New-York tribune., 1912-02-19
COMMENT ON SPORTS
openinu Baseball Conflict Not
Likely to Work Hardship
JOHNSON NOT REAL CAR
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' ,.eoroebodv must have pulled the WOOL
over Ban Johnson's eyes" writes reader
% The Tribune in commenting on what
,ractically amounts TO a conflicting GATE
tetween the Yankees and the Giants on
the onenine dav Of the season. This is pos
soIe but hardly probable. although 1t is
hard TO understand why the Nauonai
League champions should begin the race for
another pennant in Brooklyn, when, In tair-
ness 10 the Yankees, whose tuIn II Is 10
open here, they should have gone 10 Boston
with the Phinies across the bridge taclt
understanding was reached several years
ago. when the late Harry PulIam was
president of the National League. that the
Giants should not play in Brooklyn on 'he
Of years, when the Yankees begin the sea-
son on the hilltop. At that time, however
baseball djd not hold such a forward place
in popular favor and, moreover, the Giants
had a much bigger following and conse-
quently were in q position TO oraw many
fans" from American League Park VINO
otherwise would have welcomed the chahce
70 get their first taste Of baseball after
long closed season. In measure the SAINT
condition obtains to-day, but for the rea'
son this time that the Giants have the
prestige behind them Of capturing the pen
nant last year, which means that ths
fans" would rather see them in action
.bar the Yankees. who wound up In the
second division in l9ll
In point Of fact, however, the craze loi
baseball is such that in all probability Doth
parks will be packed to their fuii Capa''t'
and consequently no hardship wiz O'
worked. This no doubt accounts LOT pai
Johnson, president Of the American Lea
agreeing to the conflict when the Sc"eu,
ules we're framed and for Frank Farle''
owner OF the New York Club' acceptihs
when the dates were approved at the meet
ing OF the American League in chicago ."
"wednesday Ii is quite possible also tha'
no objections were filed because OF the ldc'
that the American League was ASKING
favor of the older organization, lnasmuch
as II was the turn of the Boston Red SoA
10 open at home and their new park Woulu
not be ready in time. To overcome tills
difficulty Il was necessary 10 ask the fHlI-
lies forgive up their opening date "H'eh
they did. possibly for consideration. II
would have been much fairer If the sched-
ule makers had sent the Giants to Boston
and brought the Phllies TO Brooklyn IN
which case the Yankees and their followers
would have had no cause for grievance
but in truth there is no reason for the
fans" TO be exercised, inasmuch as those
most concerned appear TO be satisfied.
The rules committees of the two major
leagues failed IN their full duty by not
holding joint meeting. There are several
nlooted questions and interpretations OF the
code which need Strengthening out and II
is q CRYING shame that any action can be
blocked by the whims Of one league or the
other. AS it happened this time. the Ma
iional League committee was anxious to
hold joint meeting, and invited the mem
bers of the American League committee to
a conference, but the latter failed to re-
pond beyond an informal meeting of the
respective. chairmen. This means that a
number Of minor Improvements. most i'm
portant in their way cannot be made and
that uupires must be guided on certain in
trepretauons only by the rulings made by
the president II one league or the other.
The needed changes were enlarged on in
this column week ago, but there is little
or TO use to recall them, inasmuch as the
reforms cannot be worked for another year
Al least