Evening star., 1923-12-30

pHySlCdl skill Ot tlS1I predecessors.
The reason for this is the varyil
the added fact that the men who art
are grown-ups' of the war period. w
dates did not play as much as they
probable base ball career before the
employment after they were twenty
with base ball. They were too busy
1t has yet to be proved that the
base ball enthusiast is as critical of
Individual effort and artistic skill as
tho enthusiast in some other form Of
popular diversion. Most of the spec
tators of ball games have learned
their game well and know good from
very bad, but IL there can be created
by the team in which they are In
terested some rivalry with a locality
which naturally should be "licked"
IN some way on general principles,
the fan will not stick out at exhi-
bitions of ordinary merit IL the other
fellow is thrashed. 1t is this quality
of local pride, as II is called, which
holds base ball when the actual merit
of the game is not particularly high
class.
Applies to All Leagues.
This applies to the major league as
we'll as to the smaller league. II in
a close race. which varied day by day
could defeat the city OF New York
for the championship of either major
league It Is doubtful If there would
be an end for year to the celebra-
If either Of the st. Louis clubs could
win a championship over any club
in either league the extent to which
ST Louis would celebrate would be
limited only by the capacity of mans
endurance in st. Louis, for they have
been waiting for the coming of the
dawn for long time.
Thus the falling off Of the stand
ard of base ball, in such an instance,
woud make little difference IL the
team were successful. In 1923 the
st. Louis teams were not successful
and they did not play well in common
with other teams and st. Louis did
not stand up well under SUCH treat
ment. Nor did some other cities,
which bears out what base ball ex-
perience teaches. that with q de-
teriorating standard and inability to
win, there is little to hope for from
those who are asked to rally to the
support of the team.
Sometimes when the standard of
base ball Is not very good but there
is a very great attraction which ap-
peals to the human interest side OF
the game there is much enthusiasm
the American League in 1928. 1t had
q top-heavy race, but 1T also had
Ruth of the New York club to furnish
his share of the spectacular. and 1t
had the novelty of a tremendous new
stand and new playing field in New
York city. Those were attractions
much better than the ordinary for
base ball.
Success of Yanks . Factor.
Had the New York club played a
less conspicuous part in the race for
the American League championship
it is very doubtful whether the sea-
son would have been the success that
he nafr
team had won. With a winning club
Detroit would have been prominent
with another wonderful personality
az leader in Cobb. Pray do not over
look the fact that Cobb still has his
day on the ball field 80 far as the
American League is concerned. You
have but to go to a game In which
he is taking part to ascertain that.
That both New York clubs were In
the thick of the fight from the start
league. but when it became evident
that both New York clubs would win
the championship for the third year
in succession the enthusiasm of the
evaporated. It seemed to subside
more quickly in the American League
than in the National League. De-
troit dropped out of the fight too
quickly. and while Cleveland held
finish, it was only too apparent that
Cleveland could not overcome the
Yankees for the lead, hence second
place night had nothing to 1t other
than the fact that Cleveland was
a chance to get into first place, there
is a battle, but when 1t is second
and quite hopelessly. so, there Is a
procession.
was enough Of a furry to give the
fans of that city little hope. Pos
sibly they were more confident, on
the whole, than the fans of other
cities because the people Of Cincin-
natl naturally overlooked faults In
their players which to others seemed
quite conspicuous. There came
time when Cincinnati had its chance.
exactly as Pittsburgh had 1t against
New York in 1921. and st. Louis may
have been said to have had 1t in 1922,
hut Cincinnati with a series OF Ave
games to play against the Giants on
the Cincinnati grounds lost all of
them in succession. and in the par
lance of the day-blew. They blew
high and far.
Reds Only Real opposition.
Outside Of Cincinnati there was no
burgh worried along, perhaps, think
ing now and then that it was a rival
TO the Giants, but 1t was not. 1t
lacked the cohesion in games and the
hSBTtSSlScucSn tudt Oh ic aoSoiuSSiy
essential IL the New York club Is to
be beaten.
While base ball fans may have ad-
mired the victories of the New York
clubs because of the skill and the
energy of the players. 1t is not un-
recognized that both victories were
in a sense unpopular outside OF New
York. This - nothing to do with
the players or the teams. 1t is simply
the sentiment Of the base ball fan
making itself heard as he takes the
enough distinction and prize money
and that it is time some other or
ganization had q chance. A continu-
alton of successes by one man or
team in any sport Is not conducive
to its welfare. Foot ball has found
that to be true and foot ball is a
game of amateur motives.
In the south and in the middle west
it was hoped that some team other
than New York. in either league,
would, be the championship winner.
No doubt existed as to the trend of
mind on the part Of the base ball
enthusiasts away from the metropo-
lis, because it was public opinion
spoken time and again that any club
would be preferable to New York.
Yet there was no chance for any
thing but New York in either league
as the teams played When the
championships were won all sections
accepted the result very gracefully
and responded with good wishes for
one team or the other as they pre-
pared to play for the third successive
time in the world series, the first
time that such a condition had arisen
since base ball began to absorb so
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