The Washington herald., 1913-03-02
Baseball Is Still in
the Show Business
Mighty Dollar Has Put Greatest of All Games Out
of Real Sporting Classics, as the Coin Rules
~ W. ,. MACBETH.

~ W. ). MACBETH.
New York, March 1.-OrEanized base
ball 10 the fairest and squarest Of all
Americas sports. But II is a show
business, nevertheless. In Its evolu-
tion II has gradually worked away
from the true sporting sentiments
which first framed its destinies, until
now predominates a desire to please.
with the mighty dollar prompting this
interest.
Yes: baseball is a show business. with
all the friIls of the show business. save
the hippodroming feature. So far the
powers have been able to guard
against hippodroming by keeping the
organizations ranks free from the con-
tamination of ruthless promoters.
Many of these have tried to break In.
Some have succeeded. But IL is to the
credit of baseball that none was per-
mitted to last very long.
II there had existed any doubt what
over as to the great stress modern
maKnates lay upon advertising. this
present season should have very defi-
nitely settled the point. There are any
number Of instances to point the way
the wind Is blowing. One does not
have to stir out of the great metropolis
to ind any number OF convincing ex-
amples.
First and foremost, there was the
Frank Chance deal. through which
Frank Farrell gained for his tail-end
club not only one OF the greatest lead
ers of all baseball time. but an ad. that
would have been cheap at double the
price. I doubt II baseball moguls ever
fully appreciated the value of press
agency before the Peerless Leaders
name was first mentioned in connection
with the New York Americans. The
space devoted to the developments of
this case by the metropolitan journals
simply turned green with envy the
club owners of rival cities.
A Poor Last.
Here was a club that had finished a
woe-begone last. behind a lot of teams
that had very little class II was a
team that had loads of hard luck with
which to contend in 1872, il is true. but
fans looked to results, not alabis. The
New York Americans had degeneyated
into something of a sad joke to every
one but Frank Farrell. 1t was no joke
to him. who had put up the money with
out hope of immediate return. To add
to Farrelfs woes the rival Giants won
a pennant and put up such a game fight
against odds that they came out OF the
worlds series with as much glory as. IL
less money. than the Boston Red Sox.
Mr.. Farrell opened the winter season
under serious handicap. The Giants drew
the spread heads; the Highlanders the
agate notes. And then. one morning. the
news leaked that American League
powers were angling for Frank Chance.
Probably. unknowingly. Frank Farrell
had pulled the greatest advertising coup
OF baseball history. Every one all over
the country went to the story. The more
II was discussed the better its adver~
tising possibilities grew. Speculation
was rife Could the American League
secure the waiver consent OF National
League club presidents? Would Murphy
stand in the way? Would Chance really
come TO New York IL he had the op-
portunity? Was he wrong in the head
as Murphy insinussed? And a thousand
other inquiries. These were thrashed
out at length to the exclusion Of all
else. Why. the champion Giants in no
time were playing second fiddle.
Conditions played right into Farrelrs
hands all the way. Charles W. Murphy
had framed a dramatic situat ton by the
manner in which he disposed OF Frank
Chance. The country was with the Peer
less Leader, and opposed to the auto
cratic Cub president Murphy had jumped
onto Chance IN a very unsportsmanlike
"
VINO brought him four pennants and two
worlds championships in seven years
and never finished lower than third was
down: while he was confined to a hos
pital cot as the result of a serious op-
Grafton. And. finally. when Chance did
agree to meet Farrell. there was a new
wbeeze of publicity that never once
ended until the Peerless Leader arrived
from the Coast TO take the local helm.
In fact. the buzz hasn't subsided vet
nor is it likely to until Chance has had
every opportunity to vindicate his man.
agerial abilities in Ban Johnson's cir
cult.
First Real Break.
In connection with this same Chance
deal it may be mentioned in passing that
what appeared the first real break in
luck seemed to have started the way
of Frank Farrell Before Frank Chance
was secured the Hilltop club president
effected an agreement with President
Hampstead. of the Giants. to utilize the
Polo grounds for all local American
League games this season. II was. there
fore. rather a disappointing draft for
the Giant management to see the rival
getting so much boosting when the two
clubs would share the same grounds.
So McGraw bided his time in anticipa-
ton of some counter.
The opportunity came with the pro-
fessionalizing OF Jim Thorpe. the WON
derful Carlisle Indian School star. and
hero OF the Olympic games. McGraw
sneaked In while several big league
scouts were mapping at the tepees of
Glen Warner and secured this wonderful
athlete for the Giants. Now. while he
will not admit II. there is little doubt
that McGraw at first figured seriously on
the Indians baseball ability. He may
have. OF course. But II /. more than
likely that Mac realized the advertising
value Of Thorpe. Here was a man in
whom the whole world was interested.
Whether or not he might be able to
play or develop in the game. he was a
great drawing csrd-to begin with. as
great IL not greater than any star of
the diamond. McGraw realized that in
the first swing around the circuit he
would have attracted through Thorpe
more than enough money to pay gu the
expenses Of securing him. And in addi-
tion. he was getting a perfect type of
physical manhood In which there lay
latent possibilities that might pan. IL,
Thorpe had not been professionalism,
McGraw would never have gone after
him. Professionalized, he was adver-