South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-23
BY JOHN BAUNBACH.

N AaeL SUNDAY article IL was
shown how league baseball could be
made self-sustaining by drawing 40
eco fans at the gate I viii first at
tempt IN this article 20 show how
easy IL would look on paper.
As most every fan knows. in a
40 game schedule each club is al
lowed 10 Saturday and 10 sunday
dates az home. and shares in the
pooling OF the three holiday Gates
Decoration day. July Attn and Labor
day in its share OF the 20 games
played at hOma. We will say that
for our 10 Sundays. we drew an
average % 1900 per Sunday with
me Saturdays averaging 500 This
would give us a total of $4,000 peo-
pie for our 20 big days. and this
would be a mighty small attendance
which could doubtless be accom-
plisned.
IL will be seen that we have so
days left % draw our remaining Is 49,
900 fans and three Of these days
would be the holidays IN which the
six clubs would share in the attend
ance Of close TO 90. 600 people. Now
n will be sesn that by drawing 1900
on Sundays, 500 on Satui days and
500 on week days. it would be no
task at al 20 draw 10000 fans. Does
this look impossible?
The first great problem which con-
fronts US in bringing back the ma
tionai pastime 10 South Bend is 10
secure suitable park and a site
FOR the same. II is almost certain
that SprlngbrOOK park as far as
base ball is concerned has lost its
charm. To make the game pay a
down town or central spot must be
secured. To finance such a prOpo-
sition, a Fans club or stock com
pany must be formed Of about 500
fans and shares of stock sold at
$40. Subscription should be limited
to three shares for each individual
In this manner il would be an
easy task 20 raise from $500 TO
$4,000, and this sum would sure
IS suffice. other cities such as Terre
Haute, Muskegon, Springfield and
Peoria have done this and surely
we can do the same. Now for the
real job.
Locations for a ball park are very
r@aA * III AAAtH GAtIt anu NaHtEAdllN 81
in the case OF park large enough
10 accommodate the South Bend
fans, but the ideal location for a
municipal park is still with US.
namely the Lippman property on
Lincoln way f., between Monroe and
Bronson SITS. This spot has a river
frontage Of 1000 feet This site is
soon TO be plotted for building lots.
IL has stood there in the same shape
for a number Of years. and the fact
that all our past city fathers ana our
present ones have kept this place
from being annexed to our city
realty is hard 10 believe Towns
without number are begging for cen
trally located spots such as this 10
turn into amusement and recreation
resorts. 5ut they cannot get them
because they haven't got them.
South Bend has II and doesn't want
IL
The remark has been made hun
dreds OF times that IL any other town
Of our SIZE had such a spot it would
have been turned into a ball park
20 years ago. AS long as we have the
location. why not make a park OF
IL AT ltlS time.
coliseum has been talked of
for some time. "a bathing beach has
been demanded for the past four
years, and we need a ball park in we
. are 10 have a base bail and foot
ball team We also need an armory
FOR our future militia. and the south
end OF the town needs a park. II has
been suggested that the coliseum
be built at Springbrook park, but
this appears hopeless.
The site on Lincoln way +. is
large enough 20 accommodate all
the buildings we need. also a base
ball and football park. The northern
extremity OF the park has one of the
finest sandy beaches imaginable
and Furthermore. the current Of the
river is mostly all on the other side
OF near the northern bank. on this
spot could be erected a boat livery
also a dancing pavilion. In addition
there would still be plenty Of space
left for parking automobiles OF
street cars: lawns could be laid %
b make the spot more attractive. and
2 number OF other things could De
accomplished All Of these things
are within our grasp and still South
Bend sleeps on, making no effort
10 secure a title 10 this location.
It Is only a 10 minute walk from
the business section Of the town. and
IS situated on a double track rail
4 way with two interurban lines run
Ming past IT, have often been asked