El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-05

TEW YORK, July 5.-Organized
M baseball owes much to Ban
- Johnson lie broke in as rebel
chief. but once fairly established in
power, became the big car. Johnson,
through his American league, instt-
tuted a number of long needed re-
forms. He made Of the much abused
umpire q national figure instead OF
a ''scapegOar and by forcing respect
for him from the player eventually
commanded also the VenerallOu OF IAN
dom. IL was Johnson who was largely
instrumental in stamping out all forms
OF rOWdyism upon the field And when
from the National league, he was one
of the leading spirits for peace ana
good viii toward one happy, concerted
union for the common good
New Era In Baseball
The Johnson regime marked new
era in professional baseball. He was
at first looked upon with suspicion.
il was not believed at the time he
expanded to major league distinction
that there was room FOR two big cir
cults. He not only proved that there
was by furnishing the big cities Of the
country, Wnlcn are now represented IN
both National and American. with high
class sport every day throughout the
entire playing season, added such an
impetus toward universal patronage
that the great paSume mas SOne BOOM
ing on more anu more steadily with
each succeeding season. Competition
is the life of all healthy sport, and so
the American league as rival to the
National, was just the proper thing 10
arouse such interest as is manifested
at present But for Ban JOhnson's in
VastOn of the parent major league ter
ritory ii is doubtful if there would be
any steel and concrete stands today.
And il is doubtful also if Ty Cobb
would be demanding $4,000 salaries
For after the old war days the pay
q
Popular With Public.
Wherefore the American league
which in the opinion of Mr.. Johnson IS
after all the only major league dOinS
bUsiness-has the heartfelt thanks Of
all well wishes OF the game 1t has
always been very popular with the
public and especially with the playing
fraternity. for II mas always stood for
a square deal both for the patrons and
the public. sun baseball frenzy is
law unto itself and the very rivalry,
friendly as IL may be, between the two
major leagues, has left along the trail
of the last decade two distinctive fac
tiOus in fandOm- One faction WOrshipS
at the shrine of The National and an
can league.
Always Room for Debate.
Ever since the American league be-
gan to cater to the public, fandOm has
argued over the relative strengths and
merits of the two major leagues The
debate never viii be closed so long as
both continue to do business The pat
rOnage of each is loyal still and in the
division of opinion lies the secret Of
box office receipts. A fan is ever open
to argument. to conviction never.
Baseball writer's in the big cities
where both major leagues are estab-
Ished are rather an unbiased lot They
are generally of the opinion that there
is no appreciable difference in the re-
Spect!ve strengths Of the big leagues.
And why should there be2 The present
day magnate stands ready TO sacrifice
the limit of profits in the hunt for tai
emit Each club has its scouts scour-
ing the country for new players. There
is little choice among the rival mana
gers Each circuit boasts its great
popular heroes.
New Blood ia Old League.
There was a time when the Ameri-
can league OVershadOWed its lettering
rival That was back in the war days
IS 10 and more years ago. The young
circuit, in the hands Of young and Wig
CrOus capitalists who had gone in on
q gamble, put up the money to rob the
stars There was such an exodus of
talent from the parent major that the
old established organization was left
weak indeed.
But times have changed since then
Ten years of peace have sent back to
o5scurity almost all the National
league deserters Some very few are
left notably Lajoie. of the Maps, and
Crawford, of the Tigers. New blood
has been infused into the National