Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-01
YOUNC'S ROSeATE TALK.

President Young's official acts some
times contradict his encouraging inter
views. Several weeks ago Nick deliv-
cred to the press an interview in which he
painted the baseball situation with three
or four Goals of the richest red coloring
matter he could find in his brain. l re-
ferred TO IL at the time, and concluded
that, as he had the actual figures of at
tendance in proof and had not. his opin-
ion was better than mine, provided of
course that his expressed opinion was not
q Jolly" There is evidence now that it
was Jolly" of the juiciest kind, for
Nick in his official capacity has just
raised the sinking fund percentage the
second time.
The League at its consolidation with the
American association contracted some
heavy obligations, for which notes were
given payable at different periods of time
out of the Leagues treasury. A takeoff
of 10 per cent. from the gross receipts of
every game, it was decided, would be suf-
ficientto raise the amounts as they became
due. That the receipts fell short of the
original calculations was proved when the
League at its June conference ordered the
sinking fund takeoff to be raised from 10
to 12I1 per cent. Very recently this sum
has been raised the second time to l6H per
cent.
There is mathematical evidence that
President Young's recent roseate talk
about the wonderful revival in baseball
interests was not founded on fact. The
season has a month or more to run Yet, and
the crowds are once more falling off. This
is due in a great degree TO the fact that
the games at this writing are being played
in the east, whereas they were on western
grounds when Mr.. Young gave out that
interview. There seems to be no doubt of
the fact that the attendance in the east
comparatively falls away below that of the
west at this time. An explanation is
found in the fact that the second seasons
work Of the Bostons, New Yorks, Brook
lyns, Philadelphia and Washingtons has
been much poorersin July Is than it was
previous to that time whereas the work Of
the Clevelaids, Pittsburgs, Cincinnatis,
Louisvilles and Chicagos has been much
improved.
While on the subject of baseball failures
financially let me say word about the
worst case of that kind probably on record.
refer to the bad failure of baseball this
year in Columbus, O. The team which
represented that city in the Western league
cost only 5000 month in salaries and
won the Western league championship.
1t closed up its business early in July, yet
its books showed a clear loss of S., COO II
there has ever been such sweeping finan-
cial disappointment in baseball in any city
it has not been reported. This club paid
out only &, 900 in salaries. Its other ex-
penses were not more than 5000 yet it
did not in the three months exceed 5000
in receipts. There is whole sermon in
that case for men who invest money in
baseball The text is this: No city will
support a cheap team in a minor league
when it has had better and more expen-
sive team in n major league for years.
The Cleveland team continues to hold
up my prediction that they would win the
second championship. They are now sure
to 20 home still in the lead, and that means
an almost even chance for the flag. have
Arson backing me in my opinion that
Cleveland cannot be overhauled by the
Bostons. and that if those two teams meet
after Oct Is in a series of finals it will be
another Corbett-Sullivan case, in which
the youngster will win with ease OF
course Anson's wish may be father of the
prediction. for he doesn't love the Bostons
since they so ruthlessly dashed the cup
from his lips last fall. Yet he should not
have any overstock of gratitude for the
Clevelands, who aided the Bostons In that
work BY beating them while the Bostons
were on their celebrated rush down the
honestretcb.
IL the Clevelands win the second cham
pionship John Clarkson ought TO be a
proud man. because then be Will have been
member Of both championship teams-s
distinction which can be claimed by no
other ball player.
Mike Kelly and Jack Glasscock lost
heavily by backing Sullivan ia the recent
New Orleans episode. King bel is a good
loser. as has often been proved ia his re.
verses at the Guttenhurg track. Indeed Ga
/ lie broke" j his natural financial eondi
ton Therefore his greatest regret Just
now IS not for The loss II his long green. p
but because his admired friend Snilv'
got as badly bruised up as the New YoTks
did in this seasons bouts With Glass
cock it j. different jack money il part
IL his soui. aud Re j. suffering some II The
theoretical toTmenes # the departed spirits
who are not saved he = not 50 rec fess
With bis money - - Kelly. but in the Sul
Ivan Corhett controversy be thought he
had safe investment Eeuce the PAIN a
al the gresfer Unless be finds szo1 hor
oh oyster can Fail ~ greenhacks next
winter Jacks Chr5stuas viii he filed vtth
bitter memories 81 the early September
calamity
miad reader would have had a rich
field % work upoB the dsy after seen
pitched part # a game against the ola nan
and his Colts sna prevented them from 1sf-
ting single hit Anss n4ust have Cagsei
bis stupid in isttiuz stem 60 when hs
had hin IN bis stable II wAs he wbe
brouFas tbe yoUpg nssn out = the back
weeds ard p5aeesi hiya iH Froniaeuce.
A ssnlf5as experience kss b fsiien - ard
however and be hal TO iieen-e e. iae4a al,
Anscn's diiemaaA y ard released TeFry
last spfinG ~ A played ast Fslcher. aa8
Terry gees q pfsTstgrr rkerc - proves