The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-11-17
o. p. Caylor Says the Figures
j. Are Manifestly False.
THE INCONSISTENCIES SHOWN.
Ehe Drawing Power OF the Different Clubs
Chicago and Brooklyn Seem
to Nave Been the stars--Cincinnati's
Find of n New Pitcher.

M AUAS tendance at Jne
S\SlR various League
$ games during the
q past season. Ac-
cording TO his figures the total attendance
in each Of the twelve cities was as follows:
Boston, 123,s9S; Brooklyn, 16l ,641; New
York, 1913, ,740; Baltimore, $3.50; Washing
ton, 1885, Philadelphia, 15s,116; Cleye-
land, 116, 116; Cincinnati, 190,675 st. Louis,
i67, ,975; Louisville, 145, ,951; Chicago 14S, III;
Pittsburg, 122227.
Now, as they say in sensational news
paper columns, this is important il true.
But the figures themselves bear upon their
face the impress of falsehood. Nobody
will for one instant believe that more peo-
pie attended the games in Louisville or st.
Louis than in Chicago, nor that Cincin-
MATHS attendance was more than 10000 in
excess of the New York patronage Neither
can you persuade the people who observe
baseball crowds closely that the Brooklyn
club at home outdrew the Pittsburgs full
10000 and yet lost $751; 900, while the Pitts
burgs played to profit.
The Cbicagos' drawing powers on the
road are well illustrated by this table Of at
tendance: They played to 1924 spectators
in Boston, leading the BTooklyns, the sec
ond best card, by less than 100 In New
York they drew out $1,000 TO the Philadel-
phias' 1889. In Washington they were
also the best drawing card, and played to
1896 people, the Philadelphias again
coming in second with I4,363.
The club was outdrawn in Brooklyn by
the Cincinnatis, in Baltimore by the Brook
lyns, in Philadelphia by the Clevelands, in
Cleveland by the Louisvilles and at St.
Louis by the Cincinnatis. In Chicago the
q, Of
traction during the season, playing to
2S,201 spectators, while the Louisvilles
under Fred Pfeffer's lead, classed second
favorites with 10000 spectators. OF course
in all the above figures the holiday dates
must be taken into consideration.
But even with all allowances for exag-
gerated reports the general average of less
than 10000 spectators to q city in the
League circuit shows TO what low ebb
baseball interest sank this year. 1t proves
that total receipts of $50, 900 on any ground
was an exception rather than rule.
The enthusiasm which came with the
final games between the Clevelands and
Bostons was very considerable grain Of
comfort for the magnates, and made them
believe that much better things are in
store for them for next year. The three
games at Cleveland were witnessed by
10000 people, and the three at Boston by
11,0O0 There was q time when Boston
would have turned out three spectators to
Cleveland's one, but that time was not a
part of this year or Of the last three years.
The great slump in baseball interest at
Boston has puzzled students of the game
everywhere Up to 1890 Boston bore the
deserved reputation Of being the best base
ball city in the country. No other city
10 Of "A hnf
claim with her. Now, with a winning
team, the club can scarcely draw patronage
enough to pay expenses.
Boston was hurt by the Players league
fight more than any of the old League
cities. And when the American associa
tion got foothold there last year and in.
troduced twenty-five cent admissions a
harm was done to the old club which il
will take years to overcome,
The south seems to have profited in the
rebound, as it were, throughout the north
Not only did the Southern league Of eight
clubs go through the season and play to @
general profit, but they are building an
s'Ln to themselves for next year. At Their
recent annual meeting four new members
were added-namely, Charleston, Savan
nah, Nashville and Augusta. The circuit
for 1893 will consist of those cities and the
eight of this years organization-viz.
Chattanooga, Memphis, New Orleans, Mo
bile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlantis
and Macon. / believe the Southern league
people made mistake in enlarging theil
circuit. The cities which they have added
are all good baseball localities, and have
''been there before" The objection is moi
to the new members, but a twelve cluf
circuit has never yet been financial sue
els
for the American association in 1884, anC
has been equally disastrous to the Nationa
league this year. Too many clubs divide
the interest until it is too little to do mucl
good anywhere.
The late William A. Hubert, founder o
the National league, said to me as lonl
ago as 1880 that If he had his way he woulC
reduce the League circuit to four citie
and fonr clubs. He insisted that foul
clubs in the fight would attract more at
tention than twice that number. But eigh
clubs have been shown times innumer
able to be the consistent number for
perfect, well working baseball organiza
tion.
In Cincinnati they are expressing mucl
joy over young pitcher whom Comiske!
found at the very fag end of the season
he was picked up so late that the clul
could use him in only one championship
game, and he was most successful then
The young mans name is Jones, and h
is called "Bumpus" by those who are ol
familiar terms with him. Just nov
"Bumpus" Jones' name is more common
on the lips of Cincinnatians than the nam
of any other celebrite. 1t will last then
all winter. Two or three days next spring
may be enough to send Jones into the pi
of oblivion. IL takes more than one swdl
low to make spring and more than onC
game to make great pitcher. Cincinnati
should bide bit with Jones.
1t has been widely reported that Treas
urer Howe, Of the Clevelands, sold out hi
stock because he and President Robinson
disagreed about the wisdom of engaging
Clarkson. Mr.. Howe authorizes me tC
deny this. He sold his stock before Clark
son was released by the Bostons. Hi!
reason for getting out of baseball is be
cause he Is going abroad next year anc
doesn't desire to be hampered with tn,
worry of baseball campaign which
sure to be full of doubt and uncertainty.
o. p. CAYLoR-