The Washington herald., 1908-07-26


Cleveland ball club. later in charge Of
the Detroits. and now manager and part
owner Of the Toledo club. philosophical a
bit about the state Of the national game
during a recent visit here. says & writer
IL The Philadelphia Inquirer
The days Of rowdyism on the ball Ge.-
as well as among spectators. Al bG-
games. are about over, I think he said
The passing OF the tough baseball player
foretold tIe elimination of the rowdy
baseball roo;er- That pair went tandem
Il was q case OF Ike player. like ToOter-
There was a time. and not 50 long ago.
either. as seasoned fans viii remember.
when the rowdyism Of the roOters IN
some Of the major league cities made il
positively uncomfortable for decent. we'll
behaved fans 70 attend the games
Take, for example. the case OF CIeve-
land Not SO many years ago-even FOR a
time while I was managing the Cleveland
club-Clevclaud had the rOwJyest lot Of
baseball fans in the United States
Day after day the players were greet
ed with foul language Fights IN the
grand stand and bIeaCheTs between quar-
relsOne defenders or knockers of differ
ent players were frequent and bloody
Such missiles as tOrn-Out seats. seat
cushions. glasses, and bottles were gayiy
tossed at the umpire and players
The attendance Of women al the games
fell away almost 10 nothing. Well-be-
haved Cleveland fans who liked 70 see a
game of ball played on its merits with
out any rag-caeWiug on the lot or rufhan-
ism on the part Of the spectators, gave
the Cleveland bah park the g0-by. Thus
- ErTar-aT1IrrI1 rr-~ Is
that came mighty close 10 swallowing II
up
Newspapers for Decency.
How was all this changed2 Wen, the
Cleveland papers got busy They GER
tainIy did the Job Up thoroughly, too
They began 20 point the finger Of shame
at the rough Cleveland fans. They did
this in their editorial columns. not in
their news reports Of the games
They didn't use any dainty words in
describing the ruflanly spectators They
went al the situation with q meat ak
The papers alluded 10 the tough crowds
attending the Cleveland games il Ian
gUage that had a bite 10 IT,
The bunch OF loafers who attended
yesterdays ball game, they'd say; or
The rack Of buliet-h5ads who disgraced
then .-es and the national game yes
AGa 1-4E S4-6AAAE-E-S7 h-a--a5 u 40 s-E-
strCs ne enjoyment OF decent people at
the - and 50 on
The they'd 90 ahead and give ela6o-
rate l-l detailed accounts Of the miscOn-
duct O. the spectators. and If the players
had OEeuded. too, zip them Up The back
for fair by name
1t worked. and worked well L didn't
take long for the roasting 10 have its et-
feet The players were the first 70 set to-
getheT and swear of on rowdyismi they
couldn't stand the gaG. and. moreover,
they saw the justice Of the attacks that
were being made upon them every day
fOr their r0wd-isrr.
Then IL was clearly proved that the
fans initiate the example OF the players
in tais matter The fans began 10 back
Up and behave Just as soon as they saw
that the players were going 70 be on
their good behavior
''Pitts5urg adopted this system, too.
Everybody knows what q tough gang Of
baseball fans Pitts5Urg used 10 have
solely. as I take il. because the PiJtsburg
players, particularly IN their relationship
10 the New York club OF the Nation B
League-which wasn't blameIess itself
remember - conducted themselves like
IS h0Odlums on the field. and often enough
OF the field. But the PittsbUrg players
and fans were shamed into behaving
themselves By steady and vitriolic public
criticism, and last season was the decent
est the Pirtsburg club ever had
ST. LOuis-Chicago Crowds.
A certain amount Of rUfEauism sJl-
fingers with the Chicago fans. but tH.
campaign against the bully boys "
start something at q good many OF O..
games out that way has been C pr.t-.
warm one OF late years. and it's q pretty
good gamble that the up-to-date, modern
spirit Of good behavior and fairness will
take hold CE the Chicago crowds during
the present season
-One thing that won't happen at the
Chicago and 81. Louis games any more.
# I'm any prophet is tle cauckiug Of
bottles al the umpire and players I think
the lesson taught ly the case OF the UNI
p5re VINO was nearly killed BY a hurled
bottle at q game IL St Louis last season
viii serve 10 stop any further boutle-t0ss-
ing.
''The Chicago and St Louis fans used
10 be the great bOttle-t0ssers. In Chicago
particularly. where bottled beer has al
ways been sold TO patrons OF the game In
stands and bleachers, this practice pre-
vailed among the toughs. VINO were seized
BY the irresistible impulse 20 damage up
somebody IN the ball yard who dispIeased
them But during quite recent years the
ceeded IL restraining themselves that they
merely hurl the bottles into the lot and
not At umpires or players
Once al q Sunday game that I wit
messed AZ the American League Park IN
Chicago about tlree-Quarters OF the
crowd Of about 1900 fans present seemed
10 develop q Crouch against -Ae umpire
al at once The bo-tled-bcer sellers had
been busy In the grand stands ard
bleachers, and II seemed as If nearly
every other man Al the game had an
empty bottle IN his hand
When the long yell over one Of the de-
c-siCns Of the umpire began all over the
park 1 stood by prepared to see that UNI
pire buried under an avalanche Of bottles.
Bottle shower by Fans.
But the Chicago fans showed then
how they has learned 10 restrain them
selves. AL at the same instant. II seemed
20 me, the just tossed their bottles out
on 70 the sandy Chicago lot, without try
ing 20 land on the umpire The sound Of
several thousand beer bottles thuddins On
-he sod al practically the same instant
was as curious thing TO listen 10 as It
T3s- IN Is way. entertaining TO watch
As 10 the comparative fairness Of the
fans, think Boston is entitled 10 stand
- the TOP Of the list in this respect In
tact. tie Boston players OF both major
league clubs declare that the Boston fans
are inclined 10 carry their sense Of utter
fairness 10 an extreme.
a few years ago. when I was manaz-
ing the Detroit team. saw a remarkable