The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-08
THE BASE BALL BATTLE.
TiETED Br BOTH PARTIES 10 THE
CONELICT.
a. q. SrnIdins Of the National League and
President Addison of the rlayerh' Dis
cuss the state of the Game.


cuss the state of the Game.
CHICAGO May 7.-Prcsidcnt Spaldng o
tho Chicago National League Base Ball Club
in an interview voices radical convic
tion which no has reached.
Have YOU noticed" said Mr. Spnldng
"thnt the season OF 1890 has opened in n man
ncr rs utterly different as can lie from any In
the entire history Of the national game?
moan with reference to tho sport itsclI and moi
with reference. exclusively to the historical
side Of IT, In other years the people have been
Interested in the outcome OF tho OpOning games
/ In tho relative strength OF the various clubs
| making up the National and tho other creator
| leagues in the possibilities which the changes
and trades of the winter have made in the llnnl
result OF tho seasons work, in the improve
mCnts developed IN now players or the retro
erosion observed in tho old. In other words.
they wcre interested in the game itself, and
| that interest was the life of base BALL
To-day all this Is changed. The people are
Interested. it is quito truo-more Interested.
perhaps-than ever boforo: but the interest n o
longer centres in the game OF base ball itself,
but in the individuals who make il up. 1t Is no
longer base ball that ia discussed. Cham
ponship is word that seems to have boon
completely forgotten in tho melee. There Is
excitement and food for gossip and disputa-
ton, but reoplo no longer ask Who will win
tho ponantY but rather Who will win the
flght| II Is not tho score or base column
that is first looked for In the newspapers but
the number who attend this or that game. You
never hear nun say That was n great game
at Chicago or What bad game that was
but you do hear mon constantly remarkipg.
What II big crowd that was or That was an
awiully small crowd
Before the brotherhood nut club In oil the
League cities men took n personal pride in the
team Of their city II that team played winning
games. They felt cast down If tho team lost.
Thoy had something to praise or to blame.
Now when q man takes uD his paper in the
morning lie sees that Chicago has beaten Phil
adelphia, and this most naturally makes him
feel good He looks down the column. What's
this Philadelphia hns beaten Chcago2 Must
be mistake. No, that's right; Chicago has
Won and Chicago has lost Result; he does not
know how or whore, 'hicaGo stands, or whether
he ought to I've glad and rejoice. or feel blue;
and tho consequence is that no becomes dis
gusted with the whole proceeding. That con-
have lost that patriotic feeling which prompts
them t. applaud when their team scores vic
esfy III gG ohsr hSnd the the IS
not feel that 1t is necessary for him to pay his
way to 500 what sort Of crowd both parks
newspapers.
Now, these are facts which cannot be de-
MED. and which seem to me to account for the
TO its own count. should have much greater
crowds than it is drawing now. The attend
is no denying, but If there were not that ele- |
mont in the tight which kills tho real interest |
III the game. tho attendance on ethor side |
could not be complained of. am making no |
ftH,s ash lave tried to study them with cool
their favOrite team win take no interest In the |
battle Tor the simple reason that they have no
drag onE. The novelty which drew out biz
crowds 10 the PLAYERS League parks in the be-
ginning will wear OIL soon. as n the case of a
will wait for the fight to end in order that they
may once more take some interest in tho
game.
e 1t is clear to me-" said Mr. Spallng in con-
rlusion that under the present regime the
real interest in base ball will soon die out. /
regret To say IL, but AIN convinced that such
Is the case
Mr. Standings hope was that the great cities
would once again have each a single repre-
sentative team IN which to take pride, and
that then base ball would DO redeemed.
CHICAGO. May In an interview last night
With John Addison. President of the Players
League, he had the following to say in reply TO
made by President Spaldng OF the
National lengue:
Interest in tho national game has not died
put, and will not rs long rs the public are
iealt with inlrly ana they are given return
or their money IN Witnessing good healthy
sports and game played by reputable ball
players.
Interest has died out in the old-style
he buying and selling of American citizens.
The American ball public are tired Of looking ut
games played iy sold hired men. The League
las made 70 provisiOn Tor the accommodation
i the public, and have persisted in planting
hen on hard boards in the sun.
The Brotherhood has sought to give to the
public covered stands. with comfortable opera
hairs in - lace OF the old hleachers.' and in
her WAYS have consult ed tho comfort OF the
oyers of the game. and this, with the talent in
he profession. secured regardless OF salary,
nd each PLAYER an Interested pRrty, will. we |
rust retain tho interest in the game aud the
OF the public. The Players League
) more than satisfied with the outlook and are
rHtctu 10 its patrons everywhere for their
oniidence md magnificent support notwith- |
tandIng tho inclemency of the weather, which |
rs bad no equal in tho annals OF base ball
LAYING.
The pubic can and have discerned between
light and the legitimate game OF ball"