South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-07
STAGE ALL SET
FOR OPENING Of
WORLD s SERIES
First Battle For Baseball Su-
premacy on Polo Grounds
May be Halted by InCIement
Weather.

NEW YORK. oct. THE stage is
set and Tuesday the curtain will rise
on the final act OF the 1913 base 1aII
drama Behind the scenes the Phila-
delphia Athletics and the New York
Giants are at their stations ready for
the cue that will send them int the
lime light OF the world series.
Spectators from all parts II ine
United States are ready for tho rush
on the Polo grounds and only the
menace OF the weather stands be-
tween thousands OF fans and III. 1ui-
fiilment OF their expectations
Unsettled conditions" was the du-
bious prediction for Tuesday
Whether the weather fOreCSster be
right OF wrong the fact remains that
unsettled conditions is the keynote
on the eve Of play. The players. fans
and prophets are all in the same boat.
Odds Are Nine to Ter.
Neither managers nor players will
venture "a straight prediction as to
the result OF either The first game or
OF the series The Athletic supporters
in Philadelphia are offering ten to
nine on Connie Macks team. while
the New York club supporters are
willing 10 lay similar odds when bait
ed in their own bailiwick.
Professional bOokmakers offer tC
10 with the better making his own
choice as TO the probable winner.
SO far as actual wagering is con-
cerned there has been less betting
than usual. The amounts range from
So 10 $50 and many are OF the freak
variety the pitchers for
the opening game; total number OF
games I'm the series, and similar
propositions.
The uncertainty o fthe ultimate out
come and the apparent evenness IN
playing strength of the cOntendne
clubs furnished unlimited material for
argument. The supporters Of Mathew
son and Marquard advanced q score
OF reasons why Manager McGraw
should start their favOrites against
the Athletics; and the fans from 3a;l-
adelphia smiled and gently inserted
into the argument "A mention % J.
Franklin Baker and what his TRASHY
home run bat did during the series -
1911.
Players Slip Away.
In the midst of the turmoil of Tan
ming" the players Of the two clubs
slipped away early and tried to calm
frayed nerves with sleep. The mem
hers OF the New York club retireL to
their homes several hours before mid
night and even the literary characters
among them dropped pens and pencils
in order that the bat might prove IF
fective on the morrow. The entire
Philadelphia club. accompanied Oy a
number OF ''roOters' arrived IN the
city shortly after o p. m. and retired
at once TO an uptown hotel.
While the principal actors in the
great climax OF the baseball year were
wooing sleep. the ticket spectators
and the baseball public were far more
active. Despite the plans and protes-
tations OF the New York National
league club officials the New York
ticket Spectator proved his right TO
the title Of King Of his craft Al
though there were but 5000 reserved
seats sold by the club 10 a selected
list OF patrons. a certain percentage Of
the coupons quickly found their way
into the hands of the ticket vendors
who offered them at prices many
times over their face value There
was the usual CRY OF scandal and
investigation. but old timers smiled
and spoke Of similar previous eXpeT-
fences which resulted in much talk
but no action.
Fabulous Prices Asked.
Because OF the fact that but 5000
OF the s. 600 seats were disposed OF
in the advance sale, the opportunities
for spectators to secure tickets were
not as great as in the past COnse-
ouently those that were available corn
for the three New Y Ork games were
toffered at prices ranging from $50 to
$500. according 20 locations. Single
seats for the opening game We're
quoted at sac each and found ready
purchasers even at ten times their
sOriginal price.
James F. Gaffney. president and
owner OF the Boston National league
club applied to the New y Ork club for
lforty-six seats as was his privilege as
"a club owner and member Of the Sc
ilect list He stated that the local club
officials told him that none was avail
able.
The BOSTON club executive thereup-
on went on the street and purchased
sixteen tickets for $500. With these
rs evidence he went before the Ma
tional commission and explained the
situation. In a statement given out
later the commission said that the
New York club officers knew the
original holders Of the seats. but were
not ready TO make the names public.
Blocks Of seats were sold TO city off
Cials and IL was reported that those
which Gaffney bought were thought
70 be from some such source. The
members OF the National commission
stated that any action in the matter
would he deferred until later in the
week
Teams From Alaska.
Baseball enthusiasts who had made
Journeys Of thousands Of miles were
not Influenced hy the remarks OF the
National commission and continued
their hunt for speculator. Two
thirty IilIU DEGREE rams from AlaS-
ka offered $50 for set or three
tickets but continued the search
when the sharp featured vendor de-
1nanded 500 and refused To diCker.
a trio OF Texas enthusiasts paid
SIS for three seats.
The National commission appeared
20 be more interested in the cases Of
the PLAYERS who were supposed TO
write special articles on the worlds
series than IN the activities OF the
spectators After a meeting 10 con-
slider this and other features Of the
series. Garry Hermann said:
The commission feels Just the same
about ball players writing for the
newspapers as II did when il made its
announcement ln Cincinnati some
DAYS ago We do not feel that
player IN an important series who
writes stories OF the game can give
his best efforts 10 his club How
ever. since the commission decided
that players shall not write foI the