The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-22

election is more than year distant ana We
know not what developments the heN' sA
months will witness.
Why We Are Opposed to match Games
Ar the commencement Of the games of base
hall between the Athletic Club of this oity and
their various New York rivals, we expressed
regret at the revival of these contests for
championship, and characterized them as
"dissipations" and tending to immortality.
Several of our readers have objected to our
views, and accuse us of opposing 'healthy
recreation" and "out-door sports calculated to
strengthen the physique of the players" Now
we do not desire to be misunderstood on the
subject, for the experience of the past two days
has only confirmed us in our opinion already
expressed. We are heartily and entirely
opposed to such games as have been played
this week in New York city. We are at the
same time as enthusiastic in favor of all "out-
door sports" as any of the members of any of
the clubs in our country. We would have
exercise given to our young men. We would
encourage the formation of baseball
clubs, and would like to see them
pay OlLou duu pay we'll DuI We w uOt
favor an excess in baseball any more than we
do in any other needed recreation. Anything,
be it ever so useful and proper itself, if car
ried too far becomes injurious; and baseball
is not an exception. Last spring we depre
Gated the continual demands made by clubs
and employees for permission to play games
two or three afternoons in the week. 1t is
robbing the employer, and carrying the good
so far that it becomes an evil. And to-
day we are opposed to the match games
because of the waste of time and
money they occasion to the player, and be-
cause they are fostering spirit of gambling
that is calculated to do nothing but harm.
So far as the "healthy exercise" is concerned,
there would be just as much of it, and with
just as much beneficial effect, if the Athletics
had stayed in Philadelphia and played their
neighbors. The expense to some must
be of course heavy. Each man must ex-
pend no small sum, and many of them are
not 80 situated as to warrant any such waste,
while it must necessarily remove them from
their business for an entire week, and thus
deprive themselves or their employers of what
should be devoted to work. A spirit of rowing
and excitement is engendered, and all the good
neutralized by the nervous state in which
they are kept through the entire game. So
much for our first ground of opposition.
In the second place, it causes an immense
amount of gambling being as essen
tial to such games as bats or pitchers. The
recent game in New York between the Athle
tics and the Mutuals was the occasion for an
immense amount of money changing hands.
1t seems to be taken as a matter of course
that such a contest should cause heavy wagers
on the result. All the New York papers CEN
cur in stating the sums lost and won, and the
variations as the game progressed. The New
York Tribune, speaking of the match, says:-
"The general impression among the fraternity
in this locality was that the MutualS would be
the victors in the match, and those of the
sports of the city who are never so happy as
Investing their stamps in wagers, were not
slow in offering bets on the Mutuals, even to
the extent of giving tempting odds-chances of
which the Philadelphians, who came with their
pet club, were fully as eagerto avail themselves,
especially when odds were offered. Probably
in no match this season has there been SO mucn
money invested in wagers as on this contest,
and hence feature of the close of the game
pointed looks Of the packers of the Mutuais and
the exultant smiles OF the Philadelphians:
"The totals at the close of the eighth innings
were left at Is to IA in favor of Philadelphia, and
| now 1t was that revulson in the market took
| place, Athletic stock taking a high leap to
| premium position, while Mutual paper was
forced to sale at heavy discount"
Thus it will be noticed that the idea of bet
ting on the result is held to be a rational
one, and as much gambling done as is effected
at the Derby, or at Spanish bull-6ght. We
hold, therefore, that any sport which occasions
an indulgence in the crime of gambling is a
wrong which should be prevented. While,
therefore, we desire to see baseball grow in
its influence, and see all the young men en-
gage in it, as we consider it will, if not carried
to an excess, benefit them in health, we must
hold to our expressed opinion, and deem match
games detrimental to business habits and
sound morality. They do no good, and only
cause jealousies, require an expenditure un-
called for pro mote gambling, and waste time