Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-17
NEWS FROM OLD NICK.

President NichOlaS EInanuci 1Ouug, OF
the National league. has just permitted
himself To DC interviewed in the interest OF
baseball. | have known Mr.. Young ever
since his first official connection with the
National league, which was when he was
elected its secretary at its inception IN the
spring of 1876. and in all Of these more
than sixteen years Nick has never refused
Co respond 10 the interviewer when tapped
for baseball encouragement, which has oc-
Cured regularly and annually at intervals
Of about two months.
Mr. Young j. a small man physically.
but giant in optimism. There Is great
light shining before his eyes always, no
matter how the dark clouds lower over the
discouraged maguate or the disappointed
crank. lie sees some good in every APP
parent calamity, and If the Asiatic cholera
strikes this country and carries Oft some
OF our most promising baseball stars.
haven't the least doubt of Nick's ability to
demonstrate the exact benefit the game
will thereby receive.
From his observations at Washington
President Young sees n wonderful interest
everywhere in baseball. especially in the
League cities. Now | admit that his
glasses are far more powerful and cor
rect than those which any other one OF us
have. They cannot deceive. for they count
every paying spectator who enters
League ground. To be plain, Mr.. Young,
a. treasurer ef the League also, receives
after each League game 10 per cent. Of the
gross receipts to form a sinking fund. He
ia therefore the only being in the world
who can have positive knowledge OF the
exact condition of patronage in the MI
tiOnal league.
Consequently when he says, and says il
boldly, that he is surprised at the great in
terest which is being taken in baseball at
this season OF the year, we are bound to
believe that this great interest really ex-
lists or that Mr.. Young is, To use an ex-
pressive piece of slang. giving rs taffy.
The average attendance has undoubtedly
more than held its own since July 4. and
that is rather unusual. The month of An
gust has always been the hardest month
financially To baseball clubs of the entire
season. Mr.. Young's expression of graft
fication over the present condition of affairs
in the League therefore is probably well
founded. Such revival now would mean
permanent good to the great game. because
the improvement in public interest would
probably continue 10 the end of the season
and extend into the opening of the season
next year.
An attendance of 5000 people upon a
Saturdays game IN Cleveland is one of the
events no one would have anticipated prior
to the midsummer holiday. Yet that has
happened.
There may seem to be n radical "fiop" in
my opinions concerning the alleged revived
interest in the game as expressed by my
letter this week and last. Upon close com
parisOn. however. no such sudden differ
ence exists. Last week | wrote from nv
observation and Judgment. and this week
from that of President Young. I admit
that Mr.. Young's means OF estimate are
truer than mine, and II he has not been Civ
ing uss Jolly" his judgment should be the
better. Besides, within the week some as
tonishing changes have been made in pa
tr0nage Cincinnati crowds jumped from
500 10 3,00O. and in Chicago and Cleveland
almost ss great an improvement has been
marked. This makes the general average
excellent, and II IL continues we may safely
say that the game has passed the slump
stage.
The great showing made by the Cleve-
lard team is another proof Of the glorious
uncertainty Of the national game The
Efhttht Sttifl tNi>tta PRIOR 10 the eastern
clubs western trip that the FIRST four
teams 20 face the Clevelands on the lat
ter's grounds-viz. the Bostons. New
Yorks. Phila1elphiss and Brooklyns-
would together cheek their triumphant
squirt. But they did not They were a.
pygrnies n the Clevelanders hands. Such
playing If continued through the rest II
the season as the Clevetauds did i'm those
three series would land them winners in
October dozen games before their nearest
rival IL j. a long way TO the wire still NJ
this writing Every element Of chance
fevors Cleveland in the race "a against
the Climb Of any ether city.
Some very promising young players are
coming IN the irons since the midsummer
Reorganization. Some Of them were in
League harness prior 60 that time without
having vood chance 70 distinguish them.
selves OF such Te have Doyle ~ the New
Works. Young AMI Cnppy q the Clove.
lands, keoneiy - fhe Braoklvns and Par
rott. ureber ard Boot ~ the Chicarrs. ~
the new ones who came IN with the second
season Warl and o Rourke ~ the Halii
mores. Clauseu - the iouisvii les. Hawley
of fhe ST. laris Browns s11 Abbey e Tie
Wasllnetens nlav he proni.nsa ly classe,I
Hswiev che Fcrt rtf cit her whom
Mr. Nsn der Are recent fer.a-sst uaoatl,.
Streu-ta 81 O. record which he made against
the fftle Ecek club when be- n.fe tf,l
Eff.ar. ssrs...-.. f.-.. f-..s..e..-