Evening journal., 1911-09-23
SUCCESS in
TRI-STATE
York Writer Tells Why Read
Ing and Trenton Made
Good This Year
SAYS OTHER TEAMS
PLAYED CHEAP MEN

with one exception teams in the
Tri-State League claim to have lost
money during the past season-that
is Reading. the champion aggregation,
says the York, Pa. Dispatch.
I'm the City Of Pretzels the fans
turned out to witness the games in
goodly numbers, and as a result the
Coughlin-Cockill combination went
ahead, both financially and athletic
ally. There is a reason for this con-
dition. which should be true OF every
other club in the league.
"Bill Coughiin and George Cockill.
the managers of the Reading club.
worked hand in hand with the fans
throughout the season. What was
good enough for any other town was
not too good for Reading, and when
ever there was an opportunity of i'm
proving conditions Messrs. Coughlin
and Coclzill never failed to embrace
It. This won them the fans support
and the team held II always. This
was not attained all at once, however.
Coughlin and Cocldll had TO show
Reading fans first. They did so and
the fans then began 10 SHOW" Cough
lin and Cockill.
THAT this condition did not obtain
in other of the Tri-Statc League cities
is due to the attitude Of the manage
ment Of the various club. They Of
fered the fans a mediocre quality Of
baseball, hired q squad of underpaid
and incapable players and palmed
them off on the baseball public as
HnrohnII fThl~ 4 he rrs4Hfffol,
that prevailed in every city except
Reading and Trenton. Those two
teams we're the only ones really de-
serving of support in any large de-
gree.
Reading and Trenton are exam
pies OF the contention that cities the
size Of those in the Tri-State can
support good ball clubs.
"Of course Reading Is larger than
several of the other towns on the
Carpenter circuit, but not enough big
ger to cause any material difference.
That Reading prospered this year and
made money is sure indication that
other clubs could have done the
same had they furnished the article
Of ball they should have.
when the season was over in
Reading the fans rendered the team
a banquet There the players made
speeches saying how giad they we're
to play in Reading and how they
appreciated the support Of the fans.
The fans complimented Managers
Coughlin and Cocldll for their gentle
rnenly conduct OF the team and in
Tasery instaxcs tbouquets were ex-
changed This is as Il should be IN
York and other towns Baseball Is
not a success nor win It be until the
fan and the management hold each
others confidence.
''The tight policy OF the manage
ment Of the various clubs in the
league is responsible in large de-
gree for the poor attendance. The
price Of admission to the grounds was
not cheaper in other towns than in
Reading and Trenton, but the fan was
given a much poorer class OF baseball.
The fan began 10 fight He grew
restless and finally disgusted when
the teams were not strengthened and
no effort was made to better the
quality of baseball.
Baseball is a public Institution
just as much as theatres. railway
companies, hotels and the like-an
institution supported by the public
The patron will go TO the hotel where
he receives the best accommodation
to the theatre where he see the besi
performance, will ride upon the rail.
road Offering the best inducement L
comfort and safety. The same q
true of baseball fanatics. They will
80 to the baseball park where the,
see the best quality Of baseball Wher
there is no effort to improve. no ef
fort even to maintain. the fan stop
going. SO II has been in the Tri
State. So It will be until the man
agement of the various teams come {,
realize their predicament.