Omaha daily bee., 1916-04-30
BASE BALL ENJOYS GROWTH
Record Attendances Thus Far in the
Major Leagues Marks New
Era in Game.
CLEVELAND FANS ENTHUSIASTIC

NEW YORK. April D.-The record
breaking attendance which has marked
many Of the games played thus far IN
tho major leagues, particularly IN the
west. foreshadowg n big awakening In
base ball. According 70 many prominent
base ball men. new era In the game "
in prospect. The revival Of interest In
Uncle Sans great national game IL not
confined 70 tho major league cities. but II
riding on the crest OF the wave OF pros
perity that il sweeping the nation. The
minor leagues now In operation In the
south and on the Pacific coast anticipate
fully prosperous years Of 1912 and 1913,
from all along the major league line
come reports that everybody wants base
ball. And this appliek in particular TO
Cleveland. where tho present enthusiasm
furnishes a striking contrast 70 the
period preceding last years campaign.
cleveland's reawakening Of course, IL
due 10 the acquisition Of Iris Speaker
and a general rehabilitation OF the club
under Leo Tohl
Makes Hif with Fans.
Tris Is just the type Of player 10 help
tho Cleveland proposition. His splendid
playing has not only enthused the fans.
but has served TO inject fighting spirit
IN the team that was altogether missing
during the morose and moody months OF
the Birmingham regime.
James G. Dunn Of Chicago, the new
owner Of the club. paid 5000 IN cash
and gave the Boston Americans Fred
Thomas, an inficider, and Sam Jones,
a pitcher, for the Texan and the CIeye-
land fans considered the deal master
stroke.
That II was good investment was
shown when. for the first time in the
recent history OF Cleveland base ball.
more than 5000 persons were turned away
from somers park owing TO lack OF ac-
Communications. And the magnet was
Iris" Speaker,
Frank Baker has created a similar sit
uation in this city. where the Yankees
have already worked themselves strongly
into public affection. Tho high quality
OF base ball the Marylander has pro-
duced and the live. zippy exhibition hi
teammates are giving have endearcd
them TO tho fans who Ioered them last
year. Needless to say, Captain Huston
and Colonel Rupert are convinced tbs
fancy price paid for the homo run king
was justified. More than 5000 personl
Jaw the Yankees play Washington an,
the Yank management regards this as .
harbinker OF very prosperous season
stars Well Distributed.
What makes the outlook stu more gilt
toring Ia the fact that the star payer
are better distributed amang the msto
league teams than In several years an
with the clubs well matched, the cam
paisns are bound to be interesting. Tn
optimism u the club owners a based O
something more tangible than sOo
Wishes II IL gansed hy the atlendane
Figures truly base hall appears 20 =
AZ ihe threshold 81 an era ~ impress
denled prosperity
fhe distribution 81 the stars bnapeah
better sport. and hailsr spari keen com
petition and close races Ia easily r
wanied ~ attendance A. lhe same fhl
hFfseF sport viii obtain ~ both she IA
tialiAi ana Amsftean lsakues iH alisrt'
- the ftN gamss aifeadf PLAYED
rba haA scores heAp ailsnt evidences
th kesn composition ihet has leetaf'
~ riag thas Tar That thg faus are .
rFseistNW IA shown hy ne waF lhst Raw
bfatsA ths Nlogsfllne gsHtsalFs ~ thi
srf.ns WHEN Charles u Ettsh ~
nasheA. IRE lnanil y hAfs hAll hna
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