The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-24
SMALL BASEBALL CROWDS.
SOME REASONS WHY THE ATTEyn,
ANCE is FAILING OFF
situation In BROOKLYN q Puzzle New Yorkt
slump One Of the Causes Iowdyism ana
Quarrels OF tho MaEnatcs Have Consider.
able to DO With the Lack Of lnterest.

slump One Of the Causes ana
Quarrcls Of tho Magnatcs Have Consider.
able to DO With the Lack Of lnterest.
Several OF the National League magnates have
recently expressed surprise at the poor attend
ahce IN various cities OF the new eiSht-club cir.
cult and have also attempted TO give reasons for
the unexpected slump. One of them believes
that the twelve-club league should not have
been abolished. while another declares that
the apparent superiority Of the Brooklyns and
Philadelphians over the other teams has helped
to kill the interest, While these causes may be
at the bottom OF the trouble there are many
Others that loom up when the situation Is gone
over with care. A baseball man OF experience,
who has made a study of the situation year in
ana year out outlined matters for THE SUN the
otner DAY IN the following convincing manner:
The magnates are almost solely to blame
Tor the falling of In attendance all over the
country. In the first place they showed their
hands last winter when the yielded to the de-
mands Of Freedman and openly stated that
they did so in order to have the gate receipts
doomed In New York. Then Freedman wouldn't
strengthen the New Yorks. and the interest In
this city fell fat-so fiat, in fact, that the at
tendance over in Brooklyn. where real cham.
pionship ball is being played. has been seriously
Affected. The expressed desire on the part
OF the maSnates to get tho public's money by
hook or crook has In a measure disguised patrons
OF the game. who remember the days when tho
money end was never visible 10 the naked eve.
The mercenary policy OF some magnates,
coupled with the failure Of the New Yorks To
get into a winning stride after the promises
made by Freedman. can be ascribed as two
OF the reasons why the game has gone to the
dogs In Greater New York.
The case OF the Brooklyn club, however.
is attracting more attention than any other.
The club has put up big money for Q winner
and to-day has the best ball team In the LeaQue.
together with the best team manager, and vet
the crowdsYare nothing when compared TO
those OF other cities. Brooklyn was a great
ball town In the American Association when
rs and 80 cents we're the prevailing priceA Many
baseball sharps think that those prices should
be restored instead Of continuing with the pres
ent figures. as. so and rs cents. This may be
a reason for the slump. and IL may not. Then,
again. faults found with the location Of thevari-
Gus stands. The 25cent stand II
directly back OF first base. a most desirable
place to see the game. A ffty-cent stand /,
next to It. adjoining the grand stand. and il
never occupied. Another ffty-cent stand,
far beyond third base and bordering on the left
iltiu lOui llllt, IL also u DlHnK HDaCe uuTlnG al.
most every game. Both stands arc uncovered
and are not so desirable In point Of vantage az
the stand for twenty-five cent patrons. The
grand stand patronage at rs cents Is nothing
when that OF other cities Is considered. The
management Of the Brooklyn club refuses to
believe that the prices have anything 20 do
with tho lack Of attendance. but they are at sea
when trying to solve the problem.
The people of Brooklyn haya NOT uuoru,ad e.
Hanlon's men because. perhaps, they were too
suddenly transferred to Washington Park for
money-making purposes. The pennant was
won last year without much hurrah business
and the crowds so far this season have not been
so large as last.
Il have heard II said that the location OF
Washington Park Is partially responsible for
the poor patronage. But the ground IL con-
tiguous to the old Washington Park, whore
twelve years ago the games were witnessed by
thousands. That something Is radically wrons
over in Brooklyn there can be no doubt, but
what Is the real cause nobody seems able to
find out.
The slump In the attendance at Boston IL Of
course due TO the poor showing OF the ex-Cham.
pions. Boston people have become so accus-
toned to a winner that such a disastrous record
rs that OF Selee's men this season has knocked
the .Irops from underneath the crowd that
used to pour the dollars into the pockets OF
SSoSeH and ,bs f iOIsrs.t b over rot in aoI phildpd :pIIS;
because the Quakers have been leading the
race, and many think they have a chance for
tES ReRh NH rs s oSa ! ihf because sssm se F~hiia q ISmSl:
are sore over the way LaJoie has been behaving.
The car strike and the injuries sustained By
and others have hurt the 81. Louis club to the
extent OF thousands Of dollars. and there is
much sympathy for Frank Robson, who put
up a small fortune TO provide a winner for st.
LOUIS patrons, only to be disappointed again.
The st. Louis club is under a heavy expense
a andr VIII .Go ndys h of 5b %0 Ginp pIGlIinE out Sss even en- The
the cause of the loss OF interest 10 that city,
but Pittsburg and Chicago are still in the swim
Even beyond these reasons for the decline
Of the national game there are Others. The
magnates, still narrow in policy. have not yes
attempted, TO suppress rowdyism, which has
been openly encouraged by the abolition Of the
double umpire system. In spite Of an almost
universal cry from tho public, players and press
fused because OF the extra expense-a very
cheap advertisement Of the ,heapness OF the
men who conduct professional baseball In this
fights. spiking trays, riots and umpire ass aults
a. ever before. while the nagnates sit back and
wonder why the people dc not flock into the
, players, long since censured by a self-respect-
ing public, but still ENCOURAGED by unsports:
field that has tired patrons so that they now
stay away. Players. are allowed to take their
time In going 10 ana from the bench until the
games are prolonged beyond all reason or pa
tience. No game should last ov er two hours,
but some have dragged along for three hours
and even longer Patrons do not have 90 much
time 20 spare and as no remcdy has been forth
coming they have concluded to stay away.
The treatment accorded CO rtain players by
the magnat ; ha, also been n serious blow,
Players are popular with the ball cranks and
when they are ill-treated the crnnKs are affected
In kind. The recent organization u the Ball
Players Protective Association and the victory
~ Fred Pfelcr in his suit against Freedman are
pointed TO a. Illustrations Of what the magnates
have been doing
The 1uarrels OF the magnates have also had
their effect. Constant rows between one set
Of magnates aud another clique, together with
have made baseball patrons who loved the SPORT
formerly entirely sick Of II now, The methods
OF the magnates. too, In legislating. and their
attempt 20 monopolize the sport wherever
there a talk Of another organization, must also
be taken into consideration. Tho public can
BE- guided easily. but not when II becomes well
acquainted with tho men who deal the cards,
50 10 speak,
Baseball needs a thorough ovcrhauling. IL
should b. separated from the chcap Johns, tho
unsportsmanlike managers and tn velchers.
When tn public Is convinced that he game 10
clean and thu hackers Of IL are broad-mlnded
men. the attendance will increase and the news
papers will consider the sport OF sufficient I'm
portance to give some space to II. But under