Clipping:Controlling salaries
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| Date | Sunday, August 11, 1878 |
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| Text | [reporting on a special League meeting held 8/9/1878 in Providence] The National League of professional clubs, after an all night session at Providence, R. I., adopted a report yesterday morning, stating that the expenses of the League would exceed its receipts this year, and that, therefore, the aggregate salaries to be paid in 1879 must not exceed the sum which the experience of this year indicated that each club would be likely to earn; that the contract season of 1879 would be but six months–April 1 to September 30–and that no money advances should be made to clubs during the winter. A uniform contract for the engagement of players was adopted. The question of fixed salaries was discussed at length, but no action was taken. All the League clubs were represented except Cincinnati and Milwaukee, they being represented by proxy. It is stated that the highest salaries to be paid are as follows: Pitchers, $1,200; catcher, $1,000; first basemen, $700; second basemen, $800; third basemen, $900; short fielders, $700; out fielders, $600; substitutes, $500. New York Sunday Mercury August 11, 1878 [reporting on a special League meeting held 8/9/1878 in Providence] Considerable business was transacted, but the most important question discussed was the salaries of players for next year. It called forth five hours' discussion, but was finally dropped, no action being taken. The league declines to continue business on the same basis as this season, and announces to players that in 1879 the aggregate salaries paid by each club must not exceed the sum which the experience of this year indicated that each club would be likely to earn. The league established a rule which binds its members to make the contract season for six months, April 1 to September 30, and no longer. No advance money is to be paid players during the Winter. New York Tribune August 13, 1878 [reporting on the NL special meeting of 8/9/78] It is part of the experience of league clubs for the season of 1878 that business depression has so far affected the receipts that a loss is already assured. At the same time it is apparent that under the present system the loss must fall on the association from whom the players receive the money earned, and much more. The league declines to continue business on this principle, and takes this time to announce to players that in 1879 the aggregate salaries paid by each club must not exceed a sum which the experience of this year ha shown can be earned. It has not, after discussion, seemed wise, at this time, to attempt to restrict any association as to what it shall pay any or all of the men in its employ. In the line of the reduction of expenses within the probable income, the League has, at the meeting above dated, entered into an agreement which binds its members to make the contract season of 1879 six months, and no longer, to wit: from April 1 to September 30, both included. It is expected by thus giving the player fully half the year for the pursuit of any trade or business which he may have, he will be enabled to devote the other half to play at less cost to the club than when (as in the past) he received his entire support from them. By the terms of agreement last-named, the club have bound themselves not to pay money advances during the Winter season, they believing that this practice has, in the past, encouraged idleness and discouraged some players from following such business or trade as they were fitted for. New York Clipper August 17, 1878 |
| Source | New York Sunday Mercury |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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