The Washington herald., 1911-02-28
BETTING SYNDICATE
MENACES BASEBALL
Future of Game Periled by
New Gambling Project.
PATRONS DENoUNCE SCHEME
BoOkmaking Element, Driven Ont OF
Horse Racing, Resorts to National
Pastime to Repair Its Lost For
tunes-Odds of to 5 offered ON
Giants-Lengue Heads to Act.

New York, Feb. 27.-Sporting men in tho
larger cities of the country received to
day by express quotations from betting
syndicate that is willing to accept wagers
on professional baseball games. Base
hall men were quick to denOunce the
scheme. Leading patrons of the sport in
this city declared that the injection of
gambling into professional baseball would
wreck the game eventually if the evil
was not crushed out at the outset. 1t is
understood that immediate steps will be
taken by the National and American
League officers to check If possible this
menace to the game.
The bookmaking element that was driv-
en- out of horse racing by the passage Of
many anti-racing laws has evidently re-
sorted to baseball to repair its lost for
tunes. The total number of baseball
fans is in the millions. This syndicate.
with a home office at Newport. Ky, has
spread circulars broadcast. offering to
make books on the National and Ameri-
can League and American Association
races. Years ago baseball was almost
wrecked by the introduction of open
gambling. Gamblers followed teams
around the circuit and made books in the
stands. They reached certain players,
owners saw that the evil would wreck
the game. so they acted against it
Game Survived Crisis.
1t was forbidden to make bets CT any
kind in the ball parks. and welI-known
gamblers were not admitted. Profession
al baseball pulled through this crisis. and
it has reached its present prosperous
state removed from any gambling inf
ences. II the present proposition. how
ever, is allowed to go through the future
of baseball will be in danger
The betting syndicate announces that
it is prepared to accept commissions on
any amount over $. The circular stipu-
lates that commissions should be sent
by express, telegraph, or telephone.
Quotations are made as follows: Odds
to ). are offered that New York finishes
first in the National League. The Giants
price for second is to ) and l to for
/ third place. In the American League
| Philadelphia is favorite at to ), to ,
for second, and to for third place.
! To quote from tl.e Company's circular:
THE company's OBJECT is TO give the
! baseball enthusiasts thc"chance to sup
! port their judgment. TO tbs end quota
| tions have been prepared which will be
! found on other pages of this booklet.
Here the patron can support his opinion
| of how the teams will finish in the Ma
| tional League, the American League. and
! the American Association. In the straight
| race for the pennant in these three base
ball organizations 1t will be possible to
support the judgment either for first,
| second. third. or forth place.
| Then another set OF quotations have
| been prepared for club against club
The merits of one team and dement's OF
the other furnish the material for lot CT
argument in baseball, and when one might
| not feel as if he had a certainty in chOos-
| ing the winner in any of these three bIse-
| ball leagues he might have a decided
I opinion as to how one club has II on the
| other. and the company makes it possible
for him to support his Judgment in this
| matter. The quotations which follow
include nearly every proposition in base
ball on which one could realize on his
| Judgment.
| Can Bet on Half Season.
TO expedite matters and to make
quicker action. something dear to the
American people. one will be able to sup
port his judgment on how the clubs will
stand at the end of the first half of the
| season. That is matter of choice. One
can wait until the end Of the season. or,
! if desired. can support his judgment for
! the briefer period. The standing on the
night of July will determine the half
season. This, of course, will include the
games played on that day. This standing
and that of the final one for the season
will be the official standing as fur
| nished by the three leagues. Let this be
clearly understood. your commission can
| be placed on the half season or on the
whole season, and whichever way it is
desired, must be designated with the Of
fering of the commission.
This does not apply alone to the quota
tions on first, second, third. and fourth
place, but can also be done on the club
VS.. club propositions"