The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-01
Some Remarks About Base Ball.


people will by their attendance liberal
ly support well-managed club, whose
playing shows continuous evidences of
a desire to win. This year the interest
manifested In the national game In this
city at one time showed signs Of sur
passing all former records. The rough
element which once characterized the
audiences at base ball exhibitions here
abouts has gradually given place to an
orderly and respectable class of patrons,
this season including an uncommonly
large representation Of business and
professional men, whose interest in this
sport. If properly catered to, would con-
stitute valuable asset to the local base
ball association.
1t seems pity, therefore, that this
bright prospect should so soon be
marred by a variety of avoidable cir
cumstances from which It is hoped the
Scranton club will soon recover. The
afternoon game on Memorial Day un-
questionably disgusted every patron of
the sport who witnessed 1t. In the first
place, the management Of the park
seemed to have made absolutely no
preparations to handle large audience.
For 5000 persons it provided only one
ticket window and one entrance. thus
causing patrons to be wedged for half
an hour in a struggling, frantic and
perspiring mob, with the sunbeams
beating down at we'll nigh the boiling
point. In this plight hundreds scaled
the fence and other hundreds retraced
their steps, preferring peace and COM
fort to the torments of ferocious fight
for admission.
Once inside the park, however, the
visitor found himself scarcely in better
quarters. It is said that there was but
one park policeman on hand to preserve
order. The accidental presence Of a
few city policemen in uniform, notably
that of Chief Simpson, who did heroic
service in 'repressing disorder in the
grandstand, served to reinforce the
work of this one regular custodian of
the peace; but there should have been
ten times the preparation for the i'm
mense attendance that was shown by
the clubs management; and the lack of
such foresight, especially when con-
trasted with the fine accommodations
and smooth handling of crowds at the
Wilkes-Barre park, caused general and
proper complaint.
Concerning the game itself little need
be said further than that 1t kept pace
with the other efforts to dampen the
ardor of local enthusiasts. There Is a
fourth detail which needs to be men,
toned In this connection. 1t Is the dis |
position toward rowdyism lately mani !
tested by one or two members of the
Scranton team. The conduct of First |
Baseman Clark has already received
proper attention from Manager Barnie,
in whose behalf 1t should be said that
none of the foregoing oversights are of
his making. But thus far we have not |
learned that Pitcher johnson has been |
disciplined for his cowardly and unpro-
voked assault upon Director McTam-
many of the Wilkes-Barre association.
That offense would warrant the scran-
ton management in releasing Johnson
instantly. If not In blacklisting him, and
If such action were taken 1t would have
a wholesome tendency. Players who
can neither play ball nor act like gentle
men off the ball field will bring little
fame or fortune to the local associa-
ton; and the sooner wedding out Of
them occurs. the sooner will the Scran-
ton teams now lost popularity be ap-
preciably restored.