New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-18
Club Owners Look on
Johnson Plan
Favorably
BY W. J. MACBETH


at either major league meeting last
week as 10 schedule plans for 1871
The Joint schedule committee is soon
TO meet TO draft dates for the coming
season. II would not be at all surpris-
ing if the experiment Of contracting
the playing season were attempted oy
the National and American leagues.
For several years Ban Johnson has
advocated a schedule OF l4O instead OF
154 games. He was prevented from
putting his theory 70 the test because
of the unanimous opposition By Ma
tional League club owners. OF course
the American League could not AFFORD
10 remain idle while the National was
GENERATING. As matter Of self-protee-
ton the schedules must coincide.
Opinion, however, seems to have
changed in the National League. More
than one club president Of the Tener
circuit last week expressed the OPINION
that it might prove beneficial TO Top oi.
a couple Of weeks, especially as WIZ"
the new form Of contract and IN keep
ing with the expressed policies OF econ
omy it would be possible TO tighten SAL
aries accordingly.
Bound to Come
"The scheme may not be attempted
this wear" said a National League ad-
vocate OF Johnson's idea, but II Is
bound 10 come BY 1918, unless early
spring weather conditions improve.
For the last five years early season
business has been very poor. only the
weather has been TO blame, as under
normal conditions public interest IN
every city should be at high pitch Tor
the first six weeks Of the season. IL
takes that time for each big league
club TO make the complete circuit, ana
for that part of the journey, at least
every entrant has a pennant chance;
October weather invariably has
proven more afFable TO the game than
late April and early May. But by Oc-
tober interest is dead, save in the cities
which have teams that enjoy mathe-
matical chances 10 win a pennanr
Even if the l54-gsme schedule is 10 re-
main an institution. believe 1t would
be a wise move 20 open ten days or two
weeks later and close later. There are
enough open dates TO permit a more
compact schedule that would delay the
wind-up only few days later than last
wear. The American League clubs OF
the West had finished almost week
ahead of the National League close IN
the East last season"
There is another possible factor that
might help greatly toward a contrac-
ton Of the schedule. The campaign OF
the Brooklyn fans for Sunday baseball
will be presented 70 the New York
State Legislature. Brooklyn politicians
are hopeful Of legislation that will
legaiize the professional game in the
state.
Western Clubs Idle
The opportunity to play every Sunday
in Manhattan and Brooklyn would of
itself cut nearly two weeks off the Ma
tional and American schedules. The
Western sections of both major
leagues, which enjoy Sunday baseball.
are now forced to be idle an average of
one day week so as not to get ahead
Of their less fortunate Eastern neigh
bors.
A season of 1874 games crowded into
two weeks less time than It has been
customary to take would, of course. ap-
peal the more strongly in that IL would
still present the opportunity Of saving
the fortnight in salaries. So TO con-
tract the time, however, il would be
necessary to have assurance that Sun
day baseball in this state would be per-
mitted. There is no way TO foretell leg
islation.
Ban Johnson believes the season too
( long as il stands. To this fact he at
tributes loss of interest through Sep
TENDER. II he had his way he would cut
two weeks off the playing season, re-
CARELESS of the necessary sacrifice in
the number of games.
A schedule of $40 games would be
quite easily arranged. II would mean
ten games instead of eleven in each
city against each of seven rivals. At
present each team visits each other
three times during the playing season.
There are three series two of them Of
four games and one of three games.
BY changing TO two series of three
games and one of four contests the
problem would be solved.
Not Officially Discussed
Whether or not President Tener has
been empowered 20 arbitrate with Ban
Johnson such sweeping schedule
change could not be learned. Certain
National League magnates intimated
that the schedule had not been Of
fcially discussed Tener. however, was
authorized, with full power. TO treat on
many other vital questions. including
N. Y. A. C. SHOOT