The Washington times., 1914-06-19
Charley Somers Is Hard Hit by
Invasion of Third League in
Cleveland.
By THOMAS KIRBY.

DETROIT, June 1s-"Charley Somers
is averaging a loss of nearly $1,000 every
day the gates of League Park are
thrown open, and it is principally the
Federal League that Is to blaIre-"
This was statement by one who has
seen practically every game played in
Cleveland this season and who is closely
enough identified with the organized
baseball situation there to be qualified
to know of what he speaks.
In discussing the possibilities Of the
outlaw movement, il was pointed cut In
these columns that 1914 would be lean
year for those who are financially 10
terested in baseball. When the Amer
ican League was struggling for life. fol-
lowing its expansion of a dozen years
ago. It was Charley Somers, Cleveland
coal magnate, whose purse was thrown
open for the money that was so utterly
essential in the battle with the older
and already yyell-established National
League. Now It would appear as though
Soners is one who is to be hardest hit
through the operations of James Gil
more and others who have injected
themselves into baseball against the
wish of the National Commission. the
games supreme court.
Last year, 1t Is said, Somers cleared
$50, 900 through the squirt of the Maps.
who were contenders to the very close.
This time, unless his club takes q de-
cided brace, which now appears I'M
probable, the president of the corpora
ton here stands an excellent chance Of
dropping all of his 1914 earnings.
Early in the season the wall came
from Philadelphia that the greatest ball
team in the universe was not being
field. The complaint about light at
tendance has been almost universal, al
though Washington has been singularly
fortunate in the matter of drawing.
been hardly as large as might be ex-
pected, considering the pennant aspira-
tIons of the Nationals, the GrihmeE
have led all others on foreign fields.
Indeed, it has been the rule rather
than the exception to hear it said that
the Nationals were playing before the
largest crowds. barring holidays, that
have appeared at the different parks.
On the aspect Of the slimping throngs,
q Western writer has had the following
pertient comment TO make:
Grief percolates within the bosoms OF
the baseball magnates these days as
they notice that the turnstiles That used
to whizz so merrily in years gone by
are growing rusty from disuse: sorrow
and anguish are their lot when they
note that instead of packed stands, as
in other years, their clubs are now
playing to just a handful Of fans, and
most Of them the Is and 50 cent patrons.
Not only have the American and
National Leagues been hard hit by the
startling apathy of the baseball public.
but every league Of any consequence
throughout the length and breadth of
the land continues to suffer through the
inexplicable desertion Of the army of
fans whose contributions made millions
of dollars for club owners In other
years.
Even now when the big league clubs
are staging double headers. the fans
continue in hiding. In other years the
mid-week crowd in hrst-class towns sell
dom dropped below 5000 for q single
exhibition, while a doube header
brought out something like 5000 or
10000 and Saturday or Sunday game
nearly always jammed the park.
But in these days the big league clubs
that draw 1900 while staging a single
mid-week combat, or 5000 while tndulg-
ing in q bargain exhibition, are the
envy Of their less fortunate brothers.
In the years gone by the magnates saw
no occasion for gloating until from
1000 to $500 fans were tammed into
their parks on Saturday or Sunday, but
this year they must be satisfied with
crowds that range from 1900 down to
o,VU OF i,VO on the banner Gays.
The Nationals have few supporters
who feel that their chances OF annex
ing the next flag are even. The Ath-
letics quit in Cleveland Just before the
arrival of Griffith. johnson & Co., and
from what the Mackmen showed in the
matter Of offense, the critics declare
that no team can hope to head them
off. In forming this estimate the CON-
servative Judges are making due al
lowance for the shaky condition of the
Mackian mound corps.
1t is reported that Jack knight, for
mer National. may once more return
to make a bid for one OF the places in
the Cleveland infield.
President Gilmore, of the Federal
League, is expected in Cleveland with
in the next few days to look over the
ground in the view Of placing an outlaw
club here II is difficult to conceive
how the Feds can hope to successfully
cater to patronage when neither the