The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-11-06
FIND BASEBALL
GAMBLING HAS
BEEN RARE
Grand Jurors Exonerate
Sport nespite Few
Fixed Games


morning returned its final report In
which It stated that while evidence
has been found that some games
were thrown by players. the practice
was not general. and the leaders in
organized buaball may be rolled upon
To Keep the game above suspicion"
The grand jury's report says in
considering the magnitude OF the
enterprise aud the great number OF
bail players engaged we believe
comparatively small number OF the
players have been honcst-we were
gratificd to find players who immod-
iutely reported to their managers the
suggestions Of fixing and likewise,
managers who imediately discontinued
players whc were implicated In any
way In attempts. TO corrupt the game.
The adoption OF this policy az a fixed
practice, no matter nt what cost, will
make Impossible "A repetition OF the
present trouble
one Instance
Evidence was given the jury OF
an instance during a game played In
Chicago where certain player on
the New York iiutlonal league has
ball club offered another player Il
bribr II he would throw that partlcu-
lar game. The player to whom the
bribe was offered Immediately walked
OF the diamond refusing To continue
pitching the game.
we earnestly commend the action
Of this PLAYER, and we likewise COM
mend the manager OF the New York
CLUB for his action ON the following
day In suspending the player who Of
ferod the bribe. In this particular
case, and Notwithstanding the re-
prcnensiDle conduct OF the player
who offered the bribe, no crime was
committed under the prcsont Illinois
law. Therefore. no Indictment could
be rendered by this grant jury. At
this point, we call attention to "A law
offered by Senator Cummings In May
1913, makinp the offering or accept
ing ola bribe a criminal offcnse
This grand jury recommends the
passage of such federal statute.
THE young player from the minor
League or from amateur baseball who
enters the major leagues should real
ize that the occupies position Ot
trust, and has entered upon an hon
Urable career, looking to baseball az
his profession, and he must therefore
conduct himself In "A manner that will
make his occupation one OF integrity
and high standing. II the game is
conducted on a basis that inspires
public confidence, young men and
boys will he encouraged to play tho
game more and more, thereby devel-
oping In the youth OF the country
sound bodies and sound minds. and
what ia more. sound morals and better
citizens
Upholds baseball
"Thc jury is Impressed with the
fact that baseball n an index to our
+-nntional genius, and character. The
American principle of merit and far
play must prevail, and II is all impor-
tant that the game be clean from the
most humble player to tho highest
dignitary; that the business methods
and the players be equally clean and
nportsmanlike. Baseball enthusiasm
and It's hold upon the public interest
must ultimately stand or fall upon
this count,
Baseball Is more than national
game; il IL an American institution,
having it's place prominently and sig
nificnntly In the life of the people
In the deplorablc absence Of milit,-ry
training in this country, baseball and
other games having team play spirit
offer the American youth an agency
FOR development that would be en-
tirely lacking We're It relegated to
the position to which horse racing
and boxing have fallen. The national
game promotes respect for proper
authority, sclf-confidenco. fair mind
edncss, quick Judgment, and self con-
troll.
"rhe jury thinks 1t advisable to em-
phasZe In this report the remorsc
and self contempt felt by the players
appearing before the grand jury who
had accepted hribcs, Their testimony
I In this connection was entirely volun-
tary ON their part aud showed how
cheap and petty each player felt and
how their loss OF self respect was In
no wise compensated by the sums that
We're accepted"
Touching on baseball pools, the re-
port says thousands OF persons are
iloeced every season out OF hundreds
OF thousandn Of dollars each wccK
and that the pools, are almost with
out exception. conducted by irrespon-
sible persons. who operate without
definite system and without any reg
ularity OF practice.
There are 1852 chances In a
seasons three league pool, the report
says selling at 81 chance out OF
the S13i,572 collected. the pool pays
to the buyern oHly S2S,000 IN prizes.
/ Even at this enormous profit the
grand jury says. 1t appears from the
evidence that pool owners refuse even
to pay all the prizes won by individ-
uals"