New-York tribune., 1912-03-12
TIMELY BITS OF SPORT
Time for Beginning Baseball
Games Left to a Vote.
so JOHN T. BRUSH DECIDES
Gates Will Be Labelled so That
Test Can Be Made for
Some Time.

York Giants has decided b leave the ques-
ton of time for beginning the basebali
games at the Polo Grounds to the fans,
and to this end he has instructed }. j.
/ O'Brnn secretary of the club, to make tire
test early in the season. rather mover
plan has been devised to settle the ques-
lion. No regular votes will be cast out
followers OF the team can express their
opinions by passing through one or the
other Of two gates, marked 3:59 CLOCK ana
{ O'Clock. The vote II such 1t may be called
will last through the series between the
Eastern clubs, and the regulars in this way
will have an opportunity to emphasize their
choice by voting on each day.
I Mr.. Brush gives his reasons for calling on
the "fens" to decide in a letter from san
Antonio, Tex to the baseball writers and
sporting editors in this city. He says:
/ \ change in the tine for starting the
games 1T the Polo Grounds Is called Tor,
some iayOrlns o'clock some $50 anu
CthtrS protesting against any Cnan5e from
the traditional o clock hour.
MY chief interest lies hrst IN the artlsuc
end Of the sport next the accommodation
OF the pubic with due regard Tor the
wishes OF those who by their presence anu
| financial support have made II possible lor
/ the game 10 exist and reach Its present
high position in the realm OF lawfui' legl-
innate sports.
/ Arguments reach me from all directions
/ from those fayoring change ana from
| those opposed, and from them Sather the
motives that prompt their desires.
/ In 1902 there were seats tor 5,0li In tne
gTandstdud and 1,Vb IN the DleacheTs. hu-
dtions were made 10 both each year there-
after from necessity until 1910, wnen grand
stand capacity reached 1887 and oleacher
/ 1899
/ at o'clock. which would indicate that the
/ hour for starting had not been detrimental
! OF course il Is impossible to say how mucn
more or less successful II might have been
: at 3, or $3.50, but that II was success
starting at o'clock cannot be denied.
! | would not dare ask McGraw TO change
winning combination II he had one that
was running smoothly and successfully IL
/ / did. l would want TO be at the North Pole
or some other place where he could not get
at me-
/ The most frequent complaints OF the 4
! o'clock hour that reach me come from
those who live In Brooklyn, Jersey City,
/ Newark, YOnkers and White Plains. While
an earlier hour would satisfy those en-
| thusiasts. Il would need 10 start still earlier
to accommodate the fans who live beyond
the points mentioned.
While IL Is desirable 10 entertain all those
from outside OF the city. proper, yet our
first consideration must be to those VINO
live within reasonable distance Of the park
The New York Club Is essentially an In
sttution beloneing to Manhattan. For
the extreme end OF the islands population;
| to-day IL isn't so very far removed from
| the centre, with facilities for reaching
| home after the game greatly increased ana
with additional facilities for the Iear fut-
| ure in sight
I am asked how the commuters who de-
sire to reach home for dinner are going to
| arrange 10 escape their desks In time to
reach the Polo grounds at $3.50? II so. who
are they? Are there enough OF them 70
| overbalance those who cannot close until
! 3 or Sl5? II Is pointed out that those VINO
can leave their business at 2:3O could leave
| at 2 as well, and IL would not matter 10
| them how early the game started so that IL
did not interfere with their lunch hour.
The financial district OF New York Is the
busiest spot on this continent from a. m.
| until p. m There are hundreds OF thou
sands OF workers there. They are under
sentence until 3 o'clock; then they escape,
! and they are fifty minutes away from the
/ ball park. Undaunted by the prospects or
a cold DINNER. watch them some tine as
the last train before the gamp arrives from
! lower Manhattan.
The argument is advanced that the early
hour In the West is proving successful.
There is nothing I'm any city In tho west
or In the league cities combined that ap-
OF people engaged therein that measures up
with what is known as the financial district
OF the city OF New York.
In Chicago the Stock Exchange closes at
I . o'clock and the Board OF Trade at ] 80.
Their business isn't big enough 10 JUSTIFY
keeping open any longer consequently,
there is no reason for the late start Tor the
benefit OF their members.
I appreciate fully the advantage that
would accrue 10 the writer's from an
earlier start. part OF their work comes
after the games, but II must be Temem-
bered that all who work at baseball-play-
ers. officials, employees and laborers-do
the same. and their work consumes from
thirty minutes TO an hour after the game
with the dinner hour inconvenience ahd'
| TO paraphrase.
| So runs the world away"
I MY deductions have been based upon
| what has been said to me by patrons
To secure an absolute line OF the real fact
| ! am going TO give the patrons an oppor-
tunity TO vote their preference at the hrst
| series with the Eastern clubs.
! We will divide the 50-cent entrances INTO
| s.3O and o'clock chutes. Label them
| plainly, allowing people to choose as th9y
! enter which chute they prefer SO the man
who pays 50 cents is recorded on the
| turnstile as in favor OF $3.50 or o'clock,
! according to the entrance no uses. Ihe
/ same arrangement will be carried out with
respect to the i5-cent and 81 entrances
The stiles registering for or against this
| method will include only those VINO attenu
! the games, and only when they attend
The individual who comes once during tne
| series Will have ono vote, While he VINO at
| tends FIVE games will have five votes or his
/ preference The regulars and the occasion
| ais have exactly what Is due them IN eN-
| preston OF preference.
The New York State League baseball
schedule will be adopted at the annual
| meeting OF the club owners. to be held at
! Syracuse to-day. Changes are expected
to be made In President Farrels tentative
draft, especially with regard to the week.
end games. Blnghamton and Elmira are
| at odds over the award OF holiday dates.
and their objections to the schedule will
| be put before the owners
Mike Murphy. trainer OF the University
OF Pennsylvania track team, who has been
in poor health since last fall, made his
first appearance for the season on Frank
lin Field yesterday. He said his health
Is much improved and that he will take
active charge of the track candidates as
soon as the weather will permit outdoor
work. He expects to he In good condition
when the time arrives for him to 80
abroad with the American candidates for
the Olympic games.
Wendover, Utah, Is no longer a candidate
for the championship battle between Jack
Johnson and Jim Flynn. Spokesman for
the business men who gave encoura cement
to Jack Curly say that any attempt TO
finance the battle has been given up.
n Efnpi1n1