The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-13
THE NATIONAL GAME DIsGRAcED.


THE NATIONAL GAME DISGRACED.
Comparatively speaking, the game of base
ball takes up very little part in the business
of the country; yet there is enough in it to
demand that it should be we'll done, if done
at ALL In one respect it is the national game
of America being sport distinctive in its
be kept in good repute. This should be done
as a matter of national pride, if nothing else.
But there are other and weightier reasons, SO
far as the players are concerned, why the
game should be kept free from the evils that
beset it and threaten its existence. Up to
this time the game has prospered, though at
different points it has been allowed to fall
into disrepute, and always with the immediate
result of impairing its popularity and running
it as financial venture. The moment it
comes to be understood that there is trickery
in the game, and the result Of the playing is
not honestly arrived at, that moment the pub
lie, upon whose patronage the game depends
for success, is certain to withdraw its support
confidence of the people, and as result the
people have favored it, and have taken inter
est in the games as played By the several clubs
and by the two leading associations formed
for the systematic prosecution of the enter
prise. From the crudest beginnings the
amusement has been developed into the best
systematized thing of the kind the world ever
knew, and millions are invested in it.
Now, there are indications that all is not as
it should be. Charges have been openly made
that games. have been 'tsold' in accordance
with preconcerted agreement, the evident
purpose being to make "sure thing for the
gamblers and betters. 1t has not been claimed
that the managers had anything to do with
charged that some Of the leading players have
conspired with outsiders to win on games that
would be 'sthrown" for the money to be made
off the dishonest playing. This charge has
not been sufficiently investigated, and the re-
suit will soon be shown in decreased receipts
at the gate. Just so soon as the game of base
ball is allowed to get down to the level of q
gambling scheme, and dishonest one at that
the public is going to have nothing to do with
it. The game cannot be supported by the
sporting classes, and there will be speedy
end to it unless the strictest integrity is en-
forced upon the part of the players.
There is another danger that threatens the
perpetuation of the game, and that is the
rowdyism that is so apt to grow up with it.
1t must be admitted that the managers have
done remarkably well in disciplining the ma
terial out of which the clubs have been made,
many members of which are men to whom re-
spectabilty is stranger. There are excep-
lions to this. of course, but it is a fact that
there are very many expert baseball players
who are not very refined. Itisa credit to the men
who have the management of the clubs that
they have done so well with the rougher ele-
ments they have had to deal with. A dis
graceful scene-not the first by any means
transpired at the Cincinnati grounds on Sun
day last, which came near being a riot, and
was riot, to all intents and purposes, so far
as those who participated in it were concerned
1t is more than questionable whether games
on Sunday, with all their Accomplishments,
are not a violation of good order;
but when they degenerate into mob,
as they are apt to, and as this one did,
the American game is on the road to disgrace,
ard will not be long in reaching the lowest
round, where reputable people will have moth
ing to do with it. It were we'll that the base
ball managers keep this steadily in view, that
their enterprise do not fall into disrepute aud
suffer accordingly. Given over to gamblers
and thugs, its course will be short one.
Baseball is eminently more respectable than
horse-racing but only when conducted in a
respectable and honorable manner The men
who have money in it can take their choice;
they can let it 60 down, or they can look
sharply after it, and keep it within the bounds
suggested.
.ese.~-..~....~s.~>~e~.m
THE mugwump papers are making much of
President Cleveland's '.fdelity to practical