Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-26
B. B. FAN AND HIS WAYS
Some Striking Peculiarities Of the
Base Ball Booster.
ALL VARIETIES IN THE CLASS
BEING WAC Wakes the Professional
Game Possible aud Profits btc--
Gcnaiue Amrrican
Product.


prototype Of the old world. He "enthuses' (
10 a degree that astonishes the staid Eng
lishman ana the phlegInauc German. Play /
ing the game from the beachers is an
expression which means nothing outside
America To those who attend foot ball, /
racing, boxing and base ball matches ia
this country, however, 70 is thoroughly
understood and appreciated. Since base
ball has been aptly termed the national
sport, u IL natural 70 look for the highest
development OF the national characteristic
in the stands surrounding the diamond.
Even the casual observer cannot fail 10
detect It's presence. for the enthusiasm OF
the base ball fan excels that OF all others
He enters into the spirit OF the game in
a manner that marks the typical American
who concentrates his efforts on either bust
ness or pleasure The average foreigner
VINO visits our athletic contests contends
that we take our sports too seriously. that
we place too much stress on victory. Leav-
ing aside the ethics OF the question, the
fact remains that victory Is the goal sought
and the fan uses every artrce at his
asmu.aad to help the home team reach it
ahead or competitors. Scores occur every
day at base ball games that are witnessed
In no other contests or competitions. Bush
ness and professional men forget for the
time their standing in the community and.
shoulder 70 shoulder with the street Urchin-
root frantically for the hit needed to
win the game. Supersutous TO deEree
ahe tan will rise to his feet with all mis-
6ailowa en- masHe for a stretch in the lucky
nsvanth'' II the home team is being oub-
played. and so il goes.
Impartial Cheering.
Yet this arior does not Sind his ewes to
the ability OF the visiting team. In no
other branch of sport is high-ciass play.
either individual or team work, SO quickly
recognized and applauded in base ball.
This is due. in all probability, to the fact
that 90 per cent OF the spectators under
stand the game even in its complicated
development of today. Where is the man
who as a boy did not play bail? Even when
age and business cares make active par
ticiparion out of the question. he still finds
time to attend the games. It is only
natural then. that his enthusiasm should
force him TO do more than sit idly in his
seat To see him hot day, sans collar
and coat. hurting encouragement and ad-
vice at the players, is TO see him IN his true
element
Nothing Of the doings OF the players in
the field or on the bench escapes his
sNIullnF. DAaBilnB play WHEREIN inc pail
travels from point TO point on the diamond
at lightning speed. brings forth roars Of
applause. stupid plumbers result in bowls
of derision and caustic comment that stings
even the hardened professional. Viewed
broadly. however. the fan is in the aggre-
gate fair and quick to show his apprecia-
ton. In mo- other sport is the work of the
contestants so closely followed ana judged
unbiased. The batting and fielding aver
ages of the leading players are ever on
tongue tips. Play to win is the slogan.
and woe beude the individual whose efforts
give the impression Of Sinking The
thumbs-duwn cry Take him out.' ex-
presses the sentiment Of the fans ON
the other hand a desperate Try, even
though IL be unsuccessful, Is credit mark
for the earnest player.
Thrills of Chose Contests.
Much aa the game has improved during
the last decade. the fan has kept step in
the onward march. Years ago the regular
followers OF the home team asked for moth
ing but victory Today il is different The
Old desire is sull there, but 1t Is curbed
and polished by the craving for close con
tests and high-class play. The biggest
crowds file through the tI-nstiles the
days when rival teams OF about equal
caiiber meet on the diamond. A series
wherein the superiority OF one club over
another is apparent is poor drawing card
The fan demands fast dashing play ex-
citing situations, and climax. II the home
team wins so much the better, bur, above
all. IL must be base ball az its best.
This attitude extends 20 the players as
individuals. Star pitchers and batters draw
crowds Just as the leading operate singers
swell box office receipts. Hans Wagner,
Hal Chase, Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb,
rhree-fingered Brown. attract hundreds to
ball parks daily because OF the sensational
feats they perform. Their presence on the
team is worth thousands OF dollars in a
season TO the club owners. and the mag
mates. realizing this. pay them salaries
double and treble the average league sti-
pend.
Fog players VINO lead the leagues in their
respective positions there is always a hearty
welcome either at home or on the road
Their Caliber is recognized. their superior
ability appreciated. The fans" set high
standard Tor them to play up 20. and this
KEYS up the men 10 cop speed. Much a.
they are admired though nothing pleases
the followers Of the hostile club 50 much
as to see them outwitted by home talent
The spectacle OF Hans Wagner Or Frank
nance AAfihlhE uNA Win LNb men on UdeES
fills a New York crowd with unalloyed
10y The Piftsburg or Chicago fan would
rather see Christy Mathewson driven to
The bench by the local diamond representa-
lives than witness an entire series taken
from Brooklyn or 81. Louis. In the battle
an the ball field, no quarter is given or
asked by either players or fans" The
temporary diseonCerting OF big league
star is the signal for a round of laughter
aud witticisms at the expense OF the player
highly pleasing to the fans II quite the
reverse 70 the star.
Fairness az the Fan.
IL must be said however, that the fan
OF to-day is much fairer in his attitude to-
ward visiting players and umpires than he
was in the early days OF league play. The
close observer realizes that the arbitrator
is trying to give both teams square
deal" and that he Is in position to decide
close plays more Justly than the fan"
IN the stands This holds true in every
city represented in either major league.
IN fact, the fan OF any given locality
will assure you with eaTnesgness that mis-
city Is the fairest Of any on the circuit
The axiom thai circumstances alter
cases holds true. however. in base ball as
1.u