The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-17
SMALL BASEBALL CROWDS.
REASONS WHY ATTENDANCE rs FALL
ING OFF IN SOME, CITIES.
Boston, chicago, Cincinnati and PittsburE,

land and This City Has Hurt the Game.
The falling of In attendance In several cities
In the National League Of professional base-
ball clubs has created no end Of talk among the
mngnates and crnnks who are trying TO ind
out tho reasons for this surprising state OF
Affairs. There Is no doubt that the war
has affected the patronage somewhat. but the
fnct that the Boston, pittsburg. Chicago and
Cincinnati clubs are making money Ia used as
an argument that the war is not wholly to
blame. Rowdy ball playing, constant defeats
and the unpopularlty OF somo managers are
thought to be the principal reasons for the
dwindlinR OF the crowds who used to make the
pockets OF all the mngnates bulge with dollars.
The Boston Club has always been a money
maker and is deserving OF profits In view OF
the splendid playing OF the present League
champions. Soden, Billings. and Conant. tho
famous Boston triumvirate. believe in giving
good. clean ball to tho patrons. and have toll
ernted nothing else. Not q month ago Long OF
the Bostons was suspended for three days for
kicking by Umpire Cushman. President Soden
Immediately wired Manager selee. asking why
Long had been permitted to violate the rules.
and instructing the other players that IL any OF
them should be suspended as was Long they
would be severely dealt with by the club. Such
methods have earned the respect and support
Of the Boston public. and the clever ball playing
Of the champions is appreciated by the cranks.
who are still turning out in large numbers.
The Chicago Club Is another money maker.
which is undoubtedly due to the winning streak
OF Burns's men. Tho patrons Of tho game in
the Windy City have been 80 used to losses un-
der Arson in recent years that the novelty Of
being up in the race within striking distance OF
the top has caught everybody by the ears. On
Sundays the Chicagos draw enormous crowds
at home. and have also played OF late to good
paying attendances on week days. The fight
made by President Hart In favor Of clean ball
has also had the desired effect. for the team
receives the support Of the most respectable
element in Chicago. The players have kicked
some. but not rs u regular custom, and no dis
graceful outbreaks have occurred to date.
Another successful club. financially. is the
one located in Cincinnati and owned by John
I. Brush. Readers OF THE SUN know what
Brush has done to establish clean sport with
out kicking and obscenity. and they also are
aware of the fact that Brush is practicing what
he breaches. He has enforced the rules against
rowdyism to the letter. yet his team under
Buck Ewing's management still leads the
League race and continues to play skilful base
ball. 1t is not n fluke by any means that
the Cincinnatis occupy their present posi-
ton. They have n strong, we'll balanced
team, ~clcverly managed and earnestly support
W ~ .hS = bAih. h'i'S = ~ Nv b'IS VI ~
have done nothing to bring their club into dis
repute. and no teams visiting Cincinnati have
the home club or its patrons. 1t is therefore
something In the nature OF a triumph for Brush
making money for him, while others less OBJ
servant OF the REFORMS are not doing so well.
organization in the League, and. like the
others. It has advocated clean sport. 1t will bo
remembered that the PittsburG manager. Wat
was put out OF u game for kicking, $50, and the
latter deserted the team. only to repent and
cipline had the desired effect, for the Pittsburgs
have tried to play the game without kicking
EYER since. Watkins has $, ai + sneceeded IN de-
gardcd as formidable, but which is playing a
last game and hanging on to the first division
club is enjoying n good season. and will proba-
bly,, quit with u large bank account when the
In the cases OF these four clubs. therefore. it
cannot be said that the war has had much Of an
enjoying even greater receipts than those now
coming through the pox Office windows. But
1he m espesiSi p TnS G to- tbe f 1nssf fb S,tf fSe PG art
money. which. they claim. is substantial proof
San 5S5S SG fsse @ csf'xss p q, q ~ ' 5$ss H sRSii J., G SRs
EnSEs as ssI the rinsieadc Ps'ii in disorder itdta' on the the
P pati nsi.; arr The to'' GiSve %1nfs p SHder T E, bSo1t
while ,they have tried to play clean bali this
EEs o2ss ha GIty dq that So The ~p pabli ftr tiers woT 56Ds in a the
i RPSis % tue Hn sfieo to H play : SUNDAY ssa n Ff 6aIi a al h6 aass
up his MIND to sell the club and get out Of the
game. The Cleyelands have as nne a team in
the League race. This season they stand a
ever before. but the Cleveland cranKs, do not.
apparently, care. where they land. At the Open
ing championshipgame ofthe season there were
pleasant. As an explanation. it was said by
certain League men that the disgraceful be-
members OF the Cleveland team had simply
killed the game in that city and that even the
tanning these players would excite no interest.
The Baltimore Club has been in serious
d 5tF9t,s ta III n ys&T; and af1 u aa RIs st @ay THlfhi eRS SRy
two reasons given why the ex-champiops have
ceased to be popular in Baltimore. Ono Is their
kicking and fighting tactics on the ball field.
which have been stopped this year by the new
rules, and the other Is a surfeft OF champion
pionships in succession BY the Baltimores was
detrimental to the clubs business, 1t is thought,
victory. soon tired Of that kind OF sport. There
was too little uncertainty about the games
played BY Hanlon's men , to suit the "dycdiin-
made recently TO get rid of some of his best
players is thought to be in line, with q desire to
pennant will be the case during the next two OF
three years. BY, that time public interest will
have been worked up again, and the club.
meanwhile. will make some money.
The slump in attendance at the POLO Grounds
place. the kicking and roYdyism OF Joyce,
Grady, Gleason. Warner. Davis. and others,
nearly Killed tho game. as far as respectablSS
patronage is concerned. This is the Preyailing
3 %pads b al P Ryer inc les s6at fh1 e has b baene claim am
dramatically, robbed" by the umpires is also
believed to have dIsgusted thousands of patrons,
feated because OF poor ball playing, The
indisputable fact. shown by tho batting
that the New Yorks are weak at the bat, and
have lost nearly all their games because OF this
defect. offsets the robbery" claim beyond per
adventure. Tho attendance at the Polo Grounds
was good up to the day that Joyce struck Beck
ley OF the Cincinnatis on the head with the ball
The failure Of the New York Club severely to
discipline its captain and manager for this Of
fence IL said by tho magnates to be another
reason why the people haye turned their backs
on the Harlem arena, Still another point TO be
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