The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-28

There Is no athletic sport in the
United States that has shown such
growth during the last twenty or TWEEN
ty-f1ve years IS the game Of base
ball, and when 1t is considered that
the playing field, with the exception
of the pitchers box, has gone through
the history OF tie game practically
unchanged this growth may he re-
garded as all the more remarka Bile.
Professional baseball was started In
1871. At that time there were but
few grounds suitable for the playing
of the game and probably there was
not one park in the country where
10 900 persons could be easily accom-
modated. Baston had one of the first
and best diamonds IN the coun ~
and 1t Is interesting to note that with
the exception Of seats and fences, the
diamond in Boston Is practically the
Manager Harry Wright and his Bos-
championship in 1872.
Today the major league teams are
supplied with grounds which will &C
commodate from 1900 to $4,000
spectators, and the paying fields afe
far superior to anything offered the
player in the carly days. The i'm
provement in baseball. however. is
seen to be in Keeping with the social
and Industrial evolution that has
taken place during the same period
" hen so many things grew in pro-
portions and magniiicence.
Not only has the physical equip.
ment Of baseball changed greatly, bul
the handling of the players is vastly
different In the days OF yore. the
player had 10 take care of his bag
gage himself. Such things as dress
ing grounds al the field of play were
unthought of and the players had 10
dress at their hotels and travel by cor
or carriage to the grounds, going
through the same procedure afser
the game was over.
Changes Are General.
Trainers. also, were unknown In
olden times. ana when the players Of
the seventies look at the care and at
tention the modern player gets they
cannot but think how much easier
the lot of the professional player is
today than il was in their time.
Naturally the increase in popular
ity has greatly changed the business
end of baseball. and instead Of this
small groups that looked after the
financial end OF the game in former
years the pressure OF business has
grown TO such an extent that large
office forces have to be maintained by
the National and American league
clubs and the amount Or business they
transact Is far in excess of that OF
1850.
Then, too, the increase In patron
age has resulted in many thousand
of dollars going through the club
treasures, In the early eighties when
the Boston Nationals Were making
records, an attendance of 10000 on a
single day was regarded as remark
able but today the game which would
have drawn 10000 in 1890 will draw
not less than $4,000 in Boston and
even as high as 80 900 TO $4,000 in
New York and Chicago.
When the American league was
first breaking into the major League
circles in 1900 and 1901, IL was sad
by many that this would result IN
injury to the professional game, The
players were jumping from one club
to another without regard to con-
tracts, and for time the game was
very unsettled But the leaders in the
two big leagues soon came together
and their agreement has resulted IN
an ever increasing popularity in the
national pastime.
Third League Now Question.
Just now the Federal league is try
ing to get into the major league class
and the enthusiasts of the country
are much interested in seeing now the
situation will work out There are
many who believe that 1t will result
as was the case when the American
came along, while others belleVe tha'
IL will not succeed At present, con-
ditions are uncertain and have caus-
ed considerable court action as wei
s,< f~n tie IN n -
ers.
In the early DAYS Of the game hits
and rims were common, The teams
that did not count their runs in dou-
BILE figures were few. Pitching was
by no means such an art as 1t is to-
dav and the players were not pro-
y.ded with the big mitts, gloves chest
protectors, masks and shin guards
familiar to the baseball fan OF TO-
day.
But there was no need for so much
paraphernalia in the old days, Ioi
the pitchers did not have the speed
OF Waiter Johnson or Amos Rusle
and the catcher was not called OF
to catch up close behind the bat Tnen
the catcher stood back by the grand
stand and took the ball on the bounce
Today the catcher Is directly behind
the plate all the time, and this change
is considered as having gone a long
way towards increasing the speed and
skill of the game.
Game Is Much Faster.
With view to quickening the
game and increasing the effectiveness
Of the pitcher, the original rules
were changed so that the pitcher
could use an overland delivery TINS
resulted in great Increase IN ef-
fectiveness on the part OF the pox'