The Detroit times., 1910-08-25
HEART WIth III.
- Sporting
HEARTH Editor.

No loud cheers greeted the an
nouncement from Cincinnati that Tex
Richard prize fight promoter, had de-
cided to get in as an exponent of the
national pastime, meaning baseball.
Richard is said to be operating
through one d. A. Fletcher in an en-
deavor to get together two teams OF
all-stars from the National and Ameri-
can leagues for transforming purposes
after Oct. Is.
Fletcher is connected with the Big
Four railroad at Cincinnati and hopes
to run excursions to the cities In
which the stars will play. George
Mullin, Owen Bush. Ty Cobb and Sam
Crawford we're the Tigers selected for
the all-stars. Other members OF the
clubs will be recruited from the best
players with other teams.
would net the players something like
$500 each. Good weather would bring
considerable money to the promoter
bad weather a loss. There alw avs
has been considerable discussion as
to the merits or lack OF same to ex.
hibition games. II is soft for the
players to get a few hundred after the
regular pay ceases, particularly so In
the case Of the Tigers. who have had
post-season money SO often 1t has be-
come q habit And. there isn't going
to be any of the soft stun this year.
Opponents Of the extra games say the
players are paid so much for the regu-
lar season. They don't need to hippo
drome In the provinces to keep the
wolf away from the door.
Personally, we are for getting all
the money we can, bearing In mind
the duties one owes to his employers.
However. that has nothing to do with
the propriety of working after the
league season ends. That Is matter
purely and solely for the magnate and
his players. President Navin hasn't
said anything about the proposed trip.
II haven't made up my mind" was
the only statement he would make.
Properly conducted, a trip OF this
kind might be all right. i like TO see
the boys make all the money they
can" However. Mr.. Navin did set
hts foot down on the Cuban trip decis-
lively. because the climate there Is
not conducive to health and invariably
iaunts to a warm climate In winter
have made the players late In start
ing in the spring.
The only thing In which the public
has much concern In the effort OF
Richard to break into baseball is the
standing Of the game with which he
made his reputation. You recall the
governor OF California chased the
heavyweight fighters out OF his fair
state, declaring the game was crooked
and he would have none or IT. HIS
statement never was challenged. The
fighters went.
Not long ago some race track
gamblers we're denied the privilege OF
purchasing the st. Louis National
league team because the men who had
money invested In league clubs could
not bring themselves to see the ad-
visibility Of allowing gamblers foot
hold in the national pastime.
We have no quarrel with Tex Rick
ard. We do not even have q speaking
acquaintance with him. But ne mas
been identified prominently with a
sport that has nothing in common with
baseball; with a sport that has been
filled with crookedness and double
crossing and suspicion. Richard may
be as honest as the day is long. but
the moral effect Of a fight promoter
having anything to do with the promo
ton OF baseball is too great for the
national commission. club owners or
the players themselves to mix with.
II this transforming trip IL conduct
ed by Mr.. Fletcher, all we'll and good
let the players 60 out and get the
easy money. II II Is conducted by
prize fight manager, the club owners
should frown upon 1t. The players
themselves should investigate the back
ing thoroughly, for II baseball ever de-
sends to the plane now occupied by
prize fighting there will be no $4,000
per annum for the athletes.
IMCDJCAN JElGTIE