New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-03
Biggest Tournament in the
History of Great National
Game Arranged.
WILLIAM J. LEE TO
ORGANIZE THE TEAMS
Sterling Silver Cups, with Gold,
Silver and Bronze Medals,
Offered by The Tribune.


League and will be conducted under the
direction of William J. Lee. supervisor OF
recreation and director OF athletics OF
the Park Department arsenal. Central
Park)
The Park Department will furnish the bats
and balls to the playground boys. and The
Tribune will donate the prizes--gOid. silver
and bronze medals and -four sterling silver
cups for the final team champions.
The playground staff will organize and
direct the tournament which will be con-
Quoted throughout the months of June
July. August and September, taking In
tho entire vacation period.
This movement is regarded as the most
practical vet devised to keep the boys off
the streets and lure them 10 the baseball
diamonds IN the park Fairgrounds. IL
will act as a great aid In preserving park
lawns and minimize the danger Of acci
dent and death from ball playing in the
streets.
This method OF a city department CO.
operating with The Tribune is in keeping
with the policy of Mayor Mitchell and
Cabot Ward ComWissioner Of Parks. in
their effort to eliminate the lawless gang
of the youth of the city and attract them
TO places where their play spirit may find
expression i'm attractive games and to
help organize and promote the game that
the boys want--BASEBALL.
The boys will play series of games
in each playground TO decide the local
championship i'm four classes s. pound,
100 Mound. rs pound and $50 pound, and
in ages averaging from seven to seven
teen Years BOYS of the winning teams
VIII receive bronze medals.
There are at least one hundred base
ball diamonds under the jurisdiction OF
tn, bureau of recreation for the boys to
use when the public and parochial
schools are closed and the youngsters
are free to travel from one playground
to another under supervision, the four
local championship teams will play
series of home and home games TO de-
eide the championship in the four sec
lions of the city-downtown, uptown,
West Side and East Side In September
the final city championships will take
place at the Polo Grounds. If arrange
ments that are now under way are COM
pleted.
Foster. secretary of the New York
Giants for the leading teams each week
10 see the Giants play bah in order that
they may learn. together with their in
structors. the finer points of the game
and drink i'm the physiological force of
. the great national game.
The boys of the neighborhood of each
of the forty park Fairgrounds, together
with their parents and friends. can sec
Young America play the greatest game
yet devised in the development for the
youth of the land
MIR. Lee mas organized several baseball
tournaments, but none of such wide scope
and magnitude as this. When the worlds
baseball tourists were returning from
their trip recently Mr. Lee took the
playground champions of last year down
the bay to meet them. through the cour-
tcSy and invitation of John IL. Foster aud
the Chicago Board of Trade.
The youngsters wore their new baseball
uniforms and yelled themselves hoarse
from the ferryboat calling: 'McGraw,
McGraw. McGrawi' "Oh. you COMFY"
and Come out. Callahan" When they
caught glimpse of Mike Donln they
fairly went wild with enthusiasm. The
boys boarded the tug at 6 o'clock in the
morning in the binding snow.
The youngsters of this city have voted
Mr. Lee their baseball ambassador and
he Is delegated TO secure the prizes,
grant the privilege OF using the grounds
and act as ambassador extraordinary
10 Mr.. Foster and Park Commissioner
Ward in securing the privilege of seeing
the games, providing the brand OF ball
meets with the approval OF the play
ground instructor in his weekly report
and TO carry forward the flag of truce to
set up their colors at the Polo Grounds
for their final games.
II is estimated from the statistics conf
piled In the daily average of Fairgrounds
that thousands upon thousands will see
this tournament throughout the season.
This great organization not only affects
tho boys who are actually engaged in
the game. but also the onlookers and
not only helps TO promote vigorous health
and manhood for the players. but fur
nishes a form of entertainment and sport
for the onlookers.
The interpark home and home series
will afford the boys a =. actical geograph-
zeal lesson an city history. because they
travel 10 every section under the super
vision CT the play directors and mingle
with boys of every nationality.
Umpires will be selected from among
the boys. although in some instances the
visiting instructor will umpire TO keep the
rules Of far play in the foreground. 1t is
remarkable 60 note the fact that the SUI
peryisor Of recreation rarely has called on
the police during these contests. The
standard Of discipline maintained In the
interpark playground games makes for
the better citizen.
Every boy should take advantage Of the
chance TO play in this tournament for the
prizes offered. II Is Necessary only TO so
TO the nearest playground and notify the
Instructor OF his intention TO participate
Let the natural boy leader organize his
team and see that the entries are properly
made.
IL has been said that the battle OF Wat
erIoo was won on the fields OF Eton. and
who can deny that future victories shall
:, be won on the American Fairgrounds.
speaking OF the Tournament Mr. Lee
ID:
Baseball g. the melting pot OF ciyiliza-
ii, ~ and has done more 10 promote bet
fer feeling among the great and complex
mixed mass in this city than any other
game yet devised. Educators arc coming
"a -. tho, "a tho sf,trff of Diav there is