The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-17

connecting cities, and in the sum total of
the twenty games q little over one and a
half for one. philadelphia, Brooklyn, Chi
cago and Cleveland are yes TO be heard
from. The attendance at Boston, if kept
at its present ratio, would support two
clubs and give cne q profit. Increasing es
it seems to have ooe2 doing at the League
grounds, it is probable that both clubs can
make profit.
There is no doubt that the attendance in
all the cities on the opening day was
largely what theatrical people call paper"
This was particularly SO in Buffalo and
Pittsburg, if all accounts be true, and leav-
ing cut the attendance on thoso days there
hardly seems room for one club in either
city with salary list like Buffalo (S35, COO
or one like Pittsburg, P. l.. fs31, 900.
The New York club, whether the figures
given out represent cash or not, has got
hard row to hoe at home Mr.. Day told me
that the club sent cut 1000 invitations for
the opening day and that something like
1900 Of them were used This would mean
2,100 paying patrons on the opening day.
How many were issued by the Players
league | have not been able TO find out
officially. All holders of paper were
obliged to enter through a certain designa-
tsd gate and several thousand people went
through that gate. an told by four differ
ent people, who claim to have it straight,
that 1900 invitations were printed and dis
tributed.
Whether true or not, the Players league
outdrew the National league n New York
city anywhere from three to one to four 10
one in paying patrons. Whether or not
Mr.. Days team viii contizue in such
very small minority eventually depends, in
my opinion, on the quality of bah played
by the respective League and Brotherhood
teams and the comparative drawing pow
ers of the visiting clubs Certainly as it
stands the early patrons of the game ap-
pear to be with Capt Ewing's men, and
very decidedly with them
hope that the indications of a decrease
of interest as shown by the turnstile are
misleading 1t is impossible to compare
the first four days of 1889 with those OF
1890, because the cities and circumstances
are entirely different. But a comparison
of cities is of some value. For instance,
leaving out the opening games the New
York club in 1889, playing at Jersey City
and Staten Island. drew 7,1S6 people.
Leaving out the opening game, the com
bined attendance of both Leagues at New
York this season was only 6,O94, and it
should be borne in mind that the
attractions this year were greater,
and that the weather was more
propitious. These three games, one
against Boston and two against
Washington, would have drawn 1900 in
1889 if played on the old Polo grounds, per
haps more. In Boston, the first four games
In 1889 drew 90 500 people, with Boston
coming home in the lead and New York as
opponents. The combined attendance of
the first four games there this season was
"a, 753. Other comparisons might he made
1t is possible, and very probable, that the
reason for the drop the attendance has
taken in every city since the opening day is
due to the early opening of the season and
the distrust people have Of April weather
and the cold. and rheumatism that are
likely to follow exposure on bleaching
boards and grand stands. The month of
May will settle this question definitely.
Neither side shows any signs of weaken
ing, although a number Of FAKE" stories
to that effect have been sent out from Bos-
ton and Chicago The Players league
men are outwardIy e,sul;ant, and claim
that unless the League changes its sched-
ule and makes a new compact with the
Players league the old organization is
doomed to determination The League
people say that they are doing as well as
they expecle,. in all cities save New York,
and better than they expected in Boston.
". |. HARRIS.