The evening times., 1896-02-03
BASEBALL IN CLEVELAND
Feeling Against President Robi-
son Becoming More Marked.
TALK OF A NEW TEAM THERE
Enthusiastic Patrons OF the National
Sport Predict u Revival of the Old
America a association, ,with25-Cent
Ball, in the Forest City-Vhat the
Fans Are Saying.
Especial to The Timesl

Cleveland. Ohio, Feb. 3.-The feeling
against President Robson among the pa
irons OF the national game in this city il
steadily growing. This is particularly ma nj
fest since the story eminating from Pitts
burg about the Spiders transfer to st.
Louis has been going the rounds. There
are not "A few cranks here who believe that
there is much truth in the story, especially
that part Of il which relates to ROblSons
desire to get away from here.
In the first place. the public has heard so
many growls from the owner of the club
that IL is getting heartily tired of his
harangue about the small attendance. or
course. there are some grounds for Il kick
about the failure of the public to patronize
the game, hut lit is not that the people do not
take kindly To baseball. II must be Robi-
son, and. perhaps, one or two players
CLEVELAND NOT A 5O-CENT TOWN
Conservative admirers of the sport agree
that this is not firty-cent town. and since
Robson has started his annual song about
quitting the Forest City there is an under
current atnon. these men which, crystal
lied, means that the town could get along
without Robson and his Spiders.
This wish is slowly gaining ground, and
your correspondent has every reason to
believe that, should the Cleveland club he
transferred. therc would bc 4 revival of
the Old American Association, with twenty
five-ccnt ban aud a new team in this
town. This would mean mere than double
the attendance with a fair club and more
agreeable people ut the helm.
A few days after the Pittsburc story
got afloat there was a gathering OF promi-
nent business men at a wcll-Snown club
house, and The idea OF organizing team
in the evcut the Spiders left us was talked
about. II was socn developed that there
could he plenty of backing secured 10
siartd new club. These men were in earnest.
and can be found at nearly every bah
game that is played on the home grUuIl>
but they do not like Robison's yearly
bluff.
The men became enthusiastic about the
matter, and three OF them expressed the
hope that Robson would really quit the
town UE put a reasonable price upon his
business So that Il company would be or
ganized and buy him out.
EIGHT CITIES IN THE CIRCUIT.
When they became thoroughly animated
ON the subject of twent y-five cent ball they
got tu forming Il prObab blc circuit with
eight clubs. Starting with Cleveland, CO.
nmbus came; next Chicago. and then Mil
waukee for the Western end. Pittsburg
II was cOntendrd, was esseRii ial for rival
rvs sake in the East. Buffalo was looked
upon favora bly,, and all were satisfied that
Philadelphia would support two teams and
also New York. or perhaps Brooklyn,
since The BTidegroums are displeased with
their present location.
or coursc, this is mere talk at present.
but il shows "A reason why the Cleveland
team is not literally patrunizcd. II also
shows that if Robson continues to keep up
his regular bluff. the attendance Will be
>tili less. AMI will ultimately leave the
narnatc without following whatever.
There are probably thousands in this
city VINO keep away from the games for
no other rea >on than hat they want TO show
their diSapproyal "f Robson and his tao
tics. and not because they do not like the
sport. Then. again. there are thousands
Of others who cannot afford To put up a
iiaiT-,lolldT To- witness Il game.