The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-31
TO DROP BASEBALL
Large Element at State University
Favors This Course.
SAY THE GAME is NOT POPULAR
Members of the Team Would Oppose
"a Discontinuance of the
Z :. e )
Old Time SPORT

Many eastern and western universities
have seriously considered, during the past
few years, the dropping Of inter-uni-
versity baseball from the schedule of col
lege, sports. - Wisconsin came very near
taking such action this spring, and at
Minnesota the idea has frequently been
discussed in an informal way, although
the question: has never been brought up
before the athletic board.
Interviews with a number. Of the mem
bers of the athletic board, members of
T this years baseball team and others
prominent. in university athletics, reveals
! an almost unanimous. opinion among the
officials entioned, that baseball at Min
nesota should be confined to- class and
department games. The invariable deficit
at&ths end of the baseball season, and the
faint of professionalism, are given as the
reasons for dropping this sport. Further,
it Is urged that the poor gate receipts OF
the game prove that 1t is one in which the
students take little interest, in spite Of
the fact that Minnesota has been repre-
sented by strong teams in the last three
years. 4.S. IL. f-.,,...-.s..,. s-.s..
| Members Of this years baseball team,
on the other hand, are quite as unanimous
in the opinion that inter- university base
ball should not be dropped. They admit
| that university teams are often times the
| training schools for professional players,
| but think that the cause of the unpopu-
iarity of the game lies in improper man
agement, and not in any lack of interest
| on the part of the student body.
The opinions of number of men prom
inent.in Minnesota athletics are given be-
| low: ,.s, -'..
DR.. H.. L.. Williams, Athletic Director-This
. question has been brought uD a number Of
times, and is simply one of whether class an6
department baseball should supersede inter:
| collegiate games. There would be no ques
ton OF dropping baseball entirely. l do MOI
| think dropping intercollegiate baseball would
make much difference in the showing of the
| institution in track athletics, and should mo-
| care to express personal opinion either way
Game Not Well Supported.
Fred S. Jones. Faculty Member Board o.
Athletic Control - Should baseball be cut
out Of spring athletics in college? In my
| opinion, yes, so far las it relates to the main
| tenance of IA first team, although I would
courage the interdeDartment and intersociet,
| games. These games are extremely popula
| among the students and create an abundance
of enthusiasm, whereas the regular games as
rule draw but small crowds. The expense
item in maintaining good baseball team is
considerable, and is seldom covered by the
! receipts of the games, so that from a money
standpoint: the game does not pay in colleges
Then there is always the element of profes
l
of all precautions that Gamble taken. For the
| last two years Wisconsin, has talked of dis
| continuing the game, although she has MOI
done so as yet. -'-- - -. = ~ q 90. e..
! Unless the game is given better support al
Minnesota it would seem necessary to discon-
| tinue the sport. The matter has neverNcome
up in an official way at the conference SEES
stons. - ~ -. - -. <,
| Element of Professionalism q
Z NJ. j.. Luby.. University Manager Of Athlet
! ics--In my opinion colleges and universities
would do well to discontinue baseball AS i
part of spring athletics and devote all theil
energies to track events. There are; two
things which, it seems to me, argue. for a dis:
continuance ofsibaseban, First. there is the
element of profession alism. which 1T is, nov
next to impossible to keep out of the sport.
| + AS it is now universities simply train men
/ who play on their teams during the spring
months and then go out and obtain positions
on professional teams, Of%course not all dc
| this, but the number that do is by no means
small When a man does this, under con.
ference rules he becomes a professional:
Second the game does not pay in colleges
That. has been the: experience of almost al
colleges in the west. at least. At Minnesota
baseball has not been a paying proposition fol
\ years, This year -:the students have sup
ported the sport far less than in other years
50 that the deficit must be made IN out O.
the regular athletic fund.
| The game does not seem to appeal to the
student body as a whole, and unless students
support particular branch Of athletics, Il
might as we'll be cut out. d. .s /.
Does Not Rouse College Spirit.
| J.. H Kennicott. President. Athletic Boare
of Control-Yes, 4 think colleges would d.
we'll to discontinue baseball as a feature O.
spring athletics The game does not arouse
the interest and college spirit necessary t.
insure a successful sport, and in consequence
| the management lis Obliged to draw upon it:
reserve FUND to pay expenses. The Easebal
season comes at a bad time of the year. tht