The evening times., 1896-11-07
SUNDAY BALL IN CLEVELAND
Rumor to TIA, Effect Seems
to Pe Well Founded.
REASONS FOR SUCH A STEP
President Robson Says the Sunday
Games Are Necessary FOR the
Maintenance of q League Club In
the Forest City-A1ready Have Op-
tions on Suitable Grounds.

Cleveland, Nov 1.-THE rum or rtliatflcated
around for u time last sea son to the effect
| that the Cleveland team was soon 10 make
| an effort to play Sunday tall at home was
| by no means an idle one. The trouble at
| Louis vile, which or time opened Il flood
gate of unjust condemnation oE the ciuD,
! put the contemplated III owe out OF the cues
| tion then, for 1t was not Thought Wlse 10
| give that portion of the public which Is
| ever seeking some .liIng To object 20 III
| baseball a further opportunity to vent lts
| Indignation. The SUBJECT has not beeh
| dropped, however, and next season tic
| Cleveland club WIN play sunday ball at
| home.
/ rt-si dent Frank DeH. RObis, T. has
| given long and careful consideration 10
| me sub,ec,, and while personally opposed
| to Sunday baseball he is not IN the busi-
| ness for fun, and is tempted 10y the bis
receipts from sunday games IN other
| cities. They told me- that the mlser-
| able support the team received year De
| fore last was due 10 the fact that IL play
| ell Sunday games away iioin home.
| saws President Robson. Il did not t.
Iievc il, but l gave all the opportunity
| in the world 10 prove it, The Cleveland
| Club began the past season with thc III
| tention Of pla wing 10 Sunday games. but
| not one iota did the attendance increase
| on that account. No Sunday games were
| PLAYED until il was evident that such games
| alone could save the club from heavy
| financial hosses.
SUNDAY GAMES NECESSARY.
| IL firmly believe that Sunday games are
| necessary for the maintenance of a League
| club in this city. When We consider that we
| con make more money on one sunday In
| Chicago, Cincinnati, st Louis or even LOUIS
| VILE than in an average week at home 1t
| looks like bidding pretty high for the sake
| of avoiding prejudice.
| From a moral standpoint can see II tn
| ing so terrible about Sunday games. base
| bail Is cert ainly an innocent recreation ana
| / can imagine much Worse things that might
| he indulged in than witnessing ban game
ON Sunday. The only thing In be considered
| is the locality. II the resIuents In the neigh
| bnrhood of League Park would be offended
| at Sunday ball do not think it would tie
} right To inflict il upon them. III the city S
| moral tone is To be lowered by such games.
we will go out where nobody VIII be ai-
| feCtcd.
is dangerous.
| Sunday games would make us money,
and allow us To maintain better team.
| They would insure League club IN
| Cleveland and would hurt nobody. Those
| who are morally opposed to Innocent rec
Grafton ON Sunday need not attend, and
need never be annoyed because others are
not of their opinion. Amateur and semi
professional games are pl aged all over the
| city every Sunday in the season and no.
| body bothers themselves about them. why
| anybody should object to games that would
| support an Institution that does many thou
| sands of dollars worth of good to the
| city each year, / cannot see"
ALREADY AFTER GROUNDS.
That there is more in this mat-er than
mere talk is shown by the fact that the
Cleveland Baseball Company already holds
| an option ON suitable grounds near the city
| limits, and that several other locations are
| being considered. One that is looked upon
| favorably is that OF the old Northern Ohio
| fair l.:uunds in Glenville.. opposite the
| Cleveland Driving Park. The authorities
| of Glenvile, il is said, will do nothing TO
| interfere with Sunday games as long as
| all is conducted in qu:at and orderly IMAM
ner.
on the contrary, there is quite an effort
being made by certain people to have Il
| location in Glenville secured, and at the
same time assurance has been received
| from another village that all manner OF
| protection will be granted If n location
| within its boundaries be selected.
| There are a good many people who are
| of the opinion that any effort to play
| Sunday ball in or near this city would
| be bitterly opposed by numerous patrons
! of the game. The difference of opinion
| between the baseball company and these
! patrons of the game Will he settled one
| way or the other the coming season.