Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-06-10
new RATES MAKE
COST OF BALL
GAMES HIGHER
Annual Cost of Maintaining
Clubs Raised by Quarter
of Million.

ave" / n, ulo ~ l4C All54l -SOSS
OF baseball, viewed from the stand
point of the magnate. will have an
other item added to the steadily
mounting bill when the increased rail-
road fares 60 into effect during the
present month. It has been estimated
that the expense Of transporting the
major league club teams about the
country has increased fully a quarter
of a million dollars this season as
compared with the rates prevailing a
year or two ago.
Veteran big league baseball officials
state that the average mileage Of such
a club will equal about 10000 miles
each<year when figured over a period
Of several Reasons. Some clubs will
run above these figures and others be-
low, according to the manner in which
the schedule breaks for them from
year to year, but an average of 10000
miles can be counted upon as about
correct for the purpose Of estimating
increases.
In ante-bellum days the rate
throughout the various states includ-
ed in a major league circuit. averaged
about two and one-half cents per mile
per member Of the party. This gave a
total Of about $4,000 per player per
S~oot "ASS4 SVSAh GU ! .
additional for Pullman reservations
during long trips. This particular item
was Offset to some extent by the saw
ing in hotel bills where night jumps
were made.
Under the new ruling the rate will
increase almost a g a mile, in ad-
dition to he regular charges for spe-
cial reservation and the travel war
tax. If all the travelling is lone in
Pullmans the rate will be three and
a. half cents per mile or a total for a
fun season of $500 per player plus
a. war tax Of eight per cent. equal to
$3.50. To this will have to be added
the regular extra charge for. sleeping
berths or chairs where long night or
day trips are made. Provided the in
creased rates did not go into effect
until the middle of the baseball sea-
son the additional expense would be
approximately $500 per player and
for each club about $10,0 based
upon an average Of twenty to a party.
With sixteen clubs in the two major
leagues the total would be over $780,
900.
While the major leagues can prob
ably meet this additional expense
without financial setback, the same
cannot be said of the various minor
organizations. 1t will undoubtedly cut
heavily into the narrow. margin which
now marks the difference between
profit and loss in the minor league
club accounts. The problem is already
receiving careful study from baseball
club officials all over the country. The
Pacific Coast league will try the ex-
pertinent Of transporting PLAYERS from
city to city by automobile and motor
cars while trolley service has been
suggested in the east as a of
keeping down travelling expenses,
The sensational hating feat of
Babe" Ruth Of the Boston American
league team, in driving out four home
runs In four, consecutive games re-
Gently, has called attention anew to
the remarkable hitting ability OF the
Red Sox twirler. Since the opening Of
the season Ruth has scored seven
home runs in addition to several made
IN tn~ter-league games played between
big circuit clubs previous to the e
ing OF schedule pennant race. At
present Ruth Is leading the American
league with a batting average OF over
400. ''ei
Four home runs in four days is a
big league record lin recent years at
least, but Ruth will have to continue
his cannonading with reasonable req
ulartty II he is to equal or surpass the
home u records for a full season.
The record is held by Ed Williamson.
who while a member Of the Chicago
Nationals in 1888, hammered out
t~wenty-seven. Cactus" Cravath. while
with the Philadelphia Nationals in
1915, scored tw%enty-four home runs
which is considered the modern rec
ORD. Among the old timers Robert
Lowe. Ed Delahanty and Dan Brouth-
e!rs are all credited with four home
runs in n game while Lowe holds
the particular distinction Of COPING
two Of his In one inning. 800