Early in the 20th Century, inter-city baseball games were a popular fundraising event for the Minneapolis Police Benevolent Association.
On July 30, 1909, at a game between the Minneapolis and St. Paul Police Departments, a total of $5000 or $141,646 in 2020 dollars was raised for the Minneapolis Police Benevolent Association. This brought its total reserves up to $12,000 or $339,952 in 2020 dollars.
In 1909, when a Minneapolis Police Officer died, his widow received a one-time payment of $500 or $14,164 in 2020 dollars. When a Minneapolis Police Officer’s wife died, the officer was allowed to draw $100 or $2,832 in 2020 dollars from the fund. Officers also received assistance from the fund in times of illness, injury, or disability.
Source: The Irish Standard (Minneapolis, Minnesota) August 7, 1909
Photograph from 1922 of Captain Arthur Jacobson who was a member of the Minneapolis Police Baseball Team courtesy of Hennepin County Library