New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-05
GILMORE TALKS
GLOWINGLY OF
DIME BASEBALL
Convinced Fans Have
Found Big Prices Don't
Make BigLeague Ball.

Turning from recent activities, which
included arranging IVr the installation
of Federal League team here in 1915,
establishing headquarters in this city
and becoming resident Of Manhattan,
James A. Gilmore, president Of the in
dependents, snid yesterday that the
third big league had made a place for
itself as factor in the control o.
major league baseball Of the future.
, Dime bleachers and popular prices
in the covered stands have won the fans
of the West as well as the East. for the
big tese Of the dime bleaehers and The
half dollar grandstands came in 81.
Louis and Chicago last Sunday said
the Federal League president. I'm 81.
Louis the Kansas City and St Louis
Federals were scheduled for double
header, and the American League at
traction was a game between the
Browns and Washington. A pitchers
battle between Walter Johnson and
George Sislcr was widely advertised for
the American League grounds, and II
fewer than six hundred persons there
to see IL, while eleven thousand at
tended popular priced baseball az the
Federal League grounds.
an Chicago. where the White Sox
have drawn larger crowds all season
than any other team in the country, the
first big test against popular priced
baseball was made last Sunday. The
weather was not exceptionally favor
able. but the North Side home Of the
Whales contained ten thousand paying
spectators, more than twice as many az
saw the White SoX perform. And yet
il is possible TO read in the newspapers
that the fans still. think big prices alone
make big league baseball.
"If any direct evidence was needed
to support the Federal League conten-
ton that the fans do not feel under
obligation 70 contribute fancy prices in
support of either faction in the baseball
war it was given at the turnstiles in
St. Louis and Chicago. There we're
more than twenty thousand vacant
seats at the White Sox park, and these
will not be filed under ordinary con-
ditions, when monopoly prices are de-
manded for the same quality Of sport
that is provided at popular rates at the
Federal League park.
There has been no attempt 70 reduce
/ operating expenses in any city OF the
circuit: in fact, since the adoption OF
I the dime bleachers every Federal
League club has made some financial
move toward strengthening in a play.
ing sense. Everything that has been
done in the rebuilding Of the Baltimore
club has been approved BY ME, and that
the Federal League means business has
been demonstrated to the evident salts
faction Of the fans.
Average attendances from all cities
of the circuit show that four times "a
many fans have seen Federal League
games since the adoption Of the new
scale of prices as under the old tariff.
Even in the most optimistic reports OF
the agents of organized baseball have
found nothing to indicate that there
has been an actual increase in its
crowds anywhere. Attendance figures
from Boston's new park have been lib
orally estimated and printed as an ar
gument in favor Of unfolding high
prices everywhere for bleacher and
grandstand seats. Most any afternoon
the actual worth of this sort of argu-
ment can be established by looking
over the 10000 empty seats at the Polo
Grounds.
with the exception of the White
Sox, | doubt II any team in the country
has averaged as we'll in crowds at home
as the Kansas City Federals. Because
the Federal League believes the popu-
lar price idea TO be one OF nationwide
interest there was no attempt TO keep
the old scale in any city or cities where
conditions of prosperity might make
it possible to continue 90 draw re-
markedly we'll under former rates Of
admission. The dime bleachers will be
part of the Federal League policy in
New York, as everywhere in the cir
cult, next season.
Five clubs have been making the
Federal League pennant race close, but
all the good baseball has not been
shown by the flag contenders. Buffalo
/ has played remarkable ball since Harry
! Lord got the team in working order.
and Brooklyn has been helped by John
Cancels leadership. The changes in
/ the Baltimore team have revived in
/ terest in the tail-enders. Even thus
early substantial evidence has been
/ given in support of the contention that
! the Federal League will be stronger
/ than ever in 1916, and before the pres
ent season ends hope 10 add more i'm
/ pressive facts 70 those now in the pos
session Of the fans"