San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-23


That is baseball.
II recall when Colonel Jake Rup-
pert first entered the big league as
an owner some ten years ago. lie
was a fan. He liked the game, but
he knew nothing of the business
side of baseball, though he had
profound knowledge of other fields
Of commercial endcaavor.
The colonel understood that play
crs were quite necessary, Of course.
That was elemental. But as TO the
method of securing them, and as TO
their exact values, he was a little
vague. When the baseball people
talked to him of laying down con-
siderable sums of money for some
thing he could not see, for what you
might call intangible properties, the
colonels business instincts revolted.
He had been accustomed TO care
fully in ypy.ting anything for which
he was asked to pay large sum, to
knowing just what he was buying.
The guess work of the national pas
time appalled, hin 1t was not long
before Colonel Rupert suddenly dis.
covered the meaning OF it all. and
stepped out and paid S135,000 for
Babe Ruth. the record price to this
day for a ball player.
Since then Colonel Rupert has
been the biggest sSender in base
ball fog players. As my friend, Fred
Perry, the Elk City plunger. might
say, Colonel Rupert will spend
more on a rabbit huns than other
magnates would on a honeymoon.
Babe Ruth was n good invest
ucnt for him. He would undoubt-
edly pay 100000 for another Babe
Ruth, and figure he was getting him
cheap. That is. he would pay that
price il he could only KNOW he
was getting another Babe Ruth. He
ha spent more than that. perhaps,
since he bought Babe Ruth on the
mere hope Of getting another Babe
Ruth.
John J. McGraw Of the Giants is
said to have Offered 100000 for
Rogers HOrnsby several years ago.
Hornsby would have been a cheap
buy for McGraw at that figure. He
has spent larger sum since he
made the offer trying to find a man
half as good as Hornsby.
The explanation Of the money
spending rampage Of Colonel Jake
RUPERT and the owners of the
Giants Is fairly simple.
The difference between n pennant
winning club in Few York. and
club that does not win Dcnnnnt
is easily 100000 on q season. II
may be twice as much. IL the club
is not even in the fight.
Thus. Colonel Jake Rupert and
tho owners of the Giants merely
pursue cold business principles when
they seek ball players that may
help their clubs win pennantS. Their
investments in their baseball prop
critics run into the millions. They
are but protecting thcse investments.
Next to the buying Of young race
horses. the purcl sc o. young base
ball players is about the biggest
gamble in sport.
James Cox Brady cNated some
thing Of sensation at Saratoga the
other day When he rlld S5O.JOO Tor
yearling filly by Ian p'War. The
filly may be worth three times the
purchase price, or it may not be
worth white quarter.
Therein lies the gamble. Man
O'War cost SJ00n as a vearling. and
Tyrus Raymond Cob about $3.50 rs
recruit. What would they have
brought II the world had KNOWN
the yearling horse would turn out tn
be Man o'War. end that the young
recruit would turn out to be Tyrus
Raymond Cobb?
For Cobb. ] should saw S1.000.000
would have been low figure, and
tounting in the glory that has ac-
crued TO TIE owner of Man o'War
MS part Of the value of the horse. !
would not put Man o'War's price
much under thnt-if anV.