The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-15
BASEBALL IS
AGAIN A FAD
The Great Game Catch
ing On Rapidly.
ROOFING NOW VERY PROPER
COACHING SHOULD ALWAYS BE
INDUCED IN.
Recreation Park Is the Active Scene
of Real Baseball and It's At
tendant Peculiar
tiles.
ROOFING NOW VERY PROPER
SHOULD ALWAYS BE
INDUCED IN.
By Joe Corbett.


these days in the attendance at Recrea-
ton Park While I cannot say that the
park and its performances are In the zen
it'll of their glory, still the Improvement
both in the attendance and the article or
ball being played is a fact. In conjunc-
ton with this much-sought Improvement.
comes the reality that the game is slowly,
yet surely catching on with vengeance;
and 1t would not surprise many If the
grand old days, when the Haight Street
Park flourished, would soon be repeated
at Recreation grounds.
Many things indicate such possibility,
and among them Is the very material
point that, while the crowds improve, the
enthusiasm becomes intense. When a
collection Of baseball patrons stand up
and howl for this thing and that thing;
when they become so interested as to
boot, hiss and humiliate a player, simply
because he drops his bat when an umpire
calls poor strike; these little occurrences
carry much more weight than the simple
assurance Of some bombastic promoter.
/ am Of the opinion that the games at
Recreation Park are attracting the atten-
ton of many, among them those VINO
said, when the contests were transferred
from Central Park to their present loca-
ton, that they would never go so far to
see a game. Still, I have seen large
themselves perched In grand stand seats,
and / never heard such roofing and en-
thusiasm fince the Baltimores lost the
pennant as did on Saturday and SUNDAY
at Recreation Park.
When spectators at a ball game for
get that they are human and howl them
quaint ones self with the news that base
ball is itself once again on the coast
This, surely. is q fact. AS mentioned,
1t is not impossible to discover an empty
during aside
but they are scarce when compared with
the nakedness of some portions OF the
stands and bleachers as seen without the
assistance Of opera glasses but a month
ago.
At this same period I have sat through
game, and owing to the lack OF inter-
est and enthusiasm on the part of both
players and fanatics my task seemed, in
deed, tedious one.
There is no enjoyment to be derived
from a game OF baseball when those who
patronize 1t, together with those who par
ticipate in the contest, entertain that
wearied feeling of don't care a snap who
wins" II was this style month or so ago.
There was no bowling for team to win;
no humfltatfng player who dare imagine
himself having any right In the ned.
game itself that had the appearance of
baseball.
Go. to Recreation Park on a Saturday or
stand up and shrieki Sitting down when
a play is close is out of the question en-
tirely. Even the players have done away
them now out on the coaching line telling
their troubles to any one foolish enough
to listen; and If the opposition turns a
deaf ear to this compliment 1T Is not un-
usual or even out of place for them to go
through antics in most cases not becom-
ing, but interesting.
Another thing that convinces me Of the
hold our great national game is securing
on the populace of this city is the manner
in which Mr.. Donovan was treated last
49, I,Ax III Lat to-
and Oaklands. Mr.; Donovan. it seems,
went to bat, and before he unbosomed
himself of the pleasing reyeries he was in
dulgng IN and Which ht b nave no donptd
to getting, two strikes were called on
him by Umpire Smith. After hearing the
second strike. called the chances OF secur-
applause attending such feat became
rather slim, and In consequence Mr.: Dono-
van dropped his bat, his visage bearing
earnest player, and for his pains Umpire
Smith reprimanded him. A second later
the spectators expressed their displeasure
not ' to be forgotten. Kisses, boots and
groans such as are hurled at the villain
during a melodrama at Moroscos per-
but thirty feet away This outburst real
ly startled me, and 1t was this display on
the part of those patrons, present that
seg1g the IDEA fhat
And so it is. The games are full of life
and are being played acceptably. The
contests on Saturday and sunday, while
not perfect, contained the right spirit. This
in itself pleases the public, for have said
on a former occasion that baseball
patrons delight In seeing game where
both sides manifest an interest In the re-
suit This seems to have been the pro-
gramme of late, II the games of Saturday
and Sunday are any criterion, and | have
reason to believe that they are. I have
heen told bv many who a month ago were
dissatisfied that the games of the past
month have been superior in every par
ticular to those of days past.
The poor showing OF the Athletics on
Saturday and Sunday in measure dis
credits these reports of a great change,
but as / said before, while these two
games were not perfect there were, new
ertheless, dash and lively action visible
during the contests. This alone Is an
Improvement quite worthy of commenda-
ton.
and coach the people themselves will fol-
low with their harangues in the stands,
and in consequence q general interest in
the outcome of the game is engendered
Let that dashing, out-towin spirit pre-
vail during all the games from now to
the end. Without 1t a contest is dead
devoid of life and eXcitement-and neces-
sarily displeasing to all who patronize
the games with the intention of spending
a few happy moments.
Continue to coach and be spirited at all
times. The game has caught on to a
great extent, and 1t would be poor policy
not to keep up the. good work. Coach,
coach. The people like It.