Show SPORTS FLASHBACKS FLASHBACK Only three baseball players have salaries over How much baseball players should be paid has been a topic of conversation for q quite ite a long time A column by Hugh Bradley which was printed inthe in inthe inthe the Vernal Express on February 20 1936 deals with the subject Although money occasionally is listed as a most sordid topic it undoubtedly takes high rank among those very interesting things about which people insist upon talking Whether it is discussed as much in sports as asin asin asin in Wall Street and other realms of cJ big business is of course a question that is open to some argument Yet with the season for the signing of baseball contracts now under way Ita it a again aln becomes evident that the methods of the athletic gossipers are vastly different from those of ordinary mortals Most people people even even though there remain a few who dwell sorrowfully upon the fact tact that they can scratch up only a million dollars or so of pin money-dote money upon speaking Inthe in inthe inthe the highest terms concerning their heir own incomes and honorariums It is a very human trait and I J have no desire to join the coyly space fillers while commenting upon it IL INSTEAD as could have been said a hundred words ago- ago I am interested in the great joy various sports pt persons seem to obtain from somebody else's golden rewards There is for instance the matter of Carl Hubbells Hubbell's newly autographed contract Most of the comments concerning this signing will bubble over with the news that the pitcher will receive per year This is interesting news If true it would not only indicate that the Giants are becoming more careless than usual with their money but also that the commentators have reached the heights of unselfishness by becoming so elated over another's good fortune Un Un- and I must admit that I l have had no more of a glimpse of the contract than thanh h have ve my very knowing betters I am overcome with serious doubts as to its truth In mentioning this and I do have some very definite information information in formation concerning the top salaries paid to outstanding pitchers In both major leagues during the last five years years years-I am amnot amnot not attempting quibble to over a amere amere amere mere 1000 paid by somebody else to somebody else Instead I am wondering whether these sports page delusions of grandeur do not quite often have a decidedly adverse effect upon the scenes which they are imagined to enhance Without going into an historic incident when an American League pitcher snot not with the Yankees took such t estimates of salaries as correct called his business manager a liar and then was forcefully persuaded to apologize there is competent authority for th the st statement that three time big-time hurlers ever have been paid more than a season That I have it upon the same competent authority that one of the hurlers-and hurlers it is not Hub Hub- is bell-is not a matter of particular particular par par- titular importance Yet taken along with the swollen incomes supposed to be earned by prize prizefighters prizefighters fighters lighters who vho on ob the average are lucky when they can make a u year it does provide cause for thought Naturally this thought will be lost upon professional sports people as well as upon the promoters of football universities universities shies who habitually overestimate overestimate overestimate over over- estimate the size of their crow crowds s by or so and yet I have a suspicion that this continued speaking in a II boxcar figures is one of the ills of baseball S in FAR FAU AS the performers are arc concerned they grow so accustomed to reading about such gorgeous purses that th they must become discouraged when they discover that really they are going to be paid only such a asane asane asane sane sum as the traffic will l hear bear ear It is a point if you will consider the amounts that would have nave to be taken in at the gate if ii such magnificent salaries were really to be paid that does not need any considerable considerable con con- elucidation Still admitting that the main mam fault perhaps lies with wilh the newspapers I J am wondering whether the performers and promoters Yo who ho so ardently support such ballyhoo have eH ever r considered the effect upon the ultimate consumer |