Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02
BY H. C. BYRD.

Smaller crowds than usual are attend
ing the games in the amateur base ball
leagues 1t is doubtful If anywhere near
the number that watched the contests
year ago are present at the combats now
being waged. In not one of the organiza-
lions Is the attendance UP to past stand
ards. At least this seems to be the opin-
ion Of the majority of those who watch
the games regularly.
It Is hard to tell just why this is There
is no doubt that tennis and golf tennis
especially, are taking many away The
fact that these two sports afford excel
lent opportunities for competition and
physical exercise, and that greater OPP
portunities are opening each day for
the individuals to take part in them. is
undoubtedly proving very attractive. The
majority of people would much rather
play themselves than others. and
once they get a taste of the enJoyments
of actual competition and the benefits of
regular exercise they are likely to avail
themselves of every chance to par
ticipate Especially is this true in con-
nection with the government departments.
as many of those who used to watch the
teams which represented their depart
ments in base ball leagues are out on the
courts or links themselves And if they
have not gone in for tennis or golf. many.
instead of watching contests are per-
forming in their own leagues on the dia-
nond. rhe Agricultural and War depart
ments both having closed circuits. Ten
mis- has also become an organized sport in
many Of the government departments.
the Departmental League numbering a
very large membership.
one player. who has spent several
years on amateur diamonds, and was
member of team which competed
in an intercity series, had this to say
yesterday of the situation:
Il hardly know what reason TO as
sign for the lack of attendance at the
amateur ball games this wear, unless
It is 10 say that il just naturally is
an off season. which will happen every
once in while. One may say what
he pleases. but you know that great
kind Is developed by the size. and en-
thusiasm of the crowd present and
consequently there has been something
lacking for US who have been playing.
] am hoping that things will brighten
up. as they did last season. toward
the end of the schedules. but I hon
estly think that the only hope Of anna
teur ball for real good season is to
have post-season series and inter
city series way above the ordinary
You know. last year. when the season
started rather bad. things developed
rapidly toward the end. and the post
9NoSoH tohtcsts were the pest IN the
whole history of the game here | be-
lcve. ] must say. though, that right
now interest in amateur ball is not
very lively"
Earl Steele, who was star in the
days OF the old Cornell and Pumping
station teams several years ago il
playing with Congress Heights in the
Potomac League. He il doing mighty
creditable work. too. and there are not
many players in the circuit that have
sreat deal on him when il comes
10 all-round worth. Steele when he
was playing in the ca pital city League
nNe years ago. was generally regarded
AS one of the two or three best OUT
heiders in the city.
II is reported definitely that Hoar-
the star quarterback OF the Gettysburg
College eleven last fall. will enter
Johns Hopkins this coming year Hoar
besides being one of the most brill
liant backf1eld performers in the east
anything, Is a pitcher much above
those usually found on college teams
re Is nov holding down job with
me gettysburg club. III the Blue Ridge
= League, and is one of the leading
hJElers OF that organiza tion Uoar
VIII be a mighty valuable acquisition
70 the athletic squads at Hopkins
The Marines and Clarendon pIaved
brilliant game Of ball yesterday at
the virginia town. the former winning
after fourteen innings by score OF
TO j. Won Herbulis did the pitching
70! the Clarendon nine and Burns and
Parker were on the mound for the