The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-05

Baseball fans are the nardeSt people
in the world to understand. When the
Phillies, Braves and Dodgers started
on the last swing through the west I
expected to see large crowds at the
games every day, even though the
western teams have no chance for the
National league pennant. but instead
of packing them in, we played to empty
Manager Shettsline just how many peo-
pie we drew on the road, but I will
wager that we did not make much
above expenses.
The surprisingly small turnouts in
the west and the general attitude OF
the fans impressed one thing upon me,
and that is that the west needs a pen
nant. The fans in every city have tired
of the eastern monopoly, especially In
the National league, and in every city
we found the fans pulling Tor the
Browns to win the American league
pennant.
1t would be the greatest thing that
could possibly happen II the browns
won the American league pennant. "A
ST. Louis victory would revive the IN
terest in the game in the west and
would have an excellent effect in botn
leagues. but unless Jack Barry is more
SC riously injured than is thought l
hardly think Jones' team will over
haul the Red Sox.
BARRY IMPORTANT
Barry means more to the Red So%
than the fans imagine. He is not only
enc of the grandest fielders | nave
ever seen, but he Is wonderfully
smart ball player. He keeps the team
On The lump and is the life of the IN
field With him out of the game the
FED Sox look like different Dali
team and if he is out of the game Tor
any length of time 1t Will nurt the
Boston's chance. Carrigan may SEND
substitute into the game who will pat
like ficnd, whereas Barry mas not
been hitting at all; but the utility
man will not be able to I'LL JACK
shoes, no matter how good he may nap
pen to be- In the west the fans hailed
the news of Barry's injury with JOY
as they realize what 1t means 10 the
Red SoX.
The White Sox have a chance TO come
through in the last month OF the sea-
son. but still the fans do not turn OUT
to the games st. Louis appears 70 De
the only city in the west that is en-
thnsia site about the national game
and there the sentiment is all one
sided and we drew miserable crowus.
TO give an idea as to condltions III
the west, I will give my estimate OF the
number of people the Fnliiles u.s~
In Pittsburg we played five games
in three days, losing four out OF the
five to the Pirates, who have peen
PLAYING grand ball. but In the threo
DAYS we did not draw 10000 fans.
DID NOT DRAW
We had a Friday and Saturday. usu-
ally good days at Cincinnati, but we
did not draw more than 5000 persons;
while in st. Louis it was worse On
Saturday in st. Louis we had less than
1000 at the game and when Sundays
game was called off just before start
ing time there was not thousand peo-
pie in the stands.
Charley Weeghman's popularity in
Chicago was all that saved the Philly
owners from going down into their
pockets to defray the expenses OF the
trip, and the crowds there were moth
ing to brag about. I should judge that
1900 people saw the three games we
PLAYED in Chicago
All told, the Phillies did not play to
more than 10000 spectators in the IL
games. This is an average OF less than
5000 per game, and you cannot run
ma ior league franchise nowadays at
this rate. + thought perhaps that there
might be some reason for the small
crowds at the Philly games and won
dered II we were poor drawing team.
but scribes in every city told me that
the western teams have not been draw
ing any better throughout the season.
The east is saving the magnates
this season, particularly in the Nation
al league. and with three teams very
much in the race the western teams
surely will make a lot of money in
Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Boston,
while New York generally supports
the Giants whether they are in the race
or not.
AMERICAN NOT KNOWN
Not having seen many Of the Amer
lean league teams I cannot say just
Al