
is not the only factor in the business
problem before the minor league owners
of the country. and it may easily be be-
lieved that they are waiting with some
anxiety for the coming of the next con-
vention, In order that definite plans for
the next season may be settled.
While on this question of the business
side of the game, writer in he Letter
Box column suggests that Pa Rourke
sell out. Pa read the letter very care
fully from end TO end, and with a sad,
wistful smile, said: We'll, dare him
to make me an offer Cor the team" AS
a matter OF fact. Rourke, in common with
the other Western league owners, has
pocketed a loss this season that would
make a lot of the home roasters Iuit
very suddenly II they were asked to face
it, Attendance has been remarkably poor
along the circuit during the entire sea-
son, and for weeks not a team has come
within city block OF maGins its eA-
penses On Wednesday afternoon Omaha
and Topeka played before. sixty-four paid
admissions, and on Thursday less than
800 paid to see Omaha and Lincoln hat
tie for twelve innings. Such support Is
not calculated to enthuse either play
ers or owners. And any-man who rests
his hope Of making his base bail team
pay on the promise OF an anonymous let
ter writer Is quite apt to get fooled.
A Western league owner was APP
preached by a magnate of the American
association recently In regard to the
future OF promising young man. The
deal went along very nicely until terms
were reached. Then the A. A. magnate
wrote the Western league man that IL
his player would come 10 the town where
he was wanted. and pay. his own ex-
penses, ne would be given an opportunity
to show what he might do. but no cash
could be furnished. And another trans
action was closed.
II you really feel an interest in the
Omaha team, you'd better go out to
Rourke park today, for it will be almost
the last chance you'll have TO see the
Rourke family in action this summer.
After the double-header today the team
leaves for q twenty-day trip. and then
back home for Labor day and the wind
up OF the season. A good crowd this
afternoon win help a lot.
The return OF Jack coombs. Vean
Gregg. Ed Walsh, Larry Doyle and few
others OF the dead ones" OF the big
leagues Is not at all OF disbursement.
IL simply shows that a good man still
has chance in base bali IL he takes care
Of himself
Far-sighted COMFY Mack may not have
as many star players on HIS payroll
as some OF the other manssers. but he
VIII not be as deep in the hole at the
end of the season. either. COMFY surely
saw what was coming.
Has anybody PACED Home Run" Baker
lately.