The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-09
What Holidays Mean to
the Baseball Clubs.
Kicking Still Continues In
Spite of the New Rules.
Evil That Seems TO Be Growing In
Violence--Disablei Stars.
II times are hard" baseball is not

III times are nara, baseball is not
affected thereby. That was conclusively
proved by the National league attendance
on Memorial day, which reached total
Of 81. 300 in six cities, namely-New York,
$4,000; Chicago. 2l,S00; Brooklyn, IL,
900; Cincinnati, 1900; Philadelphia,
10, 400; Boston, 2,500 IL must be borne
in mind that rain prevented the scheduled
morning games In New York, Brooklyn
and Boston, thereby taking off perhaps
$4,000 spectators from the full output.
Again, tho fact that tho 3lst of May was
not a holiday In philadelphia cuts very
large figure in the general estimate. by
special law Memorial day in Pennsylvania
cities WIS ohsCryed on Saturday the Goth.
Had the 3lst been observed in Philadel-
phia as the legal holiday that city would
surely have turned out 10, 600 more specta-
tors. Take the attendance, therefore, as q
whole, and 1t shows tremendous interest
In the national game. The same relative
volume Of business was done by the minor
league clubs
These holiday harvosts serve TO keep up
baseball business. When the brotherhood
started ont In 80 with its Utopian
Players lcague, thnt astute general of the
National league forces A. G.. Spalding
declared that the duration Of the new or
ganization depended upon the state of
the weather on Memorial day and July
4. His words were treated by the
Brotherhood people as joke when they
were uttered, but the joke became pain
ful realization. That year rain prevailed
generally on both these holidays, and the
clubs Of tho contending leagues iost heav-
lily thereby. The National league hailed
these losses with satisfaction, because it
knew IL had tho advantage in struggle
with finances as the pivotal point. Spald-
fng's words were true prophecy. The holi-
day losses 10 the hackers OF the Players
leaguc turned the scale in favor of the old
organization. Fad pleasant weather pre-
vailed in the United States on May 80 and
July In 1890 the history Of baseball
might be much different from what we
find 10.
Every passing week Of the season shows
moro clearly tho failure of the new rules
TO prevent licking. The "must keep in
your position" command is brushed aside
by players as IL II lad never been solemnly
adopted ly the magnates at Baltimore as
late as last February. IL is common TO
see tho umpire surrounded by half dozen
dissatisfied "kicl;ers" who all in concert
denounce some decision which be has
madc--a pure matter of Judgment The
offense went so far In New York on June
that the umpire was compelled to forfeit
the game " tho local club because the
Pittsburg players had him surrounded for
ten minutes and positively refused TO re.
sumo their positions in the field and con-
tinue the gnme. Hurst and Sheridan, who
in mild way attempted IN enforce the
rule by removing offenders from the game,
got into III favor with club owners.
In spite cg the arbitrary provisions Of
the new antlkiczing rule and of Prcsi-
dent Youne's two rrooIamatiors TO his
umpircs. commanding them TO strictly en-
force the penalties against all offenders il
they wished 10 retain their official posi-
tions, the evil which will not down has
even grown III violence. Had the umpires
"got together from the start and followed
tho magna;es' own instructions to the let
ter and without fer, favor or exception,
the result would have been different. But,
with one or two exceptions, the staff tenn
porized with the kickors and was slow to
enforce the rule by removals from the
game. That mercy was % fatal blunder
The luGicroTs part Of the trouble is the
Jekyll aud Hyde parts which the mag
mates play in IL. Last February they
unanimously adopted the antikicking rulo
and then signed page of "advice to tho
umpires." Among other things which
were said to the umpires in this advice
were the following
"Thc rules are created to be enforced to
the letter.
"Do not in any onse temporize with a
rule breaker.
"Do not allow n player mot even cap
tain) to leave bis position TO argue
with you. The captain only is allowed to
appeal to ycu, nad he only from his proper
position, OH legal mislnterpretation Of
the rule.
The umpire who enforces tho rules,
maintuins his dignity and compels respect
gives fullesB satisfaction to both teams and
To spectators.
That Is the doutle breasted, digni1ed
advice whieh the proud magnates handed
out to the umpirCs last winter. Now al
though less than two months OF the season
have passed, PRECEDENT Young holds tele-
grams O. show Hat 10 OF the 10 advisers
have demanded the transfer dismissal or
exchange CT nearly every umpire on the
staff, because this "advice" was acted
upon, even In half hearted way. Why, 1t
is as rid!cCloCs rs crcra houfe.
Tho ruiz. LLutr o penalty of removal
from the game. prohibits any player, even
the captain. irum leaving his position in
the field. az lGt or on the bench to dispute
n decision In which a rules Interpretation
is not involved But it is daily scene
for tho whole in..cld 20 rush up to the UNI
piro with loud words and angry gosticula-
tions because he has declared man safe
by n basc decision. What a farce that new
rule has hccomcl
The Philadelphia team robbed the Dos
tons Of one season record. Selee's men
started the race with eight consecutive de-
feats But the Philadelphia, on their re-
cent western trip, went two better and
now hold thc record with ten.
The eastern section of the National
league teams seem to romnin the stronger,
for in the FIRST iutcrscctional series the
east won the majority Of games, even
against the many disadvantages with
which they, as visitors had To contend.
The Baltimore, Boston and Brooklyn
clubs were mainly responsible for this SUI
periority Of the east, the other three At