Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-11
REDS STARTED TO MAKE
MONEY FOLLOWING SALE.
Fleischmann Family Let Loose Team
After Suffering Losses and Then
81 Tables Were Turned.
SHOWED SPORTING SPIRIT
Former Owners Sunk Fortune i'm
Club Without Complaining. but Re-
linquishcd Controlling Interest nj
End OF SaSging Season in 1913.
~ JAMES j. CoRBETT.

NEW YORK. Sept. lo.-Thc peculiar
Franks which fortune sometimes plays
nsver was moro iorcibiy demonstrated
than in 1919.
For nearly g generation the Flcisch-
mann family held controlling interest
in the Cincinnati Reds Year after year
the club was tail-cndcr and a big
loser. Sometimes IL was s5c.00O. some
times 100000, ottener beyond, accord
ing to reports
But through il all, the Fleischmanns
showed true sporting spirit.
Ihey, a'wayS made good the losses
md did it smiitnE!y. They loved base
If their possession was a cellar club
the most ridiculed team in America
From year 70 yea! they nursed the
them and they could own a team that
would be pennnnt winner.
But when the 1918 season ended and
baSceau seemed TO be saggins AT each
cad. both a 4 sport and a CONNER
cial venture. the fleiSchmanns decided
10 quit the game. Other business in
teresis demanded their attention. They
couldn't give al OF their leisure time
to baseball, IS was the case in other
Sold Controlling Interest .
So they le; SO. OF the controlling in
tercst IN the club that cost them close
to @l.0oo.ooc IN operating losses. and
the very next year the Reds win the
first Pennant in Cincinnati history.
Yes, fate surely does twist NJ things.
Through the years the Reds, owned
by the flcischmanns, couldn't win
fas or even land near it: They were
chronic losers in a financial way
The first year that new blood" is
pumped into the ownership arteries the
team romps through to the crest
the regular PLAYING season. and is due
TO garner something close To $1,000
through world series participation.
hn RaHC L.
stances of where a change OF owner
ship has resulted in pennants or high
financial profits.
Hcmp~tend Let Loose Giants
The Giants in 1917 and l9ls Jared
We're not huge. Those were "on"
years in baseball. The outlook dis
gusted Harry Hampstead and he de
knew what remarkable year IL would
be for baseball to sell out. SO John
McGraw. Charlie Stoncham and Fran
els McQuade bought out his interests
The Giants haven't climbed 70 cham
pionship heights this year. but while
they were in the flag race the crowds
them were enormous. II has been re-
ported that the receipts up To July )
were enough TO pay all of the 1919 en-
penses Of the Giants and that all the
intake since then is velvet"
The Braves We're constant also
rams until Jim Gaffney bought them.
championship and fortune for Gan-
ney.
Went Broke With Indiana
Charlie Somers went broke" through
the ownership of the Cleveland In
dians. He sold out to Jim Dunn few
years ago. And Dunn hasn't known a
losing season since
Joe Lannin bought the Red Sox in
1914 or so and in 1915, and again in
1915. they won worlds championships
Charlie Ebhets owned the Dodgers al
most single handed" for many sea
sons.
They were tail-endors most OF the
time. Charlie finally organized them
INTO stock company and right away
they Won a peAnant and have been
cards" ever since
The PhillicS had many owners be-
lore the advent of VIM. r. Baker When
ne arrived at the helm they won their
first pennanC
All OF which SHOWS that in the last
lew years Dame Fortune has grown
into the habit Of smiling in the debut
year upon those folks who buy A zig
league ball club. 1SGopyTight, I9l9