Clipping:The magnitude of pool selling
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| Date | Thursday, June 19, 1873 |
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| Text | [from a letter addressed to Col. Fitzgerald:] Having to spend a few days in New York on business, I have learned something about Base Ball matters that will, I think, astonish you and your myriads of readers; notably the excitement prevails here over our Philadelphia and Athletic contests. A friend here invited me to visit with him Johnson’s celebrated pool rooms, and through the kindness of Mr. Johnson, I am enabled to give you some figures, that, to me, seem hardly creditable. He accounts for the large number of pools sold in advance of the game from the fact that many of the buyers intend to be in Philadelphia on Saturday to see the game, and thus make their wagers in advance, so as to have the money in safe hands in New York. He has sold the following pools on the forthcoming contest between the Philadelphia and Athletic clubs, on the 21st, the Athletics being the favorites: 462 pools, $100 to $80–$46,200 to $36,900 172 pools, $100 to $70–$17,300 to $12,110 119 pools, $100 to $75–$11,900 to $8925 531 pools, $50 to $40–$26,500 to $21,240 307 pools, $50 to $35–$$15,350 to $89,980 [sic: should be $10,745] Grand total–$207,280 [sic: should be $207,170], on which he retained five per cent commission, or the snug little sum of $10,360. Besides, he is stake-holder for many private bets, among others one of ten $1000 5-20 bonds bet against $10,000 greenbacks, by two well-known Wall street operators. He expects to pay out $500,000 after the game is played. The excitement seems to increase with each game played. I always supposed that pools were only bought by professional gamblers, but he assures me that that class of people do not buy one per cent. of his sales, but that brokers, merchants, lawyers, etc. from Boston to New Orleans, are his patrons. How foolish it is for men to thus waste their time and money, and how fortunate we are in staid old Philadelphia in having so such state of moral turpitude. Yours, truly, T.H.M. |
| Source | All-Day City Item |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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