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baa so far been refused, lu conversation with eld base ball men, yesterday,there was expressed a general gratification at the prospect of the tormation of an association In this city to maintain luterest In the gams m this quarter. Cincinnati, with proper wonting up, would lie the base ball center of the country. Nowhere else have games been ao uniformly and * so well patronized. This was attested in the last two years’ experience with the Red Stockings, when crowds gathered day after day to witness and mourn over their defeats. A first-class club would, on days whrn they contended with strong clubs Rom abroad, have drawn out immense swarms of spectators. “Bur,” said a veteranbase ball mad, yesterday, “whild it isfine sport and there is plenty of interest in It, yet there is no money in it and never was, I can Bot be led So believe that ba*e ball is a paying ia vestment.” As a standard by which to make comparisons in all matters pertaining to this subject, the old Cincinnati Bed Stockings are, in all oases. referred to. Rut the old Reds were not a great financial aocccss. '1 he dub started in in 1809 about $10,000 ia debt. That was Its “boss” year, when it did not meet with a single defeat, arid made it famous the coantry over. The next year it traveled on stalling tours, and at the end of the season bad mrdeaoont $30,000. In 1868 It was qmte successful, so far as winuing games was concerned, hot lost tnonev. Financial affairs in 809 w»re somewhat bettor, hue notinoney-anakiug. lu 1870it dictated it own terui3. Fiftycents admissions Were charged in all cases to see Itplay, and In many instances 11 reoetved two-thirds of the gate receipts. It wonld not play for less than $250a gaiuo. It* highest receipts (or one game this year amounted to $1,800. The highest In 18G0 were about $800 Both of these nig days were at Philadelphia, with the Athletics. On its Kaslern trip lu 1870 the club made Dearly $10,000 in thirty aaVs. Abdut a thousand dollars were made on the S»o Fraucisco tiipin 1809. Rut for this expedition all expenses were guaranteed, and mostly paid in advance. Railroad tickets were provided and $500 in gold paid over before the club board**! the Cars at Ciuciruatl. At the game here on the 4 th of July, 187R. with the Forest Oltys, otBockford. Illinois, nearly $4,0(H) were taken In at (the gate. Those were big days in base ball in Cincinnati. With the club were identified such men hs Aaron B. Chamntou, the eAcient President, A. Gh Corre. the last Vico President, 8. 8. Igvi», Thomas 01 Smith, DrnusinA. T. Qoaltorn, President in 1808. E. K, Tlt;iwiy Treasurer, Col©]is. Howard HinklerJoyoe, Jim Finnegan. A. P. (X Rente, the lastWulsiti, A T. Qoshorn,. President in 1868, E. E. Town ley, formerly Treasurer, Colonel Nick Auder»on, John SteUinhia Howard Hinrklo, Johnny Johnson, JelinnyPresident, and Wifi S. Noble, the last Secretary. The end of the campaign of ’70 tonnd the club out of debt, with which It had long been struggling. The players demanded large salaries for engagement. The prestlgo of the club had iu great measure been loot. The charm of an unbroken chain of victories had been shattered, first by the Arlan tics of New York, and afterwards, in a crupler manner, by the great rivals of Chicago. The club was then dis banded.“The father of base ball to-day,” said our veteran
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Commercial
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Thu, Jun 21, 1877
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Daniel L.
AL, USA 12 Feb 2022
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