New-York tribune., 1911-11-13
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Supreme Court of Baseball Not
Wanting in Courage.
A REAL ALL STAR NINE
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

The supreme court OF baseball Is praVe
In deciding by unanimous vote at its meet
ing in Cincinnati last week 10 take over
hereafter the sale and distribution or all
tickets for worlds series games II showed
a courage proof against all criticism. TICKET
speculating Is hard TO control, but rather
than run the risk of another scandal the
National Commission has not shirked a
plain duty, and hereafter will assume the
burdens and responsibilities of supplying
thirty or forty thousand seats to sixty or
eighty thousand clamoring fans II is we'll
as, while the commission. with PAID corps
Of helpers may find the going rough ana
stony, there will be less chance for the
kind OF criticism which hurts the sport
The clubs will profit. too, as hardly year
has passed since the series was insututeu
without one club or another losing many
friends
In view Of the fact that the commission
decided to pursue the investigation OF the
ticket scalping I'm the series just brouehl
10 an end, some evidence, involving elther
the New York or Philadelphia CLUB or
some OF their employees must have been
submitted. Evidently Byron Bancroft John
son, president of the American League, was
better informed than Thomas j. Lynch
president of the National League, as the
latter. in leaving for Cincinnati on Wednes-
day. did not hesitate TO express the opinion
that nothing would come of the investlga-
ton except talk. Whether or rot the New
York club is guilty of trafilcking in tickets
the fact remains that 1t has been placed IN
a bad light. Under the circumstances II
was the bounden duty Of the Nauonal
Commission 10 pursue the investigation far
enough TO either punish or acquit. Few
fair minded persons go so far as to lay the
blame for any possible wronsdoing at the
door OF John T. Brush. who himself has
courted the investigation, but many have
not hesitated TO express the opinion that
some person or persons connected with the
club were guilty of disposing of large
blocks OF tickets TO spectators at an ad-
vance over the regular price. In justice to
the club II is hoped that the question may
be cleared up as the Giants as strong as
they are cannot afford TO lose one friend.
All star football and baseball teams are
built as a rule, by individuals when the
excitement of the season has waned. but
before close followers Of either sport nave
lost their interest. They mean, as a rule
little or nothing. but in a measure serve
as a ranking and consequently fill want
by satisfying some argument or stimulating
some discussion. One Of the most satisfy
ing all star baseball teams ever picked
re esulted from the vote OF the baseball writ
ers who made up the Chalmers Trophy
Commission. All the players of both major
leaguA were considered in awarding the
automobiles-one in each league-to the !
man who proved Of most service to MS /
club during the season, and In this way |
an all star team was deduced for tho sea-
son that will call for mighty little critl- /
cism. This team was published in The !
Tribune last week. but it will bear repet- !
tion.
The outfeld is made up Of three such |
hard hitters as Ty Cobb. of Detroit; Schultz |
Of the Chicago Cubs. and Joe Jackson, of .
Cleveland The infeG shows Fred Merkle, |
Of the Giants. at first Eddie Collins, of the |
worlds champions. at second; Hans Wag- |
ner. Of the Pirates. at short, and Frank /
Baker Of the Philadelphia Athletics, whose !
home runs did so much to beat the Giants |
in the recent worlds series at third In |
fast fielding and nard hitting four better /
men would be hard to find The catchers |
are Thomas Of the Athletics. and big !
Chief" Meyers. Of the Giants. while the !
pitchers include Christopher Mathewson, of ,
the Giants Grover Cleveland Alexander, Of |
the Phillies: big Ed" Walsh, Of the White !
Sox. and Walter johnson. Of the Washing |
ION Senators. This team was selected be- |
fore the worlds championship series was |
ulaved otherwise Bender, of the Athletics, |
hardly would have been left off the pitch |
ing staff It seems almost as if he deserved |
a place in any case. and personally would |
prefer Roger BreSnahan to Thomas as one |
of the catchers The team, however, is Won |
derfully well balanced and amazingly |
strong in hitting fielding and baseball in |
stinct There are some, of course, who be- |
lieve that Hal Chase, of the Yankees, or |
Daubert, of Brooklyn. should have the call !
at first base Neither would weaken the |
nine. but it is a question whether either |
would add any strength. as Merkle has |
worked his way to the front rank, and. ac- |
cording TO John J. McGraw, is the best first |
baseman in the country.
Professor f. w. Nicholson of Wesleyan |
secretary of the National Collegiate Ath- |
letic Association, has made an appeal TO
Yale TO join with other colleges and uni |
versities in the effort 70 regulate and con-
troll intercollegiate sports. 10 the end that
they may be conducted on plane in keep
ing with the principles of higher education.
lie says in The Yale News"
Much can be done by conference and mu-
tual support in this. as In any matter or
college administration. The National Col
legiate Athletic Association brought about
much needed reforms in football. The
same association has taken over control OF
basketball through the appointment of the
rules committee The association is making
a serious effort to solve the numerous evils
conected with baseball
The Association OF New England Col
leges for Conference on Athletics brings
representatives Of the New England col
leges together once "A year for conference
on the questions peculiar 10 TINS secuoh
OF the country.
THE question is often asked. sometimes
by her own graduates, why 1aIe docs n9t @
belong TO either of these associations. Nae
* the only college in New England that
docs not belong TO the New England AssO-
ciation and is one OF the few large unlNcr-
sitics that have not joined the Nauonal
Association The reason given by the Yale
amtborities is that the athletic manage
rnent at Vale is In the hands OF the under
graduates. That being So ! venture 10
urge the undergraduate management at
Vale TO associate themselves with the other
colleges and universities In this important
work Of reconstruction OF college athleucs'
and so relieve their college from the charee
Of snohbshness In athletics that is some
times brought against H.
II the athletic affairs are perfect at Halc
and there is nothing 20 reform the otheT
colleges would be glad 20 have the beneht
Of your experience.
So far az / can recall. Yale has never
bsen charged with snObbishness in