The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-04-08
A FANS LAMENT

A FANS LAMENT
NEARLY all of us have sporting blood
in our veins, Athletic prowess in some
form or other stirs the blood of the
most sluggish and sets our nerves attn
Gle with excitement. \ baseball bug
was talking the other day about the
present baseball situation in Everett,
IND his rcmaks We're so pertinent that
we give them space here. We believe
they will find response i'll the minds
Of many lovers of sport who are chat
ing over the situation--Ed)
What is the matter with the sports
in this old town, anyhow? Are they
cheap or are they so busy making money
Mat they haven't got time to think
about anything but a dollar bill?
Every little berg in the state can
lind public spirited citizens enough to
finance a good ball team but Everett.
Aberdeen with half our population, and
half our wealth can put team in the
Northwestern League. Have our PEG
pie forgotten that the baseball teams
of former years that Wore Everett uni
forms put this town on the map? How
many people knew where Everett was
before Walter Thornton and Fred
Schock led their fast bunch through p
straight victories. And, say, those Sc
attic sporting writers that claimed
worlds record for consecutive games
won when Chchalis won - straight last
season want to 90 back and figure
their dope sheet again
Kid IIulen had team here the year
we We're in the league that set people
crazy. lou remember the time they
sent that baseball special to Bellimeham
in the middle of The night and played 4
postponed game there in the morning
They came back that afternoon and lick
ed the stufiin' out of McCloskey's Van
couver team and saved the pcnnant for
. Everett. and we all took the Grape off
our hats and yelled like hnaticS Take
it from me, the Chamber OF Commerce
never pulled off an advertising stunt in
their lives that advertised this old town
better than that.
And now somebody is going to pillow
up the diamond at the fair grounds, the
only place in town where we can see
the game. Say, I'm sore-good and
sore. There is good material here, too
Why. the boys picked up a team and
went down 10 Seattle last Saturday and
played Dugdalc's professionals to a
standstill. Two to one in twelve inn.
ings is some ball playing, ] guess.
The history of the game here in the
past does not bear out the statement
that Everett fans will not support it..
Thornton and Schock had no reason
to complain of lack of attendance Kid
Hulen's scrappers drew crowds that were
demonstrative and apprccativc. The
stock holders in the Everett team in the
Northwest League claim they lost
money on the circuit, but | don't be-
lieve they will admit that they lost it
on home attendance.
| don't know what is the matter.
There ought to be as many good sports
willing to venture "A little money in this
town as in any other town of its size.
| II ,,av bo onoN nv or cola foot I 1on,+
know which. but it don't look right to
me.
Here is another thing. This city is
growing fast and in a little While a
location for an athletic field centrally
located will be prohibitive in price. With
the fair grounds gone there is no place
left and the citizens should formulate
some plan of buying piece of ground or
securing a long lease on it with the fu-
ture in view. If they don't they will
regret it, / can't believe that they are
going to allow all forms Of athletics
to 90 by the boards. If they are not
it is time to come out of that Rip Van
Wrinkle sleep and get busy. q"
I've been called kicker. That's all
right. If somebody didn't kick good and
strong sometimes we would all die OF
stagnation. I'm kicking now for the
great American pastime in particular and
all other sports in general.
Where are the fans of Yesterday?