Evening star., 1915-12-26
BASE BALL HARD HIT
War With Feds Great Setback
for National Sport.
MUST MINIMIZE CASH END
Owners Should Put Best Interests of
Game Above the Recouping of
Their Losses.
By I. E. sANBoRN.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, December a5.-Resumption
OF peace was the most important occur
renee in base ball during the year that
expires this week. The cessation of
hostilities between organized base ball
and the Federal League did not occur
until recently. but came in time to per-
NIT the victors to enjoy a compara-
lively happy New Year
1t did not come until after two sea-
sons Of warfare, growing out of the
futile attempt of the outlaws to estab-
Dsh third major league, had done the
national game an inestimable amount
of damage. to say nothing about the
heavy losses sustained by promoters in
all grades of the sport during the
struggle.
Time will be required to work out all
the tangles produced by the late un-
pleasantness. and still more time to
heal the wounds of battle, but it will
be longer than that before tho national
pastime RECEIVERS from the injuries in
fiicted on 1t.
New Fans Most Needed.
So many Of the present generation of
fans have been estranged during the
chaotict period, precipitated By the ef-
forts of the Gilmore band to force it's
way into organized base ball, that it is
doubtful il the sport can be restored
to its former envisbie position in the
public's favor until a new generation
OF rams arrives. And It requires wise
men, and strong. to compel the survfv-
ing club owners in the coming cam
paiens to put the best interests Of the
sport above the recouping of their
losses. ...
The dollar sign, which was SO great
ly responsible for the wreckage that
exists today, must be eliminated from
the sport or crowded so far into the
background that the public will come
to believe again in the supremacy OF
pennants over coin and Of victories
over pay checks.
The season of 1915 was not as costly
to promoters, on the whole, as was the
first year of the war. That was due
to retrenchments all along the line
and to a slight betterment in the busi-
ness world, which increased the re-
ceipts of base ball appreciably. The
suit brought by the Federal Leag que
before Judge Lands. accusing organ
ized base ball of violating the anti
trust law, also was of benefit to the
promoters, thanks to the deliberation
of the court in reaching a decision.
Pending a finding in that case there
was a sort of armistice between the
belligerents, which saved them tile
heavy costs of fighting for players in
and out of the courts.
Close Races Prove Aid.
The major leagues also were aided
by pennant races of considerable in
terest, which stirred the fans into pro-
viding more of the sinews of war than
came through the turnstiles during the
previous year.
The Federal League also was assist
ed by championship contest that ex-
ceeded in closeness at the finish that
in either of the other leagues and
which was not decided until the last
day of the season. In spite of this
Improvement in finances, however, all
leagues suffered more or less. and
probably a realization that continua-
tion of existing conditions would lead
to bankruptcy was responsible for the
decision to bring about peace at any
cost.
Both the American and National
league races were featured by the un-
usual spectacle of great teams going
to pieces SO completely that they n
ished in last place. The Athletics,
champions of the American League.
were shot to pieces, partly by the hand
completely that they never were con-
tenders this year. The New York Giants
met the same fate in the National
League.