Clipping:Ridgewood Park finances
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| Date | Wednesday, May 29, 1889 |
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| Text | [from W. I. Harris's column] Chris Von der Ahe is said to be the luckiest man in base ball, and in some respects he is, but there are others quite as lucky, if not more so, so far as money-making is concerned, than the German magnate of the St. Louis Club. Among them may be counted four young men in this locality. They are William W. Wallace, W. A. Mayer, H. F. Rueger and J. G. O'Keefe, respectively, president, treasurer, secretary and stockholders in the Ridgewood Park Exhibition Company. These gentlemen way back in '85 conceived the idea that a ball park at Ridgewood would prove a paying investment. Wallace was a ball crank, and so was O'Keefe, and they talked the other two into the scheme, and the company was formed. Wallace was the prime mover. None of them had over $300 apiece when they leased some building lots at Ridgewood, just across the Kings county line. The grounds were small, but they did a good business, and when the first season was over it was found to have amounted to something like $25,000. The company then increased its capital stock to $15,000, two-thirds of it being retained by the originators of the scheme. The excess of profits and additional stock was used to buy land and to build proper stands and bleachers. Up to this time the Brooklyn Club had not used the Ridgewood grounds, although other professional and semi-professional clubs were playing there and drawing good crowds, particularly on Sunday, no matter what the attraction was. The privileges of the grounds also brought a handsome return. Little by little the company added to its holding, and finally when the Kings county officials stopped Sunday base ball at Washington Park the Brooklyns went to Ridgewood. At first they did not play at the Ridgewood Park, but finally made an arrangement with Wallace and his partner, which has proved a bonanza for all parties. The exhibition company is now endeavoring to purchase that part of the property they hold by lease. They already own three-fifths of the park, and good judges say that the entire property is worth at least $100,000. If this is true, the men who commenced four years ago on less than $1200, have now $60,000 worth of property that is paying them handsome dividends. There are games at Ridgewood nearly every day, and on Sundays always. The Ridgewood people have made a contract by which the Newark Club is the home club on all Sundays, on which the Brooklyns are away from home. The Newarks are paid $200 a game, and play against whatever club the management produces. There is seldom less than 2500 people at these Sunday games, and generally more. President Wallace is a hard working compositor in the office of the Press, and Mr. O'Keefe is in the same line. Mr. Mayer is a Brooklyn baker, and Mr. Rueger is an engraver. |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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