Evening star., 1932-01-29
KEYDLER SEES PAY
BURDEN TOO GREAT
Says Clubs, Losing Heavily.
Should Have Cut Wages
Some Years Ago.
BY WALTER TRUMBULL.

A W okGN44lpG " SS4ANASA ~
duction of salaries?" said
John Heydler, president of the
National League. That's an easy
question to answer. PreSent-day
salaries are all out of line.
MANY of the clubs haven't
been making money in the fat
years. How can they be expected
to make money under present
conditions?
Salaries should have come down two
or three years ago. But it has now
reached a point where club owners, out
side of the comparatively few rich clubs,
can no longer stagger along under the
load
"I can remember" continued Heydler,
"when general admission was rs cents
and the top salary was $4,000. That
was a good many years ago. Yet grand
stand admission is only a dollar today
and players salaries have mounted
until, in some cases, the Sky'S the limit.
some clubs in the league play on
leased land. There are instances where
the taxes have increased to such an
extent that they are considerably more
than the rent"
Here he probably was referring to
such clubs as the Giants, PhillieS,
Braves and Cards, although we under
stand that the st. Louis club pays rent
but no taxes.
Spend Fortune on Stadiums.
1.-THE clubs have spent fortune on
LJnyI1or 70
s1lnled. but YOU must remember that
they do not fill those big stadiumS eX-
cept on certain Sundays and holidays
and unless they are up in the race.
Second-division clubs rarely fill them.
This sounds logical Second division
clubs have just about managed to
break even for several years and some
clubs in the first division have made
little or no money. 1t is well known
that the last good year. for example
that Pittsburgh had was in 1927, when
the Pirates won the pennant. Brooklyn
made some money in fourth place, but
Brooklyn had an extremely colortuI
club and was well situated.
A club which is seventh or eighth
in the standing rarely can make money,
even in New York. The visiting club
gets approximately 25 per cent Of the
general admission, taking no part OF
the extra charge made for reserved
seats or boxes But club low IN the
league standing doesn't draw WeA IN
New York or in any other city. 1t
draws pretty we'll at home when 1t Is
playing the leaders, but that is all.
Always After More.
"Another thing" said Heydler, 'iS
that, when man first comes to the
big league he gets an increase over
his minor league salary. But each
year he naturally expects raise. NOW
seven wears and then commences to
slip a little But he expects an IN
crease lust the same and. even when
he sliDs badly it is hard to cut man
who has given the club years OF faith
full service"
The average salary of a man coming
UP from the minors probably runs from
$500 to $4,000 In addition there Is
a purchase price and, if the man Is a
bust, there frequently is nothing to be
done about it.
Then" said Heydler, there is the
question of trying to balance the
league, of making a good race and the
question Of sportsmanship. The poorer
clubs can't afford to pay the salaries
the rich clubs can. They cannot sue
cessfully bid for star minor IcaguerS.
And, if they do get star, ne Is Q!S-
satisfied. He knows that a rich cIuo
would be willing to buy him and pay
him more than his own club can al
ford"
Brought on Farm System.
This situation probably is what led
10 the farm system. When, for IN
stance. sam Breadon got the Cards,
he is said to have lost about S55,OOO
in his third year OF ownership. He
found that he could not buy players
to strengthen his team, so he de-
termined to develop them. The st.
Louis Nationals now have one OF the
greatest base ball farm systems ever
put together.
Base ball." said Heydler, rs ma
tional sport, but it also is g. business
and it certainly is not inspiring 10
stockholders when club pays out more
than it takes in. There has oeen
reduction of overhead in almost every
other business and IL IS only reaSonaDle
that base ball also should endeaVN 10
put itself on profit-maklng paslS.
And I believe that the players Teai-
lie this. I have seen a lot OF stun
concerning 'hOldoutS but haven I
seen it in my Office. In our league, the
signed contracts are coming IN re-
markablv well. There are few holdoutS
and 1 don't believe there will be many
Remember that base ball training
camps furnish free meals and lodging.
That should be an inducement this
year"
(copyright 1882. by the North American