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American Leaguers;. The battl was
staged in the high school park, at
Redlands and the purik field "had an
effect on the work of the players.
The game was a large joke from the
first ball pitched.
Fifteen hits were turned out by the
Sox, but the batfest proved nothing
because of the size of the field.
The seconds, with Quarders heav
ing, downed Portland, 5 to 1, in a hot
game featured by the fielding and all
round wofk of Weaver and Black
burne. Between them they handled
a dozen chances and figured in, three
double plays. Buck stole three, bases,
and Blackburne caromed a" double
and swiped one sack.
Jim Scott let it be known that he
had been approached by the Federal
League, and?was serioi'sly consider
ing a hop to the third circuit. The
Motorcycle hero would not disclose
the name of the team that was after
him, but said the inducements were
large, and hard to turn down.
Maybe Jim is having his little joke,,
but Callahan does not believe so. He
is inclined to take his star pitcher's
statement seriously. Cal remembers
that Hal Chase also dickered with the
Feds, and is now a Sock only because
the Gilmore circuit could not see
Chase's salary demands.
Scott is under contract to the
South Siders, but under the new plan
of campaign being followed by the
Federals this will not stand in their
way- if they .want Jim and he is willing
ta desert the Comiskey gang.
RITCHIE HAS MADE $50,000 A YEAR SINCE
WINNING THE TITLE
San Francisco, March 25. If all
goes wejl with Willie. Ritchie, the
lightweight champion will be worth
more than $100,000 before July 4.
That's quite an eyeful to read
about a 22-year-old boy, who, less
than two years ago, was the laughing
stock of a majority of the San Fran
cisco fans and writers for his persist
ence in challenging the winner of
every lightweight bout staged here,
whether over the 4, 10 or 20-round
route. Today he has in bank or in
vested in real estate and real estate
mortgages not less than $80,000, al
most all of it earned since Thanks
giving day, 1912, when he took the
title away from Ad Wolgast.
When Ritchie began his upward
climb he had about $2,300, represent
ing his earnings in local bouts, bis
fight with Freddie Welsh, for which
he received $600, his first meeting
with Wolgast, for which he received
$400 and some of the money he pick
ed up on his first invasion of the East
with Packey McFarland. This he in
vested in a piece of real estate and
became a regular rent collector, the
fact of his ownership of this bit of
property making him feel as proud as
a peacock, for he never dreamed at
that time of becoming champion of
the world and commanding his own
figure for ring bouts and theatrical
engagements.
Ritchie increased his modest for
tune approximately $3,500 when he
annexed the title. Then the big money
fairly began to flow: into him. Thirty
weeks, of theatrical work netted him
$40,000, and then came the $18,500
guarantee for his bout with Joe Riv
ers. It was before the Rivers fight
I, took place that Ritchie and Billy
Nolan, his manager, split, and to
avoid any trouble over the collection
of the guarantee Ritchie paid Nolan
$3,000 to call it square all around.
Other expenses in connection with
this fight left him about $14,000 of
the original sum. The Cross fight in
New York was the next big money
getter for Ritchie, his end; amount
ing to $10,000. And last and the best
paying bout of all was the recent
meeting with Wolgast in Milwaukee,
for which he received in round num
bers $15,900, bringing the grand to
3fe
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