Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1918 — COST OF FOUL BALLS LARGE [ARTICLE]

COST OF FOUL BALLS LARGE

Number of Spheres Confiscated by Bleacherites or Find Their Way Over Fence Is Big. The high cost of fouls is going to worry the magnates more than ever this year. We don’t mean spring chickens, or any of the feathery tribe but foul balls, that are confiscated by fans in the bleachers or find their way into the eager clutches of “future .greats" camped outside of the ball parks. Baseballs this year are quoted at $1.50 apiece, 25 cents more than they cost in 1917. The average ball club uses hundreds of dozens of balls each season, and at $1.50 per each, the cost is going to mount high. For every ball that is lost the magnate will be out two bits more than he was before. In the National league last year the eight clubs used 1,538 dozen baseballs. That means 18,456 “apples” in all. If they use that many balls this year they will have to plank down $27,684 for them.