The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-13

| A3 w ID tician has been
~ 4 TX compiling the al,
~ NXG - tendance at Ii.
Y XIX various Lean
games during lilo
past season. &C.
cording to his figures the total attendant
in e7ch Of the twelve cities was as follov...
Boston, 123,s9S; Brooklyn, l6i, 81: Ne,y
York, 12S,740; Baltimore, $3.50, Wasbinr.
ton, 119SS3; Philadelphia, 15s, 116: Clevo.
land, ll6 ll6; Cincinnati. l9O,675; st. Lon.
1895; Louisville, lis, 1851; Chicago, Us. I'm.
Pittsburg, ~, 227
Now. as they say in sensational new.
paper columns this is important If tn.
But the figures themselves bear upon tIs..
face the impress Of falsehood Nob.f,
will for one instant believe that more ne,
pie attended the games in Louisville or s.
Louis than in Chicago, nor that Ciurr.
MATHS attendance was more than COCO IN
excess Of the New York patronage. Ne.tb,-
can you persuade the people who observe
baseball crowds closely that the Brooklrn
club at home outdrew the Pittsburgs nm
10000 and yet lost $4,000, while the Pitts.
burgs played to profit.
The Chicagos' drawing powers on m.
road are we'll illustrated by this tableof an.
tendance They played 10 1924 spectator
in Boston, leading the Brooklyns. the SO.
ond best card by less than 100. In New
York they drew out % 200 TO the Philadel.
phias' 1889. In Washington they wero
also the best drawing card. and PLAYED m
1885 people, the Philadelphia again
coming in second with l4,363.
The club was outdrawn in BROOKLYN Nv
the Cincinnatis, in Baltimore by the Brook.
lyns in Philadelphia by the Cleyelands IN
! Cleveland by the Louisyilles and at ST.
Louis by the Cincinnatis In Chicago tie
! New Yorks were by far the strongest at
traction during the season, playing 70
2S,20l spectators, while the Louisville.
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 a city in the
League circuit shows to what low ebb
baseball interest sank this year. IL proves
that total receipts of $50 600 on any ground
was an exception rather than rule
The enthusiasm which came with the
final games between the Clevelands and
Bostons was a 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 az Cleveland were witnessed by
5000 people, and the three at Boston by
1000 There was 4 time when Boston
would have turned out three spectators to
ClatrofopJfe hnf fhut ft4,o
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
could make a pretense Of disputng that
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-
ton got a foothold there last year and in
troduced twenty-five cent admissions
harm was done to the old club which it
will take years to overcome.
The south seems 70 have profted 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 a
general profit, but they are building an
81" TO themselves for next year. AT their
recent annual meeting four new members
were added-namely, Charleston, SaYan-
nah, Nashville and Augusta. The circuit
for 1898 will consist Of those cities and the
eight OF this years organization-yiz.,
Chattanooga, Memphis, New Orleans, Mo
bile, Montgomery Birmingham, Atlanta
and Macon. | believe the Southern league
people made a mistake in charging their
circuit. The cities which they have added
are all good baseball localities, and have
''been there before" The objection is not
to the new members, but twelve club
circuit has never yet been financial sue
cess. 1t was a very expensive experiment
Tor the American association In 1884, and
mas been equally disastrous to the National
eague this year Too many clubs divide
.he interest untilit is too little TO do much
good anywhere.
The late William A. Hubert, founder OF
he National league, said TO me as long
lgo as 1880 that if he had his way he would
educe the League circuit TO four cities
md four clubs. He insisted that four
lubs in the fight would attract more at.
ention than twice that number. But eight
lubs have been shown times innumer-
BILE to be the consistent number for
erfect, well working baseball organiza-
ion.
In Cincinnati they are expressing much
oy over young pitcher whom Comiskey
Ound at the very flag end Of the season.
Ie was picked up so late that the club
ould use him in only one championship
anne, and no was most successful then.
he young mans name is Jones, and be
called "Bumpus" by those who are on
amiliar terms with him. Just now
Bumpus" Jones name is more common
n the lips Of Cincinnatians than the name
[ any other celebrite. IL will last them
Il winter. Two or three days next spring
lay be enough TO send Jones into the pit
oblivion. IL takes more than one swal-
wv 10 make a spring and more than one
anne TO make great pitcher. Cincinnati
lould bide bit with Jones.
1t has been widely reported that Treas
rer Howe, Of the Clevelands, sold out his
.ock because he and President Robinson
Isagreed about the wisdom Of engaging
larkson. Mr.. Howe authorizes me 20
eny this He sold his stock before Clark
IN was released by the Bostons. His
.ason for getting out of baseball Is be-
luse he is going abroad next year and
)esn't desire 70 be hampered with tho
l..tl ~