BASEBALL MONTHY
May 1903
Salaries Peak Over $3000
With stability now between the two big leagues in the game and respected competition, baseball continues to reach heights that few thought they could. It was announced this week that a number of current ball playing stars are set to make more then $3000 dollars for this season, a number undreamed of just a few years back.
With attendance through the league at an alltime high and endorement deals for a number of players common place, owners have been able to spend more on the top talent, but even so many are saying they are not spending near enough. Owners of course do not disclose how much profit they are making among the 16 league franchises, but with gate receipts now averaging over 10,000 fans a game, one can do the simple math.
Mertes highest paid player in the game
A look at the topped paid players in the league is as follows, some of the names just may surprise you as they are not considered the best players in the game.
1. Sam Mertes - NY Highlanders..................$3,338
2. Emmett Heidrick - NY Highlanders...........$3,204
3. Honus Wagner - Chicago Cubs..................$3,168
4. Jimmy Williams - Detroit Tigers................$3,062
Other stars like Nap Lajoie are making closer to $2,500 and Rube Waddell $2,400. It is obvious that each club does its own negotiating and the new New York club has done everything it could to build an immediate winner for their new located team.
The 1903 amatuer draft is coming up next month and for the top prospects like Miller Huggins and Ed Walsh, initial fees may be at all time highs.
Once again....it pays to play.
Toad Almost Perfect
Toad Ramsey this month thought he shoudl have pitched only the second perfect game in history. This however wasnt meant to be in the Tigers 15-0 win over Washington. Ramsey faced 28 men and did not allow a hit but walked a man on a pitch that he tought should have been good enough.
Fans indeed gave the umpire a very difficult time on the day at Bennet Park but the word of the game caller stands. Despite all of this Ramsey does become the oldest man to throw a no hitter at the age of 38 and truly has had a stellar career. It is ineed another outstanding season for him with an ERA currently at 1.71, the left hander has compiled 357 wins.
"I thought I was perfect but Im not going to make a big deal about the walk and the call" said a subdued Ramsey after the win, "maybe if im lucky ill have a chance to do it all over again and leave no doubt."
The Tigers need some good news as they sit 6.5 games back in the American League and cant truly depend on a 38 year old arm forever.
CHICAGO CUBS STATS
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League Notes
Joe Tinker of the champion Cincinnat Reds will miss four months with a ruptured finger tendon. Tinker is an emotional leader for a team that is struggling to find their form in 1903.
It si 2500 career hits for Jake "Eagle Eye" Beckley who got the feat done this month while playing well for the Phillies at the age of 35.