The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-20

Is Birmingham to lose its na- tIonal reputation as the best base ball town in minor league Lase- ball? This is the universal qdes- tion among the fans of Baronvillc today following the small attend ance at Rickwood Field for the past month or more. There is but one thing to blame for the poor at tendance and that is admitted by everyone-the team is not up to the standard that the fans of Bir mingham are accustomed
 The attendance at Redwood yes terday was the smallest thar has witnessed a game at Redwood in a number of years. One fan who has been attending the games at Redwood for the past five years ventured to say that 1t was the smallest crowd that has witnessed a battle in his frequent visits to the historic old ball park. Scarce ly over 700 people witnessed the hectic game yesterday and it was generally predicted that even a smaller crowd would attend the games in the future if the club did not make some arrangements whereby the fans could see win ner.
 The majority of the fans that arc attending the games at the pres ent are bitter enemies Of the local club. It is disgusting to attend the game and hear practically ali of the fans roast" the team ir all descriptions. It is a frequent oc- currenee for fan in some section of the stand to speak T word oc kindness for the Moleys and then be forced to hear the attacks of the other spectators. Under these conditions the fans are gradually beginning to cultivate the germ of bitterness against the locals.
 Il is generally admitted by club officials that the attendance this year is far below the average at this period of former years. Bir mingham has always been a goo1 baseball town, supporting the teams to the fullest, aut it is feared this reputation will be lost and the loss will not be kept off much longer. On Saturday swell crowd attended the ganie but on every game previously. with tho exception of ladies' day the ccowG has been pitiful. The average Is around the 1000 mark. while on previous years it ranged from 2000 to 5000. Figures will tell and noth ing else.
 To work the crowd back to the game will take months and probably years. winning team will have to be produced at once or the local as- sociation will lose money for the sea- son. A winning spurt will attract the fans to the park as a magnet does steel and it appeared to the writer that the only logical thing to do is for the club owners to get busy and investigate the conditions.
 The Barons have the best manager in the Southern league today in Carl ton Molesworth. if not the best pilot in minor league baseball. But man. ager can't win without material no matter who he is. If the players are provided for Moley there is no doubt but that the Barons will get into the rag hunt and finish with creditable standing It can be did and we would certainly like to see it happen
 The Barons are a fine bunch of fel- lows and the prospects for winner are enclosed. The real reason seems to be with the pitching staff. The Barons dropped another peg in the standing by their defeat yesterday and stand this morning only two points from the cellar. A defeat today with a Memphis victory will mean that the Barons slide into the cellar for the first time in the middle of June for a number of years. It would not be surprising to see this happen. And if if this occurrence should happen, 1t would not be surprising to see the fans boycott the park.
 Poor pitching caused the defeat yes terday The hitting was all right, but the hurling was pitiful. Preacher against Arthur Johnson and it is hoped that the elongeated parson will show some signs of effectiveness and lead the way to a Baron victory The remainder of the team is going good at the present and a little help from this department would mean the an- nexation of a few wins.
 The first death to a Southern league player in number of years occurred