The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24

\ ball players theories about profits
are original. TO say the least No ball
player ever looked over = good-stsed
cfowd without figuring the gate just
about twice what II really was. We
have tested this ourselves several
ttmes with different members Of the
Washington club. asking them for
their dope on the crowd and then
checking up with Billy Fowler.
And, also. no ball player ever look
I'd at crowd without believing that
his own club got all the money taken
~ at the gate that day. This sounds
wild. but it's absolutely true. Here
and there. II you pin down an intelli-
gent player, he will admit that his
club didn't get II ell but when he
hooked at the stand he never thought
Of that
Ton Can't blame Hin.
However giving the bail player his
due, yol cah't we'll blame him. The
maen4tes are to blame. They've done
nothing for years but blow about
their generosity in purchasing this or
that star, naming figures At least
twice the actual amount handed over.
Who started this wild talk? None
can tell. 1t undoubtedly had much to
do With influencing such men IS
Harry Sinclair 20 take q dyer in base
League. They were led to believe
bAssball profts immense. SO they
plunksd. offering players unhsard-of
salaries TO jump their contracts with
organized baseball.
Yes. the lesson was bitter. when
too late they found that baseball
prohts had been greatly exaggerated.
They then realized that much of what
they had read for years had been
49,. "a. p,.k -
bsen hooked, so they had to make the
btst of it.
How 1t was De.e.
Here's how this myth started some
ycsts ago. >
The fans In = town. say Squash-
town, demanded = better ball club
They wantAd TO see some better play
srs and talked loudly Of boycotting
the outht unless Improvement was
found, and found at once.
The owner. digging around here
and there, found some players He
borrowed some money and bought
thsrn- They coet, say $4,000 alto
Esther. for three or four. But ne
didn't dare to say to his fans that he
could get three or four players for
$4,000. They wouldn't be impressed
sufficiently. Calling his baseball
scrtbes into his Office. the owner
would talk something like thiS
Wall boys. here's some good~seve
mo fans have been demanding the
real thing. I'm ready to provide IL
II only the fans will support rue, I'll
do my part I've bought SluEger
Bib from Pikeville- Bill Biff. the Dan
Vile demon. and Smiling Al Allison.
Who has been winning all kinds Of
gxmes for Yorktown.
How much did they cost? Well
Inst between US, q lot OF money! lot
- money. II Just about leaves me
nat But I believe IN giving the fans
Of sQuashtown a winner, no matter
What II costs
TIE. Writers Are Patriotic.
The baseball writers in that town.
Bust as In every other town. were
patriotic Even IL the owner had told
them the truth, they would have
scorned TO tell IL. Each went away
with a great story in his head. One.
the most conservative, let IT go at a
Not OF money" Another fgured Slug
ger Bill worth $4,000. Bill Bin at least
$4,000 and Smiling Al smother $4,000.
He 30 wrote II.
The fans, reading thai bunk
ch.ered ~ the nlaGnanimitr ~ th,ir
club owner. The mia znste. rea TIM g..
took a dry wash and said Those
hoyp are the good, Thst'll boost the
siub.' ThH scrlbes, being patriotic.