The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-23
Three and Two

A New York scribe has the following
interesting comment on the probable
passing of the two-bft seats in the
clubs:
The tip Is out, that the "two-bitp
seat Is to be abolished in all major
league baseball parks next season. The
adylsability OF raising the minimum
price OF admission to fifty cents was
discussed by National League owners
at their meeting here last month The
subject was never reached in the brief
and stormy American League session,
but 1t will receive consideration at a
special meeting. AT the Joint meet
ing on Feb. IL in Chicago, some ac-
ton may be taken for more uniform
allotment of seats at all parks.
The original bleacherite was supoos
ed to be the rugged bulwark of base
bal finances. He was the horny-hand-
ed son of toll who worked hard for
the quarter he gave up and thus be.
came necessary as a cash customer to
offset the losses incurred in permit.
ting titled loafers to occupy the grand
stand seats on passes.
But the old order changeth. The
bleacherite is passing out. The honest
but poor totler who wore cotton shirt
and squatted in the sun seats has
been supplanted by the silk-shirted
lad who can afford the best seat and
does afford It. Mr.. Bleacherite has
moved to the rooted section and he is
not looking for cheap accommodations
inns and the high cost of baseball is
ringing the knell Of the quarter seat.
Advance in salaries, overhead charges
at ball parks, increased cost on mater
1als, railroad fares, and hotel accom-
modattons are what the magnate con-
siders.
The new scale in prices will hardly
be noticed in New York and the larg
er cities. At the Polo grounds the
sale OF the twenty five cent seats has
practically been discontinued. No more
than 300 of these cheap admissions
were one sale any. day and there would
be none If the bylaws of the league
did not specify there should be. A
change in these bylaws, will be nee
essary to eliminate the two-bit boys.
Some objections may be raised in
Philadelphia which has always been a
cheap baseball city-and st. Louis,
where the quarter sections get, a big
play. However, the wprkingman, who
Is supposed to inhabit these sections,
can afford the new tariff.
1t mny be necessary to make an ex-
ception in Philadelphia. baseball fans
there do not consider either the Phil
lies nor the Athletics. worth more than
a quarter. Fifteen years ago, when
baseball was entering it's era of great
prosperity, Philadelphia was the ony
city where they played twenty five
cent baseball. The other cities were
known as fifty cent towns.
The distinction lay in the price of
grand stand admissions. In Philadel
phia In those days an admission to any
part of the grounds was quarter, but
for an extra two bits one could sit in
the grand stand. In all other cities
the admission to the grandstand was
fifty cents and an extra quarter was
charged for the superior accommoda-
tons. Teams visiting Philadelphia set
tied on the basis of q quarter for all
admissions and visiting Philadelphia
clubs settled on the same basis in
other cities. All other clubs. in their
financial relation, settled on basis
Of both twenty-five and fifty cent ad-
nlissions.'
In the division of receipts in tho
major leagues today the fifty cent ad-
mission js standard: The home club
retains everything received for seats
that soil ut higher prices. The Phtla-
delphta clubs long ago advanced grand
stand i3Itcez, but still maintained ac-
Communications for thousands of the
quarter boys. - .tas4- ~. go 4