New-York tribune., 1911-10-22
"Sunshine Guaranteed for Big
Series on the Coast.
THAT SPIKING INCIDENT
What "Old Sport" Says About
snodgrass, Reasons and
What Others Think.

stadium Seating capacity sixty thousdho'
standing room twenty thousand. full view
for evervbodv Weather always mild, nelu
alwavs fast. sunshine guaranteed. Tram
service excellent, will guarantee fifty thou'
sand attendance each game. wires sent u
Connie Mack and McGraw.
That sunshine guaranteed" is most ap-
pealing. and II the clouds continue 10 spin
the last remnants OF an apparently mex
haustible supply of aqua pura. stored up
no doubt In those happy days OF last july
M Influence will be needed 10 take the
games somewhere.
Tho enthusiasm Of those far western
"fans" has run away. however, with the
exact facts The Tacoma stadium Is a
,,,odeI of its kind. but the Polo Grounds
has the call in seats II is the only Greclah
amphitheatre in the world, however We
LONGING 10 the public schools. II was ueu'-
Gated on June TO- 1910, and has seatlhs
capacity Of thirty thousand persons II
cost tl3j,o0o.
"Old Sport" in The Philadelphia In
oulrer." says in commenting on the much
talked of spiking of Frank Baker ly fren
Sncderass In Tuesdays game
AS rule the games for the worid
champit nship have been sineularIy ree rres
from rowdyism and dirty playing !ne
players knowing that the eyes OF the
National Commission are upon them are
not so prone TO take eXcepuons " w,
umpires lulings or 10 , udNo ,ba on1rsng n team.
In the Detroit Pittsburgh series OF igs
Noriarity started the rough house tastIiJJ'
on Byrne, who was carried OF tns nelI' nIt
and before the series was completed Tom
Jcnes Moriarity and Schmidt were more
or less used up. With the exception 81 d
rather stiff kick put up b. Chance, VIZ. ny
led TO MS banishment, over Murpny Ii,,r nTrnV
run hit in Chicago, there was no WrangUls'
no suspicion OF manning, In the series WlLn
Chicago last season. IT was thought id t.iae
the series this year between the AtniettC'
manly craftsmanship. and II douptlesss
would have been but for the acuohs oI
Snodgrass. who is evidently playing IoT siie
honor Of being the thug OF the 1911 seLles,
Snodgrass Is doubtless good player, put
II is good betting that he Is not nedIy 50
good a no thinks he is. To begin win, ne
is offensive in his freshness-a habit Wihcn
he could he cured of II me uinPirfbs na bae h got
ali the bad traits Of the late curt NelCn,
but when II comes down 70 playing inc
game the latter could have discarded leg
and then beaten him TO II. Like tne
iamented Welch. Snodgrass has developed
the habit Of being hit Intentionally WIN
the ball but he does II In sueh shoe.
maker fashion tn9f tUe Only N'iiiSi N'..+
anv umpire ever falls for II. Welch dld
il so artistically that the umpires, thougn
nrettv sure that he could have avoided
being hit. we're compelled 10 give MIN me
benefit Of the doubt In order 70 antnl neaa on on
a base as a salve for being hit with
pitched ball was changed ana no pla!eI
was permitted to walk who was my on tne
arm below the elbow or on the hand. Ihat
ruln remained in force for years, and win
the exception Of the foul strike rule, whicn
Ned Hanlon declares was evolved tor li.e
purpose Of preventing Roy Thomas g,, get
ting 10 first so often on balls. was the ohiy
Piece of rules making aimed AT single
player that the "Old Sport can recall.
Give Snodgrass the benefit Of every
doubt and admit that he did not intend
10 suike Baker; that he was only trying 70
knock the ball out Of his hand, and the
result Is the same RI he did II purposelY
persons who Witnessed the incident-3e
should be summarily dealt with. and NOT
permitted 70 play i'm game until ne mas
learned 10 control his homicidal mania; lt
he cannot control his impulse 10 sink his
cruel sYfkes into the flesh and blood OF an
iroffansfve opponent he should not be al
lowed 70 play anyhow. such evidences or
wanton cruelty and bloodthirstiness are a
lasting disgrace 10 the game
The fact that during Bakers first season
with the Athletics he was slightly spiked
by Tv Cobb is seized as preteNt by some
of Snodgrass's defenders 10 Justify the
Iattar's action on Tuesday They claim
that he PLAYS the base awkwardly, and that
some day he Will he permanently disabled
II he persists IN his present style or cover
ing the bag Among those who take this
Jew Of II Is Hughev Jennings. What could
be more natural than this apostle and OK
ponent ~ dirty ball unfolding the manning
idea ~ aggressive play-the kind Of play
which killed the game in Baltimore, de-
spite the fact that II was represented oN
ono Of the greatest combination of pla%-
org ever gathered tccothnr in ono team.
and tho kind that killed the game In Clcyo-
land under Tcbeau other managers and
near managers all with Broadway aftili1-
tions harm on the same string. hut thc
vast majority Of the critics and tho spec
tators saw what occurred. and seeing did
not hesitate 70 express the opinion That
Raker was the victim of the most coward
Is and wanton attack known IN the history
Of the game.
II Is generally understood tht: "0l1
Sport" Is the nom De plume Tor Frank
Hough. who is n stockhoder in the Ph.la-
delphla American Teague club. His criti-
cism. therefore. loses much Of its sting.
The comment is reprinted here 10 show
vhv so many Philadelphia fans who
could not Judge for themselves, have been
melted 10 hootirG and bowling n tn"
Giants. II not to deeds Of violence. which
tavo been enormously reported.
"Old Sport" says confidently that a vast
ma toritv % the spectators" agree with him.
but does not explain how he secured their
evidence. 4 number Of fans" not Only in
this citv. but In Philadelphia. have er-
pressed the opinion that eXasgeratc1 state
ments do more harm to baseball than
dozen spikings One said yesterday:
MISREPRESENTATION and unfair criticism
Of PLAYS I'm baseball do moro TO hurt the
sport and bring 1t 10 III repute than any
thing that happens on the field have no
b,iof 10 write for Snodsrass. but the Incl
dent has been grossly exaggerated and
abused by those who must write with
blood on their pens. Hal chase has lost
friends bv his signed articles. and those
who are making capital or trying TO out Of
the play in question. by constant repetition,
for the lack OF a game to write about. are
work,ne an incalculahle injury to the
game"
Walter Johnson. the strike-out specialist
~ the American League, has been engaged
+, ritch for the Metropolitans to-day when
thev take the field against Ty Cobb's All
star team, AT Lenox Oval, l45th street and
r.anox avenue. Cobb will play first base
Among the other stars on Cobb's team will
be Mcbride. Joe Lake. Germany Schao-
for Kritcheu. and Jack Quinn. Of the
Yankees The last named VIII ptch. The
Nets who have made a great record this
season. will tc reinforced by several other
big league stars. The game Will begin at 5
I. m.
MAINE EASILY BEATS VERMONT.
nrnnn Nc Oct 2l-ContrarY 20 eNnncta-