Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-14
Benjamin F.. Shibe,
Gunner of AS, Dies

Continued from Page One
incident to his position as executive Of
the organization.
Few in the great army OF baseball
fans would have recognized the kindly
faced president of the Athletics had he
been met on the street. But the man
who invented the modern baseball, the
man who gave this city its greatest base
ball plant, Shibe Park. and the man who
always stood four square for integrity,
progress in the right direction, and
sportsmanship in baseball. will live In
the memory of local fans as long as the
structure that bears his name.
For nearly forty years the game had
been his study for the same two. score
years It had absorbed most of his ener-
gy, most of his waking thought.
Ardent Fan
Though an invalid for several years,
and n cripple, the baseball pioneer
maintained an active interest in both
his club and the game.
He started penniless as the driver OF
a horsecar through the streets OF Phila-
dclphia. His active mind and sporting
procivitics made him a constant associ-
ate of the back lot ball games where the
ball, in those days. was mostly hand
made affair. Young Shibe had GER
tain talent for sewing up lot of yarn
and "stufing" into n prcscntable base
ball. They could "bust" the product
of "Ben" Shibe's skillful fingers just a
little farther, and his work came to be
in demand.
He put most of his spare time into
the work. began to look around for bet
ter material, and as they kept coming
to him for his product, young Shibe
found the business profitable and
thoroughly diverting.
He, therefore, gave up his horsecar
job, and opened Il little establishment
with his brother for the manufacture
of bnseballs. Az the business continued
to flourish, it was merged with the A.
!. Reach Co. in 1882. Al Reach.
famous ball player at the time, was
glad to cast his lot with the ingenious
Shibe. This company, through the in
ventions, application and power of
Ben" Shibc's character behind 1t, has
reached the position where It makes all
the baseballs in the two major leagues,
as we'll as the majority of the minor
leagues.
.;- by Machinery
The start of the manufacture of base
balls was by hand, but Mr.. Shbe him
self introduced many marvellous and
intricate machines. through which the
output was greatly increased and the
cost leSscncd. Every part of baseball
manufacture is now by machine.
Mr., Shibc was not satisfied, however,
with this phase of the work alone. His
n,k,nrn,,hpf In thn ma IA Of
baseballS was the introduction of the
cork center. lie substituted u cork
core for the small round piece
of rubber formerly used which
added considerably to the life of the
sphere, increased the batting and made
baseball n much more enjoyable spec
taclc.
Through all the years his ideas and
works to the interest of the game have
been just n step in advance.
To his genius and business sense is
due the largest manufacturing house OF
baseballs in the world, and it's here
in Philadelphia.
But Mr.. Shibe's interest in the game
was such that he was not content to
stay long on the outside. lie became a
stakeholder Of the old Athletics and
didn't mind the loss of few thousand
dollurs at the time in the pursuit of
integrity and uplifting the standards of
the game.
Becomes Magnate
And when Ban Johnson and Connie
Mack decided that Philadelphia should
have n team in the American League,
Ben Shibe seized the chance to restore
the name Athletics 20 baseball. and
bought large interest in the club the
following years
His ideas for the team soon burst
into full bloom, the team Outgrew the
old Columbia Park at Twenty ninth
street and Columbia avenue. and Mr..
Shibc's next move well demonstrated
the confidence his business associates
already had in his baseball vision.
But not few there we're who gasped
and shook their head when this base
Ehll seer" proposed 81 ,000, 900
stadium, q great monument and in
closure to scat the throngs which he
felt certain would continue in increasing
numbers to turn out for the game.
baseball is here to stay and grow, v
said Shibc. II will build fitting house
for it in my city"
Connie Deeply Grieved
Words are Inadequate to express
my grief over the death Of Mr.. Shibe.
The information has just come to me
and / am unable to say just now as
many things as | would like 10 about
him." said Connie Mack, in his Office
at Shibe Park, this morning.
Mr.. Shibc was the originator of
the concrete tier stands which have
been built in virtually every league
park in the country. lie was won
dcrful man in the baseball world
While he was never known, that is,
generally. to have taken an active part
in the management of affairs here, yet
his frequent words of advice were
everything to me.
Every baseball player knows he
was great man for the game. He
had wonderful character and was
university liked. ! will miss him as
will every other person connected with
the game. just now ] am unable to
give full expression to my feelings