Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-03
n EWS
CUE GOSSIP
Weaker Big League
Clubs May Be Made
to Bolster LineUpS
OlUnerS of Money Makers Say
MGckS and Pills Are
Disgrace.
FANS DESERVE BETTER

As result of the big money paid by
| the Chicago and Cincinnati fans to see
the worlds series last fall the major
leagues now are on, Easy street for, the
first time since the Federal league de-
.clared war on organized baseball hve
years ago. Each major league has salted
away 100000 in the treasury to be used,
| perhaps, in settling the claims Of the
Baltimore Feds unless the latter lose
| their lawsuit on appeal.
| On top of this velvet are the annual
assessments paid by each major league
club during the recent pennant races,
which amount to another 100000 about
equally divided between the rival circuits.
| The national commission, which was
practically bankrupt before the series
began, received more than $4,000. which
will be used in defraying the expenses
Of legal talent in connection with the
Feds suit.
GIANTS AGAIN
REAP HARVEST.
The owners of the White Sox, and
Reds gathered about sos. 300 each from
the series, but their combined expenses
reached $4,000 The White Sox made
total of 100000 on tie year, it is esti-
mated while the profits of the Giants
were not far behind that mark. The
Reds earnings amounted to at least
10000, d record for Cincinnati
1t is a foregOne conclusion that a large
majority Of the major league players
are preparing to demand substantial In
| creases in salary for 1920. The magnates,
in many instances, reduced salar RES Ia at
winter fearing that the popularity of
| the game would not be entirely restored
| until next year. Numerous players held
| cut until the last moment before signing
their contracts. Some Of them who signed
| for two or three years at reduced figures
now regret their haste
Practically every major league club
mas made money. In New York both
the Giants and Yanks reaped a golden
q g. A. AZ
the history of the club. Every team
with good baseball to sell found an eager
market poised to rush the turnstiles.
But organized baseball confronts a prob
lem In the weaker sisters Of Philadel-
phia. The city where once the spirit OF
the diamond blazed brilliantly las be-
come a financial tank town in baseball.
Unless both clubs are fortified during the
winter Philadelphia will continue to be a
ponderous handicap to both leagues next
season.
BUSH LEAGUE
TEAMS a JOKE.
Already enterprising club owners, who
regard the Phillies and Athletics as a
burden they should not be compelled to
bear, are discussing plans by which they
hope to force improvement In the bush
league aggregstions now 6isgracing the
once honored baseball name OF Phila-
delphia.
This is the view Of one Of the leading
CluD owners OF the east, VINO makes MS
headquarters in New York:
Il see no reason why we should not
compel Mack and Baker to build up their
teams for next season. Repeatedly L
have had the Athletics come to my park
only to find business to fall to so low
an ebb that I eau hardly meet ex-
penses.
Most of the club owners, with an eye
to good showmanship, realize that what
the fans want is real baseball. They
will not stand for the bush league brand
the Philadelphia clubs have been pro-
viding
philadelphia once was one OF the big
gest baseball towns in the country, but
there Is little interest there now. The
game has practically been killed by the
managerial manhandling to which the
Quaker City clubs have been subjected.
"Can you imagine, for instance, what
IL cost baseball to have Connie Mack
chaperoning a bush league outfit around
the circuit as the Athletics were last
season The Athletic club may have
some promising youngsters on 1t, but II
is a Glass A aggregation, even lower
rating than the American association or
International league, and here we have
a club owner deliberately trying to get
such a makeshift aggregation by as a
genuine big league club. That, think,
gave baseball a blow from which 1t VIII
take a long time to recover.
There is every reason TO anticipate Il
sea son of extraordinary productions In
1920. and l think 1t is high time TO begin
now TO force these managers to build up
their teams to something approaching
a major league standard.