Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-28
Line Sports NeUs and Comment
Baseball Entering
New Golden Era

Baseball Is supposed to have en-
Joyed It's greatest era from 1909 10
1913. but leading baseball men in the
game today believe the coming tan
years will shatter all records Of the
former golden era" In nearly every
league which has reported, attend
ance figures indicate me greatest in.
crease in popularity in baseball the
game has ever had President pbo,,-
DIS j. Hlckey's statement that there is
general increase in attendance in
all cities in his circuit, is pointed to
as indicative Of conditions generally.
me ten year period from 1903 to
1913, however, was a notable one for
the national pastime. 1t was in 1906
that the big advance was first no.
tlced. Charles w. Murphy purchased
the Chicago Cubs for $105,0oo and the
investment returned him S119 900 that
season. This was the beginning of
big prices in baseball. When 1903
opened. 1T is indeed doubtful if any
franchise in either of the majors
could have commanded more than
100000.
Soon after 1903 there was a gen.
eral movement among big league
magnates to improve their ball yards.
Several clubs constructed steel and
concrete grandstands. while some
others purchased new property en-
tirely. Shibe Park In Philadelphia
was one Of those to figure in the re-
construction plan of that period.
Barney Dreyfuss, OF Pittsburgh, also
erected new home for his Pirates.
In 1908 there was scarcely club in
either of the major leagues whose
capitalization exceeded 100000 and
this resulted in the general belief
that baseball was not a money max
ing proposition. 1t has been shown
by later events that the low capitali-
cation meant nothing because the
magnates, In nearly every case, were
putting their profits into property or
players.
Twenty years has made a great
change in baseball asa business, as
shown by the records. The New York
Giants, for instance. changed hands
about twenty years ago for paltry
100000 while the last transfer of that
club from the Brush estate involved
a cool $1,300,000. This shows a COM
mendable rate of increase for base
ball and one that would do credit to
most any line Of commercial endeav-
or. President Ban Johnson believes
the next ten years will be the great
est the old game has ever enjoyed. He
says this country Is slated for ten
years of unprecedented prosperity.
With the signing Of Pitcher Joe
Jaeger. Manager Mitchell Of the
Chicago Nationals hopes to have the
only real underhand pitcher in the
National league next season. There
is not single underhand twirler in
the league, that style of pitching
having become extinct when Erskine
Mayer. formerly Of the Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh clubs, passed out Of
the ranks. Mitchell regards Jaeger
an overseas veteran who recently re-
ceived his discharge from the army,
as a real find" Mitchell declares he
never saw a pitcher start a ball as
slow as Jaeger. He nearly touches
the ground with his hand before he
delivers the ball. His curve ball
takes peculiar upward shoot, like
his fast one, as he pitches with ter
rife speed. Jaeger has not had
much professional experience but
Manager Mitchell regards him as
the most promising prospect in
years. He Is built along the lines Of
Grover Alexander, is just as tall and
pitches with the same speed as the
big Nebraskan. Before entering the
army Jaeger pitched for independent
clubs around st. Cloud. Mimi, his
home. He pitched several games
while overseas.