Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-16
TINKER CAUSE OF The WAR
New Cub Chief Costs Base Ball Mil
lion Dollars and Joe Loses
Nary a Cent.
bur INSTEAD IS A BIG GAMER
ny FRANK q. MENKE.

w EHANk q. MENAEs
NEW YORK. Jan. 1s.-Joe Tinker cost
Organized Base ball and Federal league
magnates a sum close TO a.OOo, OOo-and
Joe loses nothing.
Had Il not been for Thinkers action in
jumping 10 the Feds in tho winter OF
1913 the Federal league probably would
have died year or 80 ago-and u would
have died before It cost the magnates
millions OF dollars.
AS long as base ball lasts Tinker will
Be remembered as the players greatest
benefactor and also as the costliest player
that ever trod upon a base ball diamond
OF course, ~ you wish 20 go back 10 the
start OF things you can place the blame
for the existence OF the Federal league
upon Messrs. Ebbets and Hermann. who
Eummed UP things so horribly during
their negotiations that Tinker got his
chance TO jump.
Ebbets' ''Bouer."
Tinker ended the 1918 season as man
aver OF Herrrnanns Reds. Garry. how
ever, was tired OF him and wanted 10 sell
him. Ebbets wanted 20 buy. Some sort
OF deal was finally put through in the
barroom OF tho Waldorf to the accom-
paninent OF popping corks.
The price was $4,000 Hermann 70 got
$4,000 and Tinker to be given the other
$1,000 as n sort OF bonus, But Ebbets
didn't pass the $4,000 along to Tinker
right away. Charles yearned for publicity.
lie has received quite bit OF Il when
he agreed 20 pay $4,000 for Tinker. which.
st that time. was a record figure. So
Charles just FUSED" and fused" n bit
more. Tinker was eager TO sign, but
he wanted the 10000 first. He waited
patiently for that $4,000. but II didn't
come along.
And then Joe Tinker startled the base
base world and made" the Federal
league by jumping to the Chicago Feds.
lie got a contract that called for 81, 900
year FOR three years. He got $4,000 in
cash upon signing and his contract was
an ironclad affair.
Others Aped Tinker.
No one had paid much attention ia
the Federal league up 20 that time. But
Tinker's jump gained nationwide proml-
hence Other players figured that II
Tinker was willing to take a chance
by quitting Organized Baseball. they
could likewise. provided Of course, that
they too. got fancy contracts.
Tinker's Jump 70 the Feds not only
Influenced other stars 20 jump. but IL
also smoothed the magnate finding cam
paign OF James A. Gilmore. Up to that
time Gilmore was confronted with a
real tank in trying 20 interest capital.
But when Tinker jumped and other
stars aped him. Gilmore rounded up a
half dozen wealthy men. and they threw
their money into the Golfers Of the
Federal league.
And then the baseball war began in
earnest The Feds bid high for the dia-
mond stars OF Organized Baseball and
organized baseball in its efforts 70 hold
its players. outbid tho Feds in many
cases. Salaries OF players were doubled
and tripled. And practically each one
OF the contracts with the star PLAYERS
we're for three-year period
Details OF Increase.
An average increase OF around $1,000
per year was paid by the sixteen clubs
In the organised majors 20 about i5C
ball players. Practically an OF these
boosts were for three-year period
This means IN cold figures, that the
payrolls OF the sixteen clubs N tbs
American and National leagues were
Increased $4,000 per year. or seoO.OoS
for the three years.
In addition 20 this. the organized
baseball magnates suffered zig Losses IN
1914 and 1918. due 20 loss OF patronage
due partly TO the war. The total de.
crease IN the receipts National and
American leagues for 1914 and 1915. at.
trtbutaele solely 20 the war that Tinker
really started was close to $4,000. Tho
sum may have gone beyond $4,000.
These figures show that the loss Il
organized baseball, due TO the war wa,
close to N.5oo.00. The losses OF IN,
Federal league magnates probably reach
similar figure. They may 20 beyond
The minor leagues. as whole, los
81 least 100000 because Of the war
-Four million dollars at a conservativ,
estimate, Is what Joe Tinker direetl,
and Ebbets and Herman. indirectl,
cost the ciuoowners. Which. In IN,
slang pariance. is quite a bulky flocl
OF bills.