Evening star., 1914-04-10
Kill Cheap Prices.

When the Federals first started doing
things in preparation for the coming sea-
son they made much ado over their in
tention to offer cheaper article of base
ball-base ball at p and 30 cents. This
listened good to those fans who believe
the prices eXacted by the National and
American Leagues were, and are, exces-
sive writes David ]. Davies in the Pitts
burgh Dispatch.
Still, how much cheaper is the Federal
going to be? According to the statement
of President Gwinner of the rebels one
must pay % cents to sit in the grand
stand at Exposition Park. In the right
field bleachers the price to be asked IS
so cents In left field. two-bits is the
standard seat. Box seats are to be held
at 81.
Now. the thought which runs in our
mind is this: If the Federal League, with
its lack Of real stars and with most of
its playing strength recruited from the
bush leagues. is justified in asking prices
such as those mentioned above, is not the
Nationa' with its Wagners, its Careys, Its
Konetchys, its Dauberts, it Mathewsons.
its Fuckers. its Leaches, its ZlmmermanS;
and the American with its Cobbs. its John
sons, its Woods, its Washes, its Lajoies,
etc, justified in raising the ante?
The time may come when the Federal
League will be able to boast OF stars such
as those We have enumerated. But that
time is not yet, and base ball fans, like
ordinary mortals, deal in the present and
not in futures.
Isn't it just barely possible that the
Federals have made mistake in de-
clinine to go through with their original
plan to play cheap base ball? Had
they done this, those fans who may be
disappointed in the class of the sport Of
fered undoubtedly would find solace in
the thought that they were paying less
for their amusement than they were wont
to pay. In time, as the players improved
or as the masnates were enabled to Sc
cure more and better major leaguers.
there would be little or no objection
registered by those who pay the freight.
However, with the prices So nearly
equal to those demanded at Forbes
Field. the fans are going to confine
themselves to one line Of argument-to
the one comparison. This comparison is
going to be Pirates versus Federals,
Giants versus Chi-Feds. Superbas versus
Wards Brooklyn team, etc. And. unless
the invaders are able to shape up well
under this scrutiny, unless they are able
to go the route, they are going to suffer.
Fans Getting Tired.
With real base ball a few days off. it
is about time that the Federal League
give the jaded public rest, writes
James Jorpe, in the Pittsburgh Gazette
Now Is not the time for them to con-
tinue their quest for major league stars.
They had all winter to do it, and did
remarkably well, but with sixteen major
league clubs about to toe the scratch In
the seasons campaign. the Feds will not
gain in popularity by Gripping any Of
them.
Public sentiment has been largely with
the Federals because anything new or
revolutionary always is popular. But 1t is
not likely that fans would enjoy con-
tinuance of the jawing and fussing all
summer Let organized ball and the
Feds fight it out at the turnstiles.
1t is reported that the Feds are after
Jimmy Archer with the main purpose of
wrecking the Cubs: also that they seek
Jim Scott and Buck Weaver from the
White Sox. 1t must not be imagined for
a minute that sentiment is SO strongly
in favor of the Chicago Federals that
gloat at seeing two good ball clubs Grip
pied with the season about to open. It
Is also reported that Howard Camnitz
tried to wreck the Pirates. Had he done
would have committed an act that would
have interfered with his popularity
among local fans.
While the Feds have gone along nicely
and have been well treated by the press
and public. as we'll, there seems to be no
predominance of the desire locally to see
club like the Pirates weakened through
the zeal OF the opposition. The Bucca-
US for many years and have been a
credit to the city ever since Fred Clarke
took charge OF them and brought four
pennants and a worlds Championship to
Pittsburgh.
Although many local fans have yelled,
Go to it, Feds.' because Of prospects
for another club here and cheaper ad-
missions, they would hardly appreciate
any move by the invaders to weaken a
club that is in the running for another
championship
The Federal League afforded the fans
merry winter, but the Stove League
season is about over and it would be well
for the invaders to give people rest. No
base ball war, grievances or lofty ambi-
tions justify interference with the real
thing after opening day. 1t will be
popular move then for masnates and law
yers on both sides to close up and give
the players the limeisht.
Need Sunday Games.
President Ward OF the Brooklyn Fed
erals evidently never attended ball games
in the west. He will not allow his men