New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-14
Baseball on the Crest of a Tidal
Wave in This Country.
GOOD FRIENDS FOR RACING
Sir Thomas Upton Sure to Get
a Race This Time for the
Americas Cup.
lBX Herbcrt.l

(By Herbert)
If any test was needed 10 establish the
popularity Of baseball it was forthcom-
ing last week. Il required a deal Of en-
thusiasm and some courage TO sit for
three hours in an open stand, with the
biting winds. which in the proper order
Of things should have left these parts
In March. numbing fingers and toes. In
spite Of the most unfavorable conditions,
however. the fans" turned out in good
lv numbers 10 welcome the return Of their
,avorite sport Baseball is great leVeller
and appears TO be on the crest. almost
Of tidal wave. Unless all signs fail. IT
will hold a more forward place this year
than ever before as everything points
TO close. hard fought races for the two
major league pennants. and much pros
pcrity for those who own and maintain
the various teams. This popularity is
based on a firm and general conviction
that the sport of professional baseball is
honest. There are those. of course. who
can see little good in anything and who
welcome the slightest provocation to rail
at this or that. but the rank and file OF
those who support the game are not
easily blinded and have reason To feel
satisfied that the directors in the two
major leagues. the national commission
and the national board. which govern
the minor leagues. are working dilGent-
~ and with purpose single TO maintain
inc d high standard and keeping the
game above reproach In truth. II IS
cause for comment that there is so little
to crticise and so much to applaud IN a
sport that Of necessity is 50 largely COM
mercialized. It's government however Is
built on a strong foundation and therein
lies the chief reason for the general ad-
miration that baseball commands.
John j. McGraw and his Giants suffered
rude shock on Thursday, when fairly
umbled before a big opening day crowd
by a team that finished d bad last year
ago. It was bad enough to sit there shiv-
oring and see the National League cham
pions smote hip and thigh as it were. by
PLAYERS held in so little respect But far
more distressing to me was the trikinS
exposition Of the hopeless fckleness of the
average fans" II was disgusting and
into loud applause when Larry Doyle
finally retired a runner after the Braves
had scored four runs in the ninth inning.
II was cutting in its sarcasm, and a show
of feeling that could have been spared
until the Giants proved that il was de-
served. Preaching will do little good but
there is some satisfaction i'm condemning
the kind Of applause which carries only
jecr.
II may he said i'm this connection that
Boston looked like the best team IN the
world as it played on Thursday. The
llavers simply could not make a mistake.
and dazzling stops and brilliant catches
were the rule rather than the exception
Hub Perdue. too. as / pointed out i'm this
column week ago, is real pitcher. VINO
would make his mark with team like
the Giants. Red SoX. Pirates or Athletics
II may be recalled that one year ago Per-
due played the same trick on the Giants.
when he shut them out by score of to
In the opening game in Boston. II is a
long way to the worlds championship
series in October and those who scoffed
or Thursday will be cheering long before
that time.
Fate. luck or whatever YOU please dealt
George Mcconnell a cruel blow in Wash
jngtcn last Thursday. After outpitchins
the great Walter Johnson. 1t was nothing
short of irony for him 10 make q wild
throw which opened the way for the de-
feat Of the Yankees by the Senators.
The weather was so cold and raw that
France Chance pocketed his pride and re-
manned on the bench. when it had been
his ambition 10 lead the Yankees or the
field in the opening game. II is wise
manager who knows when discretion IS
the better part Of yalor
Racing after lapse Of almost three
wears has not lost its friends-and good
friends. too That the fund being raised
10 aid the associations which have under
taken the somewhat difficult task Of re-
viving the sport has reached total or
close 10 100000 is clear indication of the
vhole-hearted interest. This money is
being subscribed outright to increase the
values of the various stakes which have
been opened or will be opened, and not, as
was the case three and four years ago. TO
insure the associations against loss. with
= fair chance for a liberal comeback. II
those who complained the loudest when
the gates Of the tracks were closed VIII
lend the same support as these sportsmen
who have put their hands in their pockets
from pure love Of the thoroughbred. then
racing will not be long i'm coming back
into its own, and that, too. without pubic
bookmaking and its attendant evils.
August Belmont, who has worked so
hard and earnestly for the rehabilitation
NJ racing and the thoroughbred breeding
industry can be congratulated for what