The Washington herald., 1914-12-08
Deserving Stars Hand
PubIic's Faith a Blow
Johnny Evers Sounds Warn
ing-Fans Losing Conf
dence> by Recent Federal,
League Desertions.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
By WILLIAM PEET.

Johnny Evers, Of the Boston Braves,
made a startling declaration last win
ter. as follows: when the old stars OF
baseball show that the dollar sign is the
standard around which they rally and
that loyalty to their clubs is hinIsy
quantity as compared to their desire to
improve their own finances, then the
baseball public Is sure to lose confidence
In the game"
Evers, as thorough a student of base
ball conditions as he Is Of the game it.
SELF had drawn his own conclusions re-
garding the desertion Of veteran play
ers from the major leagues, and this
terse summing up voiced his idea Of
the causes working toward smaller at
tendances and the Ieanest season base
ball has had in many years. He be-
lleved that fans were losing faith In the
old idols and that the apathy of interest
was traceable chiefly to this
Commenting on this, James r. CroweII.
OF the New York Evening Telegram.
says:
How applicable is the Evers view OF
the troubled baseball seas to the deEeIop-
ments of the last week! Four players
whose names have been household words
with fans throughout the country have
gone over to the other side, drawn by
the magnetic powers Of the dollar mark.
Johnson, Marquard, Bender and Plank,
quartet Of pitchers known in every cor
ner where baseball forms . topic Of con-
Eersation, have shown that sentiment is
Of exceedingly small Importance when
the opportunity to make more money
presents itself. Quite a severe jolt to
the halo that the baseball public builds
around the heads Of the men who win
fame on the diamond, II is not? Quite
a blow to any theories that might be
formed resanding the loyalty of this man
or that whose reputation was moulded
while serving with a certain club.
1T is simply that the activities Of the
Federal League have brought under n
full light the most unpleasant phase of
professional sport. The Evers idea il
the essence Of logic and a skilIful sum-
mary or the situation as IT really is The
baseball public has lost a lot of conf
dence in the men who were once the OBJ
jeCts OF its adulation, and IL will continue
10 do so until the warning factions have
bridged over their difficulties. Only when
players no longer are given the oppor-
tunity OF demonstrating that loyalty is
such a very tiny factor in strictly busi-
ness propositions will this confidence be
restored. Only when the stars who have
won the admiration and friendliness Of
the fans by their deeds on the field cease
~ 'fhSN eASaAt AL sentimental
or otherwise. will the public be ready to
acclaim the heroes Of the diamond with
the same enthusiasm and warmth that
were once displayed
Flckleness constitutes big part OF the
makeup Of this same public. and the
sins OF the past will be forgotten when
the disagreeable lining Of professional
sports is no longer exposed to view"
has surrounded them will be complete many more
a the old timers are enticed 10 the Federal fold
me desertion uf johnson and Maruuard ha,
weighed especially heavy in this direction a. the
inspiration H their jumping has been solely q
ques;iou q dollars and csni. Washington tsU
johnson 1se TO the baseball pinnacle he has held
Tor several sfasnns rooted for him sang his p-ases
far and wide and encouraged him in even Way that
friendly crowd Gf fans can give moral support TO
favored player. Now he has cut these ties without
Apparently considering for a moment that Washing
ton has snne snTt of hold him becausr il was
there that he gained his reputation II L, the S.n.
with Mauuari. Certainly there d no srntiment
connected with their actions. and Mr. Fan dufy
appreciates II. He will naturally hesitate before
best""inE his hero WorNhiP in quarters Where it is
seemingly 50 little APPRECIATED.
Two famous Carlisle men Jumped on Saturday
They were Chief Bender. who lift the ranks Of th.
Athletics tn take chance with the Federal Lrau7le
and Glenn $. Warner. the famous football coacn
~ the Carlisle Indians. who signed to cuach The
Pittsburgh University football tam Both Of the
men will he greatly missed by their respective en-
IlOyers- The Athletics viii have a tough hattie
to win next SEASON without the aid of Bender and
Plank. 70 say nothing Of the other members Of The
team who are said TO be on the verge Of plunginx
into the Federal Leagns and Pitt will h c1r-
resnnndingy benefited by the presence of the big
Indian tWirisr and the IAN American football
coach.
Frank Baker. the houe-rlu SuRgrr has no. con
sidered Jumping to the FedeTal League according 70
his own Statement over the lonEdistAnce teleThonc
Yesterday morning. Baker told Stan Matthew |
sporting editcT Of the Baltinore Sun he already !
had signed irucclAd contract for next snason with
Connie Mack's Athetics. Frank said his contract !
had no tenday clause anything Of the sort and
that he would not jump II the teu-day clarrsr
Wcrc in the document. But Frank as usual Is un-
decided about playing next year. He renarted that
he bad the whole winter in which TO think il over
But while Frank has a lot Of time to think things
over each winter. be always gUes back to the White
Elephants in the sTring
new Plan has been invented by the boUing CON- !
mission which EuIeTns contests in Cleveland II has
bahit with the boxers in that city to name their
own referees when they participate in bouts This !
idcR will he abolished in the future, three names !
will be submitted to the commission and the man |
decided upon will handle the bout. reEIrdIes Ot |