The Washington herald., 1911-01-17
By WILLIAM PEET.

Statistics published in another column
| show the attendance figures of botl
| leagues during the season of 1910. and
several others drew larger crowds on TIT
road than at home.
"Now, why is this the fan inquiries.
There are several reasons to be ad
! vanced. First of all. the National Capita
| in point of population is the smallest il
! the league. Secondly, under Jimmy Nc
Aleer, the club always put up a goo'
! fight, and no matter where the team
played the fans were assured of thei
moneys worth. Thirdly. Walter johnson
! is universal favorite around the circuit
and the mere announcement that he wa
| slated to work usually brought out sew
eral hundred more fans than would at
| tend ordinarily.
In Boston the Nationals are more pop
! ular than in any other city in the East
New York comes next. and then>Phila
delphfa. In the West. Chicago seems th'
best city, and Sunday games alway:
pack Comiskeys ball yard.
The fans of Washington have no ide;
how great a man is Walter johnson il
the eyes of the fans throughout thu
American League circuit. For instance
in Boston they not only flock out to the
ball park in large numbers when he i
slated to work. but pass by and drop into
the hotel where the club is stopping, just
a catch glimpse of the big fellow.
Then again. Doc Gessler is still popular
in the Hub. and New York fans have moi
quite forgotten Kid Elbeffeld.
In looking over the attendance figures
it is seen that Washington easily beat out
ST. Louis in point of drawing crowds. and
the Mound City is nearly twice the size
of the Capital.
King Cole, the young twirler who
pitched the only game the Cubs won dur
ing the worlds series. believes that he
has found a way to put new twist on
the horsehide. Cole says:
II discovered an odd freak Of a curve
Just after the season closed. I practiced
it in Bay City. and found out that it
might be turned into a winner. I thought
that il l could perfect it. it would be
Just the sort of Il delivery to battle hit
ters who take a mighty swat at the ball,
like Hans Wagner and Sherwood Magee.
I'm going to work hard during the
spring training trip and perfect that
curve, SO as TO nave IL IN SOOO WORKING
order by the time the season opens. Then
you watch and see
Home papers of Messrs. Magee. Was-
ner, Konetchy, Mitchell, and Doyle please
COPY They may be interested.
Johnny Evers' broken leg seems to have
mended in record time. and he expects
to go South with the team instead of
joining it later in the season. He is
credited with the following statement in
a letter written at his home in Troy:
Il expect to be back in Chicago about
January 20. and I hope the weather is
cold, SO l can go skating. 1 have been
doing that here. and find it is helping my
ankle The stiffness is going out, and !
feel sure now that l will be ready to play
ball in the first game
The visionary Fletcher. who would
have promoted a new baseball league, at
a large profit to himself and thrown all
the risk of success upon the shoulders Of
the players, says that he has not finished
with his idea of making trouble for the
major leagues, and will take their play.
ers away from them at the end Of the
season Of 1911. About that time there
will be some who can be spared.
Meanwhile major league club owners
may as well keep an eye on this gentle
man, who Is likely to do his share to-
ward upsetting discipline II he does noth-
ing else. r he continues to negotiate