The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-26
tBy Hugh S. Fullerton.)

- 4AuSi =. L Qllc lOlI.y
Baseball has not ceased to be a
sport. But In addition to being the
nations chief sport 1t has become the
second amusement enterprise of the
United States and easily the principal
summer amusement enterprise.
While it is impossible to calculate
the amount Of money paid by patrons
to see baseball games last season. 1t is
roughly estimated that the sum was
close to s23,000.0 900. Of which over
$12.000,0 900 Vent to the big leagues
tile leagues of the country.
That sum. If it is anywhere near
correct, which it probably is, indicates
hat baseball is second only to the the
alter In Importance as an amusement
enterprise. The figures, of course, in
clude only the professional clubs UNI
der the protection Of the national
agreement and take no account Of the
movies" of baseball. which are the
semi-pro and the amateur clubs that
exist by tens Of thousands all over the
land. The point is that baseball has
come to DC such an important COM
mercial enterprise that the public
looks to it for it's chief source of sum-
mer amusement. Appealing to all
classes. as it does. the game is estab-
lished on n firm financial foundation.
and perhaps only those who are OWN
ers fail to grasp the true situation.
Progress. Shown on Stage.
The time was in a theater that the
owner was the stage manager. produce
er. and everything else. Then the
theater developed to the stage that the
owners developed the game to where.
money taking end of the business and
to develop an entirely new species {"
hov,At4 th4 V,IoS.;no 4~i - Sc x,:,
and again the thought they
could produce, and quite as frequent
~ there were managers and actors
who thought they could operate both
ends of the game. Except in are
cases neither succeeded.
The time was that the baseball own
er managed the team and played him.
self, but he outgrew that. Then the
owner was manager and finally he re-
tired and became owner alone, letting
some one else handle the team. Fin
ally. when the players and playing
owners developed tn game to where
moneyed men were willing to back the
enterprise with big suns. seeing great
returns In prospect.
The freakish part Of it is that these
moneyed men. who would have been
perfectly willing to draw big per-
centages from theaters or factories or
mines without trying to cut into the
work. do not appear able tn keep
ron trying to manage baseball clubs.
Owners Curse of Clubs.
That simple fact is the curse of
baseball and the source of most OF the
trouble and scandal that now threat
en- the sport with destruction. The
owners. after a time. think that they
can handle ball players. discover them,
and trade them as Well as any n
can. The feeling is natural. Almost
any one believes he could take a team
and make it win.
The truth is that only a rare genius
in handling men car make them play
together and get results. Even the
most competent men fail. They may
know ball players. they may he able
to handle men. MAJ possess executive
ability. and then get a position hand
ling me- who are entirely antagonists
to their ideas. and who will not he
handled by them. although another
person Of less ability may get along
we'll with them.
Why Farrell Wants Chance.
This idea was strongly impressed
when the proposition to take Frank
Chance to New York came up. The
great trouble with the Highlanders has
heen Hal Chase, who was the best ball
player or the team. Chase is of a dis
position that is difficult to handle.