The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-06-23
MAY be
LAST SEASON 1T
BENNETT PARK
Navin Says Bugs Must Inz
Out Better or Town VIII
Be Forced Out of the
League.
Is the American League About a.
See Baltimore's History Re-
peatedi Asks jennings.
BY PAUL Hale sRuskG.

BY PAUL HALE BRusKE.
Are the Tigers playing their last
season as the defenders Of Bennett
park?
Ask that question OF Presidenc
Frank j. Navin and he will give you (
a non-committal answer. AS nat {
ter OF fact there Is chance thai,
this may be the case Detroit must
rally TO the support OF her ball club
or face very serious danger OF lQe-
ing II. getting In its stead. team IN
the American association or some
other minor league.
Poor attendance at the home eauess
of the Tigers has brought about the
present condition. For some reasonl
the supporters of baseball have grown,
apathetic this season. and. instead OF
visiting the park In numbers war;
ranted by the play OF the team which
has led the league without a break
since the opening of the season, they,
seem to he ftlracted now only by the
presence Of the three other clubs OF
the first division In the league race.
Other Clubs Are Sore.
This Is O condition which cannoc
long prevail. Unless the bugs turn
out at a reasonable rate when Wash
ington, Cleveland, Chicago and St
Louis are playing here, those clubs
Will make strong effort to GUST this
city from the league-a proceeding
perfectly possible. in case the man
agement Of the club can be made
placable.
That such a condition Is In evidences
was brought out by the rumor, from
st. Louis OF astransfer OF the Browns
and Tigers. According to President
Navin, there is no truth In this re-
port.
II have never considered any deal
OF that sort and have had no talk or
correspondence about II. except I'm o
general way" said Mr.. Navin. But,
unless the crowds turn out ketterrdt<<
our home games. something or that
sort ia sure to happen sometime.
Tigers Most Costly Club.
"The expenses of the Detroit club
are the highest In baseball. They
amount to $150.000 year. speaking
in round numbers. This is virtually
$1,000 day for the season. To break
even at home requires crowd OF
about $500 persons. And the visiting
club gets considerably less than we
do. on account of the advantage We
have In keeping the proceeds from
the sale OF reserved seats.
I'VE played to 1888 paid admis-
sions yesterday. The day before we
had 4,225. Half of the crowd each 4
day was comprised of outsiders and
special parties.
"Of course, this Is bit above ex-
penses. But the club has beeli lead
ing the league. In times OF prosper-
ity we have to prepare for adversely.
No club can expect to make money as
general proposition, when II Is only
paying expenses with club that /
leads the league. S
"The other clubs cant stand fors
such a condition OF affairs. Wash
ington and st. Louis, for instance, :
can't expect to make money al home.
from those OF their town who are
willing to pay to see them beaten
every day or so. They expect to get
their big money on the road. wueI
playing in the towns that have VII
ming teams. Poor baseball In DctroI
makes lean receipts for the year for
the other clubs. Sc
Won't a Winner Pay7
Il don't know what is the matter
with Detroit fandom. thought when
entered baseball that. II got to-
gether a winning club, the fans would
do the rest. The Detroit management
has spent more money In keeping up
fits winning club, than has any other
club in either big league. Old timers
told me was wrong in my belief that
good baseball would prove a money!
maker. I didn't believe 1t then bu<
now I'm inclined to think that they
were right.
"Hughie jennings told me some
time ago that he could see that De-
troit was following the way Of Balti-
more which, after similar expert
ence with a pennant winner, seemed .
to grow apathetic and lost It's fran
chise. its team being transferred to
Brooklyn. Baltimore is crazy to get
a blg-league club now.
II won't say there Ia any 9eal on
now for the transfer OF the club.
There isn't. As far as the st. Louis
switch Is concerned, that would be
absurd, for the Browns wouldn't
draw flies here. When Detroit loses
the Tigers, IL will be doomed 70
minor league ball.
Il hope that the club may never
have TO be taken away. But. " thu
fans don't support II better than theg
are doing now. they will surely lose
the Tigers won't even be able ~ !,
have any option In the matter"
Same Way In 1883.
Fandom In general finds Il hard 20
explain the apathy OF the regulars
this year Some OF them lay Il 70
Detroit's peculiar lack Of civic pride
Others point 10 the fact that The city'o
only former pennantwinner was %
noorly supported the following seo-
son that the National franchise v{s
taken away.