, 1925-02-05
WORLD SERIES
IS MONEY GRAB,
FARRELL SAYS
Commercialism Scored
By Sports Editor in
Comment.
By N L.

NEW YORK. Feb. b.-Qvnited
Press)-Baseball officials have some
of the strangest ways of solving
their problems. They seem 10 figure
that a puff of breath will extingulsh
a c~onflagration Just because it win
put out a match.
The wierdest idea ever conceived
by supposedly big men Of business
was originated 10 remove the danger
that has been brought to the game
by million-dollar worlds series.
The magnates have decided to re.
duce the money shares OF the pen
nant-winning teams in the receipts
OF the worlds series m by de.
claring the two teams that finish in
fourth position in for a share of the
spells.
They also have decided to raise
the pay of the four umpires who
~officiate In the series TO $500 each.
The danger Of having the players
tempered with or tempted by brides.
they figure. is removed by reducing
the reward of the players without
taking a penny out Of their own poc-
kets. :
Ball players in general have no
high regard for their employers as
philanthropists or ~big-hearted broth
ers. II some Of the White Sox play
ers who went astray in 1919 had not
felt that they were under no obliga-
ton TO their boss. there might not
have been a big scandal.
Cince that arandaf IN 1910 - -.
been agreed that commercialization
OF the worlds series was baseball's
greatest danger. Why?
Well. when the receipts of the
series run into the million dollar
class. the share OF the individual
players on the winning teams runs
RS high as from Sc, 900 to $1,000 each.
Naturally every player wants to get
In on that bonus. which In itself
represents more than a fair annual
salary for a well paid man. When
several teams get into n tight race
there IS the temptation to . buy
games. II was the general opinion
that the New York Giants had the
cinching Of the National league pen
nant in mind when Jimmy o'Connell
was sent with a $500 bribe to a
Philadelphia player to help the
Giants win the decisive game OF the
pennant race.
II the danger TO future OF the
games depends upon the removal OF
co~mmercialism from the worlds
series. there is only one way 10 do Il.
Reduce the price OF admission to
the worlds series.
The worlds series has turrsed Into
nothing but a money grab. The pub
lie as usual is made the goat. The
fans are allowed to buy tickets at an
exorbitant price. but unless the fan
wants TO go to the spectators or
unless n fan knows n friend who
knows a friend Of one OF the Of.
f%cialsd he can't set a good seat for
any price.
Even IL the magnates insist upon
maintaining the present price OF
tickets they may inoresse the pifcel
they should change the method of
distribution to give the ordinary
fans n chance.
II YOU want 10 see one game Of
the worlds series you have TO 20
10 the park. and stand In line for
hours TO get an unreserved seat. II
you want a reserved seat. you have
to buy a block OF tickets for three
games or for six games. II you buy
n set OF tickets for the series and
TO sell one for some game that
you might not be able to attend.
you are liable TO arrest.
The danger OF commercialism-
and there II n rav danger in It
threatens the future OF base.
bail-is not In the reduction OF the
share. II is In the reduc-
hon OF the mngnntes' share. also,
would result from n reduction
n the price OF tickets.
ANY further acts that viii Increase
ihe feeling Of the players that they
IRE being pushed around wiz be nm
Incentive TO crooked work on the
diamond, or at least ar Ncuse FOR
L. |