The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-13
Baseball Magnates
Meet To Discuss
Their Troubles

This weeks sessions of the old ma
jor leagues may be expected to be-
about as cheerful as a gathering of I'M,
dertakers. On second thought, the
comparison is not apt. for the fun
eral directors can count with perfect
assurance upon the continued activ-
tiles of the we'll but not favorab1y
known Grim Reaper, while the base
ball business has become, in recent
years, as uncertain as when the war
will end.
From a sporting viewpoint, the 1915
season in all three major leagues was
very successful. but the nagnatea
who have millions invested in the
game can be forgiven if at their con
faIibs this week they are inclined to
overlook the artistic side of the mat
ter and indulge in more or less 1amen-
tatfon over the financial outlook.
1nN the National League, according
to the best available statistics, four
of the clubs made a. little money, one
balances on. the wrong side Of the
ledger. Quite naturally. the Phils
we're the big moneymakers of the old
er circuit. They played to more peo-
pie this year than eyer before visited
their little old ball yard IN one sea-
son, in addition to- the clubs share
of the worlds series sswag. Col Esb-
bets, who has been mi ghty thankful
to get an even financial break for sew
era1 years past, is said to have made
a profit of $40, 900 with his Brooklyn
club this year. In spite Of the fact
that. the McGraw bunch gave mis-
cradle exhibition of the American pas
time, the Giants made a profit OF
about $50, 900 for their owners. This
is only about a third OF what the
New York nagnates are accustomed
to divide. The $50,00o rental collect
e<1..
Polo Grounds will help to maintain
the metropolitan 1nagnates in their
comfortable quarters ine thA street
called Easy. The Braves finished
about, $4,000 to the good.
The CUBS, once among the big
money7r1ak of the game, didn't do
much if any better than to break even
this year Tho Whales put big
crin1p in the Cub Golfers, and in St.
Louis, the Fielder Jones bunch We're
responsible for making the Cardinal
outfit a big loser. Fed opposition also
made a big dent in the Pirate receipts
The CINCINNATI Reds just naturally lost
money from force of habit. The loss
ses of the Reds, Pirates and Cardinals
are variously estimated at from $2o,-
600 to $4,000 each.
Ban Johnson's circuit had a big
winner in the Red Sox. the Boston
club being credited with q profit OF
100000 but also a big loser in the
Athletics. which. in spite of the great
reductions in running expenses effect
ed by Connie Mack, supposedly drop
ped $50, 900, or about the same as last
year Detroit was the big financial
noise of the regular season, with prof
its said to amount to $4,000. The
White Sox show a big profit or pa
per, estimator at $4,000, but Comis-,
key won't have much If any 1915
coin to Jingle in his jeans after de-
Quoting the purchase price of Eddie
Collins, Jackson and other players
Washington was a loser to the tune
of $4,000 or more. while the humble
Browns are said to be nearly $4,000
to the bad, and the Cleveland club
lost $50, 1000. The Yanks dropped at
least as much, and maybe more
The o. B. magnates may find some
consolation in the losses of the Feds, !
but it is a poor balm for an aching
void in the region of the pocketbook !
With the exceptions of Chicago and
ST. Louis, all the Fed clubs are sup
posed to have dropped big wads-