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Old 11-30-2008, 09:37 AM
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Default Anyone Recognize this old Minor League Team?

Posted By: Rhys

You guys probably already know this, but as a Tax Attorney I will throw a little history out there to show why so many major leaguers could be on a steel companies roster.

In the late 1910's and early 1920's Steel Companies started abusing a law which provided for a direct tax deduction for a companies contributions for "Recreation" to try and promote healthy and happy employees. However, instead of building gymnasiums for their employees and promoting fitness, they spent all the money building huge baseball fields, paying former professional players HUGE salaries (more than actual major leaguers in many instances) and taking it all off their books as recreation deductions. This lasted until the mid 1920's (I want to say 1926 but dont quote me on that) when the government made it illegal to cicumvent the intent of the law in this way and it basically stopped overnight.

I used to own a letter which had some great content in relation to the end of this period of Steel Company teams but dont have a scan of it anymore. Players were being paid more than they did as bonafide major leaguers after their careers were done by "working" in the steel mills for the Baseball team.

Anyways, with that historical context, I would be willing to bet this is a Steel Company team with some high salaried and very happy former major leaguers on the tax free payroll!

Rhys Yeakley

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