nced that it
would no longer be a party to the National Agreement, and that it would
place clubs in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and Cleveland,
with a twenty-five-cent tariff. Then began an effort that brought to the
American League many of the star players of the country. Contract-jumping
was frequent, and the players were practically able to dictate their own
terms.

The liberal policy of the Americans enabled them thus to secure
seventy-seven of the National's best and most popular players, and the
success of the young organization was assured.

At the beginning of the playing season of 1902 the Milwaukee team was
transferred to St. Louis, many of the National League team of the latter
city swinging over to the American. New York was added to the circuit at
the beginning of 1903, replacing Baltimore.

The seasons of 1904 and 1905 were the most prosperous in the entire
history of the national game. The attendance figures surpassed those of
any previous year by more than 1,000,000.

The official figures of the American and National Leagues for 1905 give a
total paid attendance of 5,855,062, as against 5,769,260 in 1904. It is
difficult to even estimate the attendance at minor league,
semi-professional, and other games; but it can easily be set at 15,000,000
more.

This fact alone establishes the strong hold the game has on the American
people. It has gained a foothold in our Far Eastern possessions, and in
the Philippines there are several leagues playing regularly scheduled
games.

The same is true of Hawaii and Cuba. Even in Japan the game has advanced
to a point where a splendid organization has been formed on the lines of
our parent bodies. The visit of the Japanese team to the Pacific coast a
year ago showed the progress baseball has made among the "Yankees of the
East." In Australia there are various leagues, while in England there is
an eight-club organization playing regularly for an annual championship
trophy.

Just how much money is invested in baseball it is impossible to estimate,
even approximately. The major leagues alone have playing plants valued at
millions of dollars. So have the minor bodies, the amateurs, and the
independent teams in the country towns.

In the matter of salaries paid to the players of the larger leagues, it is
estimated that they amounted last year to $2,577,000. Besides this item,
$2,500,000 is spent on other salaries and the maintenance of grounds.
Railr