Evening journal., 1914-12-15
FANDOM Loses Faith
IN IT'S FORMER IDOLS
Baseball is Being Hurt by
Money Madness of the
Athletes
EXPERTS DISCUSS
THE SUBJECT

johnny Evers, of the Boston Braves,
made a startling declaration last win
ter, as follows, says the Washington
Herald:
when the old stars of baseball
show that the dollar sign is the stand
ard around which they rally and that
loyalty to their clubs is a flimsy guam
tity as compared to their desire to inn
prove their own finances, then the
baseball public is sure TO lose confi-
dence in the same"
Evers, as though a student Of
baseball conditions as he is OF the
game itself, had drawn his own con-
clusions regarding the desertion of
veteran players from the major
leagues, and this terse summing up
voiced his idea of the causes working
toward smaller attendances and the
leanest season baseball has had In
many years. He believed THAT fans
were losing faith in the old idols and
that the apathy of interest was trace
able to this.
Commenting on this, James R. Gro
well, of the New York Evening Tele-
gram. says:
How applicable is the Evers view
Of the troubled baseball seas to the
developments of the last week. Four
players whose names have been house
hold 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, a quartet of pitch
ers known in every corner where base
ball forms a topic Of conversation,
have shown that sentiment is of ex-
ceodingly small importance when the
opportunity to make more money pre-
sents 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, is il not? Quite
a blow to any theories that might be
formed regarding 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 a full light most unpleas-
ant phase OF professional sport. The
Evers idea is the essence of logic
and skilful summary Of the stu
alton as it really is. The baseball
public has lost a lot OF confidence in
the men who were once the objects
of its adulation, and it will continue
to do so until the warning factions
have bridged over their difficulties.
Only when players no longer are
given the opportunity of demonstrate
ing that loyalty is such a very tiny
factor in strictly business PROPOSE
tions' viii 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 tn cast aside all obligations
sentimental or otherwise, will the
public be ready to acclaim the heroes
og the diamond with the same en-
thusiasm and warmth that we're once
displayed.
"Fickleness constitutes a big part
of the makeup of this same public
and the sins of the past will be for
gotten when the disagreeable lining
of professional sports is no Longer
exposed 10 view"
The collapse Of the idols and the
sentiment that has surrounded then
will be complete If many more oi
the old timers IRE enticed to the Fed.
eral fold. The desertion of johnson
end Marquard mas weighed especially
heavy in this direction, as the inspira
tion Of their jumping has been sole
~ question Of dollars and cents
Washington saw Johnson rise to th'
baseball pinnacle he has held fol
several seasons. rooted for him. sans
his praises far and wide and encour
aged him in every way that friend
ly crowd of fans can give moral sup
port TO a favored player. Now he hai
cut these ties without apparently con
sidering for moment that Wash
ington has some sort of a hold OF
him because it was there that h,
gained his reputation. 1t is the SAM
with Marduard. Certainly there i
no sentiment connected with their ac
tions. and Mr.. Fan duly appreciate
it. He will naturally hesitate befor
bestowing his hero worship in quar-
ters where 1t is seemingly so littl
appreciated