Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-05-13

IA profit, they indicate that the League at
Tendance il bound u increase ~ the season
progresses In one, II not two, Of the three
cities. Boston, Pittsburg aud New York;
they indicate Buffalo will not support one
team rs expensive as the one il has; they
Indicate that the same condition, 50 far IN
ia. Players leAvue is concerned, probably
exists NJ Pirtsburg; they Indicate that the
New York League club has got n terribly
hard fight in hand at home with everything
against IL, and finally these figures indicate
a falling of in the public interest as eX-
hibitei in the game during 1870,
The Players league had two and n half
people against one for the League at the
conflicting cities, and in the sum total Of
the twenty games "A little over one and a
half for one. Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Chi
Cage AMI Cleveland are yet to he heard
from. The attendance at Boston, il kept
at its present ratio, would support two
clubs and give one a a profit. Increasing as
il seems to have been 'ning at the League
grounds, il is probable that both clubs can
make "A 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, IL all accounts he true, and leav-
ing out the attendance on those days there
hardly seems room for one club in either
city with a salary list like Buffalo tS35,00U
or one like Pittsburg, /. l.. (S31 600.
The New York club, whether the figures
given out represent cash or not, has got a
hard row 10 hoe at home Mr.. Day told me
that the club sent out 1000 invitations for
the opening day and that something like
l,jOO of them were used. This would mean
., 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-
ted gate and several thousand people wen
through that gate. am told by four differ
EFT people. who claim to have il straight,
that 900 invitations were printed and dis.
tributed.
Whether true or not, the Players league
outdrew the National league in New York
city anywhere from three to one tn four TO
one in paying patrons. Whether or not
Mr.. Days team viii continue in such n
very small minority eventually depends, in
my opinion, ON the quality of ball played
by the respective League and brotherhood
teams and the comparative drawing pow
ers Of the visiting clcbs. Certainly ns il
stands the early patrons Of the game apr
pear 10 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. II is impossible to compare
the first four days of lss9 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 lSs9, playing at Jersey City
and Staten Island, drew 1856 people.
Leaving out the opening game, the com
bined attendance Of both Leagues ut New
York this season was only GOA, and IL
should he 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 5000 in
1889 If played on the old Polo grounds, per.
haps more. . In Boston, the first four games
in 1859 drew x9,5o 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,153. 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 colds 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 u number Of flake" stories
to that effect have been sent out from Bos-
ton and Chicago, The Players league
men are outwardly exultant. 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 expected In all cities save New York,
and better than they expected in Boston.
W. /. HARRIS.