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Weeghman Upset, Promises Changes
CHICAGO, IL. July 21, 1913 - The Chicago Whales are just 1 1/2 games behind the first place Buffalo Blues, but club owner Charles Weeghman has promised personnel changes.
"Two and a half games up coming into July. I've witnessed some pathetic baseball in my life, and the way we've been playing the last few weeks has been some of the worst. Changes will be coming, mark my words."
Weeghman has always been known to have a fiery personality. He threatened to leave the league just days after joining when he discovered he couldn't convince the other fifteen clubs to raid major league rosters. League President Gilmore convinced him to stay, of course, but the 39-year-old has drawn criticism from other owners who believe Weeghman is using the Federal League as a way into the National League. In 1911, Weeghman offered $350,000 to purchase a controlling interest in the St. Louis Cardinals, but was turned down.
In his twenties, Weeghman worked for $10 a week as a waiter for restaurateur Charlie King. After being promoted, Weeghman decided to open up his own business. Incidentally, King, who would have been his main rival in Chicago, died the day Weeghman opened his first restaurant.
Serving cold-sandwiches only, Weeghman came up with the idea to have his customers sit at one-armed school tables in order to fit more into his restaurant. By 1911, Weeghman owned fifteen of these diners, with the one located at Madison and Dearborn serving 35,000 people each day. His net worth is estimated at $8,000,000.
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