Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-10
The Baseball Men Find it Necessary
to Reduce the Price of Ad-
mission to Six Cents.
AMOVE Observation-Disclosures.
Description Of the Struggle Between Gard.
ner and Kickalls for the Scull-
ing Championship.
GOSSIP AMONG TIE CHESS PLAYERS.
Contest at Cricket Between the English and Lustrtl
ian Teams at Lord'G
rRox A STAFF CORRESPONDENT,

hundreds of patrons OF baseball in America
who are still wondering how the game is
progressing in England. Already have
expressed my opinion definitely on that
point, and that opinion was not at all favor
able to baseball becoming popular here.
did not express the opinion referred to be-
cause Of any wish may have had for fail
ure; indeed, nothing would give me greater
pleasure than to see baseball successful in
England. But the facts and surroundings
of the efforts made to popularize baseball
among the Britishers were such az to lead
me emphaticaIIy to the conclusion at which
arrived almost at first sight make these
statements because know that some writers
are taking a view of the future contrary to
mine, but whatever may be our sentiment
or private wish on the matter, the true state
of affairs ought always to be given in 9
newspaper.
Well, after these few preliminary re-
marks regret to say that am going to
state some very significant facts which 90 to
show that baseball is not likely to last as
long here as even had expected. There
are already signals of distress The few
people who took an interest in the game at
the outset have more or less become tired OF
it; so much so that the ''magnates" have re-
solved to reduce the price of admission from
IL TO 6 cents. Think of that, We bloated
baseball milllonaires OF Yankeedom, who
make the cranks plank up the biggest end
of dollar. Ye godsl Scent ball. But to
look at the matter seriously, the reduction
price is sure sign of failure, and it is q
pity. When the Britishers are not prepared
to put up II cents or an article of sport or
amusement, depend upon it they don't
want it at any price. But even if the
reduction of price should to some ex-
tent popularize the game it cannot be
carried on as 6-cent article, and then comes
the question what about Increasing the
figure? That couldn't be done very we'll
without sending the game back to where it
was. 1t will then be seen that in any event
the reduction in price means that baseball
is doomed here. Another change has been
made in hope of causing the natives to take
an interest in the game. In future the
pitchers are to be BrIIishers; that is Ameri-
can tWirlers as we call them are not to be
allowed in the box. The object of this
change is to produce more hitting. The
English tyros have not gotten the curves
down very fine, while the American pitchers
have. The curves puzzle the batsmen and
there is a consequent absence ol hitting and
base running. 1t is claimed that plenty of
hitting and base running will interest the
people. do not wish to argue that point at
present, but cannot help thinking that
these changes remind one of the old saying
about drowning peoples eagerness to grasp
at straWs.
Badly Introduced.
1 am going to talk little more freely
this week on baseball in England, and 1
make the statement that the game has been
very badly introduced into this country.
Mark, I don't mean that the young men
having in charge the respective clubs are in
any way connected with what state. Bet
ter young men for the work could not have
been selected; but it is the general method
of introduction that refer to. Mr.. Spald-
ing and his friends made great blunder at
the very first stage. They handed the work
of practically introducing the game to
England to two classes of men. One class
knew England, but knew nothing OF base
ball, and therefore had no notion of a good
method OF drawing public attention to it,
either by means OF the press or otherwise
The other class are men who know all about
baseball but have not the least idea of En-
gland ana the English people. OF course 1
will be reminded that these two elements
could meet, and combined they would fill
the bill; but they won't blend so readily as
might be imagined when one class has ever
been in England and the other ever in
America.
There are plenty of good men who know
baseball anG know the English people also,
and it is very, very strange that Mr.. SpaId- |
ing, shrewd business man that he is, should |
not have discovered this lact. Why have
talked to several prominent sporting writers |
in London on baseball and they gave me |
plainly to understand that nobody had |
ventured to take time TO explain the feat |
ures of the game TO them. They desire to
know all about the game of course, and |
would gladly have published intelhgible |
articles Oh the matter, but none were iorth- |
coming. 1t is needless Tor me to point out |
that writing about baseball in the United |
States is one thing and writing about il in |
English newspapers is quite another. Ouly |
the most rudimentary methods would be |
interesting in England, while the most ad- |
yanced and technical style of dealing with |
the matter would be relished by Americans.
These features ought to have been fully i'm |
derstood by Mr.. Spalding and his friends. |
It NAV be that they have been imposed upon
as to the characteristics of the English peo- |
pie. At any rate I feel certain that had |
they known these characteristics they never |
would have introduced baseball into this |
country in the fashion that has been /
adopted. Doubtless some great baseball |
possibilities have been jeopardized, and it is |
to be regretted that such large amount of /
money has been squandered in bringing
about this very undes'red end. Probably |
she poor Pittsburg n. L. club would have |
felt itself in the seventh heaven of delight |
had it been presented with the money that |
has been thrown away here'on baseball, and |
am inclined to think that 1t would have |
done more good to the game had it gone in |
the former direction than in the latter.
Before finishing my talk on this subject
let me quote for The DISPATCH readers a I
little paragraph IRON the London Referee. |
1t contains some wisdom. 1t reads: "a pos |
ties of baseball in this country are not slow. |
Before the public are aware that the Ameri- |
can game has caught on little bit, except |
as q very passing fancy brought into notice |
by performing tourists, we have solemn re-
ports Of competitions for professional base
ball Championships. It is rather pity to
soIerGnly set up 3 championship of such a
game as baseball before we have players OF
decent class. What a ridiculously mean
pitiful thing so-called English professional
baseball championship must appear to the
American artists who really are flyers at the
game"
There really is food for thought here for
those who are heroically iorking out the
cash to popularize our national game
. throughout the world. may say that
Derby is still leading, with Birmingham
second, Preston third and Stoke last with
Its one game won and IA lost.