Evening journal., 1912-12-31
CDnDTTNr VrAD
JI UNIAIVU ILHN
SHOWED CLASS
Resume Of the Work Perform
ed by Athletes Shows U. 5.
to be a World Winner


records in the sporting world In |
every line Of athletic endeavor, our
athletes did something to which we
can point with pride for years to
come
First in our minds is the perform
ance of the Americans at the Olympic /
games in Stockholm Sweden. The /
United States not only captured those
games but proved to the world that
she had the greatest allround athlete
of all times in James Thorpe, the Car
isle Indian There was plenty of
opportunity for rejoicing in Philadel
phia, too, for she sent Ted Meredith
and Donald Lippincott, who smashed
records at Stockholm. Roy Mercer,
who finished fourth in the Decathlon,
and other stars
In base ball It was a mighty sue
cessful season for the majority of the
major league clubs. Boston proved
the surprise of the year by first win
ming the American League pennant
and then the Worlds Series from the
New York Giants, National League
champions. Individually. Ty Cobb
was again the hero of the year. He
batted over 400 and led his league
for the sixth consecutive season.
Two titles changes hands in the
boxing world Willie Ritchie became
lightweight champion when he won
from Ad Wolgast on a foul on
4 Thanksgiving Day Johnny Kilbane
defeated Abe Atteli on Washington's
birthday and acquired the feather
weight crown. The heavyweight title
has virtually changed hands, although
Jack Johnson has not been, defeated.
The big colorcd man is down and out,
so far as gloved contests go and it is
doubtful whether any promoter
would dare to stage him.
Foot ball was more successful than
in past decades for the rule makers
had discovered code which made the
game practically free from danger Of
injuries and at the same time so spec
tacular and possible of scoring that
the games were decisively won in
nearly every instance. Harvard won
the championship defeating every op-
ponent.
Basket ball, cricket, tennis, golf,
polo, soccer track and field athletics,
swimming, squash racquets and rae
quets rowing, billiards and pocket
billiards, bowling-in fact many other
sports were contested in Philadelphia
and were a success from every view
point. That city leads in sports and
the United States holds the cham
piorshiB in nearly every athletic di-
version worth while. We have reason
TO celebrate.
Base ball advanced during the year
D.. Il rrHfN 8 nr
rapid strides which has characteriz-
cd its recent history. Last Fall, when
the Boston Red Sox licked the New
York Giants, 252,237 persons paid tc
witness the eight contests. The toA
receipts we're S49O.S33 Each club
owner received s147. .OSS.71. Each Bos.
ton player got S4,024.69 and each New
York player S2,566.47, a good season
salary for the majority OF them.
In 1911 the total attendance wa'
1891 and the total receipts S342,
3645O In 1910 the attendance was
124,424 and the total receipts Sl73,9S0
In 1909, 154.444 fans" paid TO witness
the contests and the receipts wer'
s18S. .3O2.5O. The 1908 series founS
only 62,232 paid admissions and S94,
1850 receipts In 1907, the attend
ance was 7S,O6S and the receipts S10l,
727. In 1906, 99.S46 saw the game
and paid S106.550.
Foot ball at last went through tn
season without having the opponent
of the game at its throat There wer
no serious injuries and no fatalitie
which could even be attributed to tn
college gridiron sport during 1912 an
even it's enemies are forced to admit
therefore, that the rule makers hav
performed good work.
The abolition of the Onside kick an
the greater latitude permitted the for
ward pass helped TO eliminate tn
danger. At the same time. the dis
tance to be gained was made ten yard
i'm four downs instead of three down
as formerly That increased the pos
sibilities of scoring and every bi
game was won by a score which lei
no doubt as to which team was super
Tor.
1t is unlikely that the game coul
have been changed so IL would hay
been nearer correct than il was Las
season The attack and defence weI
well equalized Not to the pOii
where no scoring could be done, bl
20 a degree where the stronger teal
got the touchdowns and field goals.
Boxing continued to thrive through
out the United States and to-day thel
are more clubs in the country an
more cities which permit glOved col
tests than there we're a year ago. TT
one blot on the 1912 history of pug
lism was the knockout" handed JaC
johnson, heavyweight champion,
the lava deserved knockout.
still holds the title, but is general
discredited
Three title holders are we'll define
Johnny CoultOn still holds the banta
weight crowd Johnny Kilbane gai
ed the featherweight laurels la
February when he licked Abe Atte
Willie Ritchie wrested the lightweig
title from Ad Wolgast.
Jack Johnson made himself gene
ally obnoxious to the public since
won the title, but he capped the clir
ak when he got into trouble with q
Federal authorities during 1912. Ov
an alleged white slave" offence.
is still under bail and may get j.
sentence. AT any rate, It Is doubtf
whether he will ever fight again, T
in no country will the authorities pc
nit contest to be staged in viii
the colored man is a participant.
Basket ball was more successful
Philadelphia during 1912 than ey
before without doubt, that ci
leads the world in the number of
dividual players. teams and leagn'
This has been due, in a large measu
to the tireless energy shown by w