Evening star., 1918-07-07
Strong PLEA MADE
BACKING BASE BALL
Old Fan Says It. Would Be
Mistake to Cur
tail Sport.

PHILADELPHIA. June 29.-with
the base ball players standing in the
work or fight order still in the dark,
the league presidents. club owners
and managers are anxiously waiting
made by the Washington authorities.
But the small number Of men directly
connected with the sport cannot be
compared to the great mass of peo-
pie who daily go to the base ball
parks throughout the country for rec
reation. The fans who support the
game are Just as anxious to know
what the final ruling Of the law will
be. II public opinion were to decide
the issue. 1t would not be long before
a favorable verdict was reached. More
than 30 per cent of the people who
patronize the sport during the sum-
mer months are hoping that the death
knelf Of the national pastime will not
be sounded July 1.
In an interesting interview here
John Ritchie, one of the most popular
fans Of the Quaker city, made known
his opinion Of base ball. Richie. who
is sixty-seven years old, has been an
enthusiastic rooter for more than
forty years and has been a stanch
supporter Of the Athletics since the
advent Of the American League.
ITO kill the national pastime for the
duration Of the war;" said Ritchie,
would be 4 pity. Hundreds of thou
sands Of fans like myself would be
deprived Of their only recreation.
Every afternoon I take great pleas.
parks to watch the teams In action,
and II after the nrst of the month the
gates are closed I would be only one
Of many thousands who would be like
. dsh out Of water.
Has Studied Crowds.
since the season opened have
made 4 study Of the fans who sit in
the open stands at the Phillies and
that a great many Of the younger
generation are missing. but their
places have been taken by older peo-
ple., The only reason I can give for
that Is that the young fans are in the
service. while those at home fnd
games. An afternoon at q ball park
happily punctuates the daily grind Of
thousands Of workers.
Base ball is popular wherever 1t is
played. Why kill the sport in the
country it originated in? Our boys
who are fighting in Europe always
welcome news from home, and espe-
cially reports about their favorite
teams. They want TO know how their
favorite bali player 10 going this sea-
son, whether Cobb or Speaker is
lighting 1t out for the batting honors,
and they are interested in the welfare
Of their homo teams. II were over
there and heard that base ball was
discontinued at home I assure you I
would not be very happy.
There 10 something about the sport
that all other national pastimes lack.
It brings out the very character of
the mon engaged in 1t. Take, for in
stance. the man whom I admire above
all others, Jack Coombs. In any other
profession or business you would go
many day without meeting his
equal. have the pleasure of know
Ing the famous pitcher, and during
the pennant-winning days Of the
Athletics was one Of his stanch ad-
mirers, and to this day I have lost
none Of that admiration. have never
known him to say an unkind word
about any other player In base ball.
In what other pastims 10 there play
er to equal Coombs?
Americans are unanimously In
favor Of the sport continuing. think.
and I hope the final decision on the
work or fight order will not mean
that the American people win be de-
prtved OF their greatest recreation