A recent pick-up from Scott Brockelman Auction . . . an attendance receipt from an early Detroit game. The receipt dates to May 12th 1883 and chronicles New York's share of gate receipts.
In 1883, NL ticket prices were 50 cents with 15 cents (30%) of the ticket price going to the visiting team. The May 13th Detroit Free Press helped me understand why there are two line items that differ in price/cost share. On May 12th, Detroit ran a first time promotion, a "Boys' Day", in which a dime would get the "little folks" into the ball park.
The Detroit Free Press box score indicates 2,270 in attendance with over 600 "little folks". The attendance receipt documents very similar numbers of 1517 adults, 622 kids, 2139 total. While George Watson, Detroit's treasurer, awarded 30% of each adult ticket to NY (per NL rule), he split the kid's tickets evenly (50%).
1517 adults X 15 cents = $227.55
622 kids x 5 cents = $31.10
Total = $258.65
Detroit's share would have been $562.50
On a side note, Dick Burns would beat John Montgomery Ward (New York's pitcher) 9 to 5. This was one of only two wins for Dick in 1883 as he went 2-12.