South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-30
FACTORY LEAGUE
SEASON WOUND UP
AS Bic SUCCESS
More Enthusiasm Aroused Than
In Any Year Yet-Some
$500 Fans at Final Singer
BaII-Band Game.

There have been a lot OF ups and
downs in South Bend in a baseball
way. both artistfcalIy and financially,
but there has never been a season
which created so much interest as the
one Just closed by the Factory league.
The old town was full OF boosters
in / 903 when we first broke into the
Central league. and practically won
the pennant the first year. a lot OF
raving bugs were developed in 1910
when South Bend won the Central
league flag under the direction OF Ed
die Wheeler. but there was never
more earnest enthusiasm shown in q
baseball way than that which was dis
played during the closing days OF the
pennant race in the Factory league.
And TO think that this was created
and developed Of strictly South Bend
and Mishawaka material IL was
wide for talent and every member of
the six clubs. with the exception OF
one player on a Mishawaka club. was
of the home product variety. To think
that a little band Of fellows a Bit
sporty inclined can arouse the enthu-
siasm of practically the entire popu-
lation over a little baseball organiza-
ton the Factory league has accom-
plished much.
Success Of the artistic end OF the
league is explained in a few words.
namely. honesty of purpose by the
players, with little or any remunera-
ton except that Of winning a few tro-
phies at the close of the campaign.
Those are the motives which make
men fight in the world of sport which
do not require people long 10 discov-
er, who in turn VIII lend their moral
support and create sentiment and en-
thusiasm, which always spells sue
cess.
Crowd of $500 People.
However, the general public was
considerable time in discovering just
what was being brought TO and from
their doors. Every factory team in
the league had its followers in bugs
and fans, but not until the last two
weeks did the bugs at large appre-
ciate what a sporting event had been
developed in one schedule season OF
Factory league baseball. For a local
ball game to draw about 5000 people
and tn" day not being even a holiday.
for these were the attendance figures
for the final Singer-Ball Bands game,
IS sufficient that the public knew that
the Factory league was in existence.
In 1910 a Fort Wayne-South Bend
Central league game drew over 1000
people, but this was on a Sunday and
nearly 5000 people came from Fort
Wayne to compose that crowd. II
must be taken into consideration that
two other Factory league games were
in progress at the time of the Singer
Ball Band game, which were also we'll
which all goes TO prove that
the baseball spirit in South Bend is
far from dead.
Another reason TO which can be at
tributed the leagues success is the
fact that little or nothing was heard
from the business end of the organ
ization regarding their financial af-
fairs. The public at large cares little
or nothing about the financial end of
a ball club, but they are interested
in the artistic end of the game only.
The bugs care little If a club purchas-
es players for famulous sums in stage
money or if any Of the clubs have
sold or traded players to some other
league or club.
Yet it cannot be said that some OF
the club managers were not always on
the alert to spring some little coupe
on the public during some OF the
meetings Of the magnates. But better
counsel always prevailed and the re-
suits attained speak for themselves.
Scarcely a week passed during the
season that the directors did not meet
but what some club did not think IL
had a grievance of some kind where
discussion often assumed the SEM
blance Of a Mexican war office. which
sometimes drew forth bitter threats.
But in the end these men found
themselves fighting for each other
and for the good Of the sport and es-
tablished the best baseball organiza-
ton that ever graced the city.
Showed Fine Spirit.
The most prominent feature Of the
season was the clean manner in which
the games were played. During The
hottest Of games the players never
forgot they were gentlemen, no mat
ter what the difference Of opinion.
There were no pugilistic encounters
nor wOrdy wars. which always dis
gust the spectators, but instead all
protests We're carried direct TO off,
Gals. who had the matter in charge.
Although the players fought each 9TH
er TO the last ditch during the games.
the best Of friendly feeling prevailed
at all times among the players, which
is worthy Of the highest commenda-
ton.
During the first couple OF weeks OF
the schedule season few paid little or
any attention 10 the Factory league
and during the seasons infancy, by
reason Of the splendid start the Sin
ger club made this club was imme-
diately voted the championship. IN
this there was an error as the Stude-
baker club was plugging along splen-
didly. This gave an impression that
the only contenders Of the sewing
machine men would be the Studebak-
ers
The surprise Of the league was the
Ball Bands. who proved the final con-
tenders and gave the champions a
real tough fight for the honors. And
this club deserves much credit. Dur
inf the first couple OF weeks OF the
season the Ball Bands were hugging
the bottom Of the percentage column.
they showing their heels only 10 the
South Bend Chilled PlOw Co. team.
a little hustling and agTessiveness
with couple Of small deals. the man
agement Of this club had a team that
compared very favorably with the
best Of them in the league and the
grand rush they made at the wire
will live long in the memory OF local
baseball bugs.
Just what the future has in store
for the Factory league is matter OF
conjecture. There is no doubt but
what the organization viii be cOntin-
ued. but IL Is quite certain that IL will
be conducted on an even larger scale
I'm the future. Already several appli-