Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-02
BIG FORTUNES DROPPED
IN THE BASEBALL WAR
Estimated That Five Leagues Lost
S1,25O,O00 Inst Season-Fcds
Said to Have Suffered Most.
TWO MAJORS MAKE MONEY
Boston, the Salvation of tho Nation
al Organization-Athlc Finish
Near tho Bottom of the Financial
Ladder.

SAiISAbo, FEBRUARY 1-DaScDalt wars
arc expensive. Figures prove that
there has been n fattening of many n
pocketbook since tho magnatcs went
into clinch n year ago. The total
losses of five leagues, as compared with
tho season of 1913 amount to $3.50,
600. and tho net losses figure up S41G,-
600. Eight clubs in the American and
National Leagues made money. and only
three in tho Federal. Three finished
ahead In tho American association, and
none In the International
Tho net gain for the American
League, after the losses have been
subtracted. is s5S.0GO, while the Ma
tional League shows $4,000 The net
loss Tor the Federal League was Sl7G.-
ooo. while that of the American nsso-
citation was 100000, ana that of the
International League close to Sl5O.O00.
ihree clubs alone in the International
lost SlO6,00o. The biggest loser in the
american League was Cleveland, with
SSc0oo, and tho biggest winner was
Boston, with $4,000 In the National
League, Pittsburgh makes the worst
exhibit, with n deficit of $50. 600, while
the Giants topped the heap, with sl2O.
600.
brooklyn Loses Heavily.
brooklyn was tho financial tragedy
IN the Federal, with loss of $50, 900,
Whilc chicago confesscs to gain of
SZo,ooo. In the International League.
baltimore lost $4,000. and it is as
serted that indianapolis. In the Ameri-
can association, made an equally poor
showing
All Chicago teams made money. The
Mhlte SoH made $4,000. and the Cubs
$4,000, and, as recounted. the I,edcr,la
4 of
pald dividend of only per cent. ac-
c"ruins TO report. on n capital stock of
Sioo,ouo, but the remainder was cred :
tied to the surplus account.
conditions In Chicago were unusual.
Up TO June the White Sox were far
aheau IN attendance as compared to
the season Of 1913, which was the best
the local club ever has had. Tn to tho
same period the Cubs were far behind
thcir former record. The FederaIs
SKINNED the cream off the attendance
during the first six weeks OF tho sno-
son. mo local Federals had, by all
ODDS, tho best attendance in M
league, but had n fairly high salary
list
The Brooklyn club topped them ou
IN saiarles, and consequently In losses
The loss credited to Brooklyn was only
as II affected the ball team itself ana
mat was only drop in the bucket
Robert b. Ward. president or thn
Brookfeds, was the financial ba cl,er oT
the league rs whole and is credited
WIN having written his checks for
S0'5,ooo during the season OF this
amount S250,oO0 was charged to advcr-
using Tor the firm of which Mr.. Ward
is the head. The rest of the money
went into the stands, including some
thinS like $4,000 for one of his own
the expenditure of Mr.. Ward set n
niEnwater mark in baseball. rs 1t was
i, out In ono season. 1t helped to
finance number OF clubs in tho cir
cult. while it is claimed that Mr.. Ward
also bore tho lions share of legal ey-
pehscs, which were comparatively low
up to the present year, totalinE less
than $4,000
Braves Save National League.
IL was the Boston Braves which
saved the National League Up to the
tlme or the phenomenal squire of Stall
lingss men the Boston club was in the
hole $4,000 but from that time on it
compared favorably with the we'll
known United States mint. New York
and Chicago especially profted, and SO
did every other club.
In the American League 1t was on
positc. With the Athletics far in
front. interest died out and the White
Sox and Boston Red Sox were the only
ones who held their .wn at all. De-
troit did we'll with profit of 100000
The New York Yankees, with n cheap
team. did not suffer as much as many
believed, being only $4,000 to the bad
at tho finish.
The champion Athletics finished near
the bottom of the financial ledger.
They were credited with n loss of SEQ
600 for the season, but tho $4,000 re-
ccivcd in the world series gave them n
balance of $4,000. 1t did not even
figure this much when the % per cent
share OF the American League Is sub
tractcd. but other items made up the
amount. Washington and ST. Louis
had poor seasons. and tho renewal
contracts made it a loss, instead OF n
profit, which otherwise would have
been the case