The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-20
TELLS
OF EXPERIENCE
OTHER PLACES
r|t I|UIUUUU HI AUuI N
More Interesting Facts
About the Problems of
The League.

Font mix.
Above is 5 statement made by Ath-
ietic Director Boiler, OF the Y, NJ.
o. A.. yesterday afternoon when In
terviewed by the writer in regard to
his views on certain problems which
has suddenly been brought to the
FRONT in trying to work out plan
for the city league OF 1920.
Some OF the league representatives
have a degfre to boost the price of
admission TO the game this summer
and to divide the gate money between
the clubs and the Y. NJ. G.. A. This
move is vigorously opposed by the Y.
M. C. A., in fact 1t will not be toler-
ated by that organization, BohlAr
having set his foot down solid on the
proposition at the last meeting of
the committee on organization.
Director Boiler has had a wide
range of experience in amateur city
league baseball and knows Just about
what would happen II the plan few
OF the league leaders of last year.
have in mind quitting in effect were
allowed to go through. 1t would be
the story OF Reading, Pa, over again.
Up in that mans town after the old
Tri-State league went to the bow
vows, some of the leading spirits OF
the community got together and or
ganized city amateur league, charg-
ing 10 cents admission to the game.
The league took hold with the public
lrom the start, and many times there
We're crowds at the games running
over 10 900 and 10000. When the
next season rolled around, some Of
The wise birds in the realm of high
finance saw a chance to give the pub
DC a iab in the inv and knock out
little money. So after some dis
riission the price OF admission was
sent up to 25 cents and the gate re-
ceipts were split with the players and
clubs. The first day there was a big
crowd present, the next it dwindled
down to about three-fourths of open
ing. the third week 1t took an awful
tumble and the fourth week the
league broke up. A like story could
be told OF a league in Akron, Ohio.
What is the psychology of such a
Eituation2 It is simply this. The pub
lie is willing to pay dime to watch
amateur baseball, the money to go
to the expense of conducting the
games and to some charity. Under
such conditions, when the players are
not getting any dividends from the
game, the public will 9tand for lot
OF loose baseball; but when you put
the proposition an p basis of split
ting the gate with the players at the
old price of ten cents or higher
one. .the public says, "If we are to
have professional ball, let's have II
right. Fay big money and have some
regular league players in here"
mo, sir. SAID Boiler, you can't
mix in amateur baseball on cold
Fash basis ard get away with It,"
Continuing he said:
THE Y Al. G.. A. has the South
Side grounds for this season. We
intend to conduct all manner of out
loor athletics during the summer and
lpring months Among other things
we are going to conduct baseball
league dong the lines of the league
Of last summers 1t does not have to
be a city league particularly. 1t can
he a ~. M. G.. A. industrial league.
We want all the teams of last year
and the players on the various teams
to participate this year, If possible.
But we Will not stand for any league
conducted by this Organization to
dividing the gate money with the
Clubs or players.
would the Y :, NJ. G. A. be willing
to give all money. over and above ex-
penses taken in at the gate to any
charity agreed upon by committee
of league representatives? ?" the writer
inquired of Mr. Boiler
Sure" he replied the Y. NJ. @.
A. is not running the baseball league
to make money We intend to give the
people all manner of sports at South
Side park during the summer and to
charge the smallest possible admits
sion fee. Any money that is made
over and above. expenses we will be
glad to turn over to any charity fund
that might be suggested. l under
stand that after season last year a
banquet was given to all the players
in the league and that goodly sum
was given to The Times Xmas fund.
All. Of which shows that there are
many good ways to dispose Of any
surplus over and above expenses at
the ten cent price without dividing
with the clubs OF players.
Athletic Director Boiler need not
have recited the Reading and Akron
cases TO show the difference in sup
port by the public of straight out
5emi-pro ball and amateur ball. Take
after the close OF the city league sea-
son last year, the league champions
and the runners-up put on a little.
hit Of post season nature, the gate
going to the players Of the two clubs
Ind these teams on the day when
hey had the largest crowd of the
lerles did net have any thing Nike
NE, crowd that would come on other
Saturday afternoons to see Watson
Building, Monongah Gaiss, Mirt,9
Machine or Wholesalers in action.
According to Mr.. Boiler II there
) to be any league in the city this
lear where the players split the gate,
! will have TO be some other league
man the one conducted by the Y. NJ.
C.. a . There IS no objection to teams
m the league which the Y. MIC.
A. Will run playing games on the
side, as for instance on Sunday af-
ternocns. and daking in all the coin
they can get and dividing 1t among
The players. hut Of the admission fee
charged to the games conducted un.
fer the Y NJ G. A.. the players will
not get one single penny, other than
, banquet or prize at the, end of the
beason, as has been the custom in
4 b. .