1956 Financial Reports     

Baseball and high finance?  Not on the prairies in the 50s.  

The total cost of running the 1956 Saskatoon Gems was a little less than $45,000 -- about the same amount Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez draws these days for a single at bat (25-million-dollars/624 at bats).

The Lloydminster Meridians managed to survive on a budget of $29,000!  The Meridians ended the season with a loss of $1,387.99 while the Gems ran a deficit of $6,074.53.

There were no big radio or television contracts.  In fact, there were none.  Income came almost entirely from gate receipts.

A major difference between the clubs was in the amount paid for park rental.  The Gems ran a tab of $8,429.90 for park fees and taxes.  Meridians managed to limit their similar expenses to $1,527.70.  The clubs were "in the ballpark" on salaries -- $17,000 by the Gems, $14,000 by Lloydminster. (It appears, however, that the Gems ate and slept nearly twice as well with hotel and meal expenses of $2,700 by Saskatoon, just $1,400 by the Meridians.)

The Gems also ran the Concession Stand at the park, but reported an operating loss of $3.55 on sales of more than $10,000.  

At the end of the season, the Gems pleaded with City Hall to write-off $2,076.31 which the club owned the Playgrounds Association (as an agreed upon percentage of season ticket sales).  The City turned down the request.

The financial statements follow (in the form presented at the time).  Thanks to Jeff O'Brien, City of Saskatoon Archivist, for keeping an eye out for information for Western Canada Baseball. 


SASKATOON GEM BASEBALL CLUB
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Baseball)
for the year ended November, 1956
Revenue:
Gate Receipts (including playoff receipts of $2,795.25)  $21,166.40
Season tickets                                            11,009.25
                                                          32,175.65
Deduct - Park Rental (Gate Receipts) $ 4,419.74
       - Park Rental (Season tickets)  2,0?6.31 $ 6,496.05
       - Amusement tax (Gate Receipts) 1,181.16
       - Amusement tax (Season tickets)  752.69  1,933.85  8,429.90
Net Revenue from Gate and Season tickets                  23,745.75
Share of Receipts re games played in U.S.A.                1,215.30
Lloydminster                                                 100.00
Booster Club Tickets                                         715.00
Advertising - J. Rak                               700.00
            - Gem Cafe                             300.00
            - Other                              1,000.00  2,000.00
Players Sales                                                600.00
Tournament Receipts                                        1,150.00
Receipt from Optimist Club -re Milwaukee Trip                 8l.67
             Total Revenue                                29,607.72

Less Expenses:
Players Wages                                   17,004.97
Office Wages and Salaries                        2,438.08
Players Transportation                           3,347.54
Players Training Expense                           637.00
Trainers Fees and Medical Fees                     363.00
Hotels and Meals                                 2,744.71
Mileage Expense                                  2,811.05
League Fees                                        250.00
Share of Assessment re W.C.B.L. Loss               170.27
Player Purchases                                   150.00
Advertising                                      1,121.30
Audit Fees - Thurmeier, Horborenko & Co.           170.00
Equipment Expense                                2,022.30
Umpire Fees                                        873.00
Postage, Printing and tickets                      237.95
Telephone and Telegraph                            307.89
Bank Charges                                         8.98
Office Repairs (Grey Cab Offices)                   69.96
Painting Expense (Cairns Field)                    281.30
Laundry and Dry Cleaning                           203.05
Bat Boys                                            70.00
Police Service                                      15.44
Milwaukee                                          162.25
Booster Club Assessment                            485.32
Ball Chasers and Scoreboard keeper                 257.10
Sundry Expenses                                     48.31
Apparent Cash Shortage                              44.56 36,295.33
         Loss from Operations                              6,687.61
Deduct: Estimated Valuation of 1956 additions to
        equipment on hand                                    613.08
         Net Loss                                        $ 6,074.53


1956 BASEBALL GATE RECEIPTS

            Total      Gems'    Amusement    Park
            Gate       Share      Tax      Receipts
 Jun-03     127.13     101.71   Collection  20.42
 Jun-04     191.50     144.01     11.49     25.75
 Jun-06      50.37      40.30   Collection   4.47
 Jun-09    2012.00    1535.20     94.45     369.35
 Jun-11     697.25     530.00     34.75     119.50
 Jun-12     471.00     357.41     24.24      77.35
 Jun-18     647.00     482.64     42.26     110.10
 Jun-19     492.25     373.54     25.33      81.38
 Jun-25     673.25     510.66     34.93     116.66
 Jun-27     835.75     634.05     43.19     145.51
 Jun-28     607.75     461.13     31.34     102.28
 Jun-30     528.75     395.99     33.77      86.99
 Jul-01     344.70     270.12      7.05      56.53
 Jul-05     799.50     606.52     41.35     139.63
 Jul-09     763.00     579.01     39.24     132.75
 Jul-10     563.75     427.57     29.29      94.89
 Jul-12     702.25     532.07     37.16     121.02
 Jul-13     418.75     317.56     21.80      67.39
 Jul-14     302.50     229.36     15.81      45.33
 Jul-14     359.00     272.45     18.44      56.11
 Jul-16     505.75     383.62     26.23      83.90
 Jul-19     646.75     490.76     33.30     110.69
 Jul-20     905.00     686.64     46.70     159.66
 Jul-26     514.00     390.08     26.41      85.51
 Jul-30     768.25     583.02     39.48     133.75
 Aug-02     771.75     585.98     39.28     134.49
 Aug-05     383.90     301.48      7.05      66.37
 Aug-08     396.00     300.49     20.39      63.12
 Aug-09    1111.00     843.25     56.94     197.81
 Aug-10     839.75     637.25     43.19     147.31
 Aug-14     408.50     309.74     21.32      65.44
 Aug-15     834.75     633.51     42.88     146.36
 Aug-17     379.50     287.76     19.82      57.92
 Aug-18     175.00     133.10      8.64      21.26
 Aug-20     273.50     207.36     14.32      39.82
 Aug-21     221.50     166.29     12.39      30.82
 Aug-24     694.00     526.65     35.71     118.64
 Aug-25     223.50     169.42     11.73      30.35
 Aug-27    1116.75     847.91     56.86     119.98
 Aug-29    1696.50    1288.22     86.23     310.05

        $24,453.10 $18,573.83 $1,234.76  $4,176.66*

(* The figure should have been $4,096.66)

 


Lloydminster and District Baseball Assn.

Balance Sheet as as Nov. 27, 1956

Assets

Cash on Hand                     76.00
Cash in Bank                    295.07
Deposits                        500.00
Organization Expense             68.02
Franchise                       645.00

Total Assets                   1584.09

Liabilities and Net Worth

Loans Payable                  4840.00
Bank Loans                     2800.00
Accounts Payable               1839.04
Account 600 Car                2145.00

Capital Stock 138 shares @5.00  690.00

Total Liabilities             12314.04

Deficit:  Balance 25th Oct/55  7196.96
Add Current Loss               1387.99
Add Cost of 600 Car            2145.00

Balance as at Nov 27          10729.95

Total Liabilities and Net Worth
less Deficit                   1584.09

Note Inventory

Baseballs                       118.75
Bats                            200.00
Uniforms                        800.00
Tickets and Stationery          100.00
Balance of Tickets on           100.00
  600 car


Profit and Loss Statement for the 1956 Season
of the Lloydminster and District Baseball Assn.

Revenues
        Gate Receipts/Cash Admits  16,883.43
                     Reserve seats    710.85
                     Season Ticket  2,290.00
                                   19,884.28
        Less Amusement Tax          1,227.70

        Net Gate Receipts                            18,656.58
        Concession Rental                               428.09
        Sound System                                     50.00

        Gross Operating Revenue                      19,134.67

Less Operating Expenses
        Office, Admin. & Advt.      1,420.99
        Equipment Exp.              1,888.14
        Travelling Exp.             6,642.25
        ManDak League                 800.00
        Meals and Rooms             1,474.68
        Ball Chasers                  117.00
        Exchange and Interest         361.22
        Umpires and Gatemen           772.35
        Park Rental                   300.00
        Ground Expenses               522.95
        Salaries                   14,624.95
        Medical                       294.94         29,219.47

        Net Operating Loss                           10,084.80

Auxillary Revenues
        Bingo                          33.00
        W.C.B.L. raffle               906.53
        Donations                   2,348.45
        Sportsmans Dinner             611.75
        Grey Cup Film                 174.68
        Hockey Pool                   256.00
        Fashion Show                   64.00
        Crown & Anchor                166.00
        Bingo 4 Car                 3,386.40
        600 Club                      750.00

        Total Auxillary Revenue                       8,696.81

Net Loss 1956 Season                                  1,387.99
Plus Cost of 600 Club Car