Evening star., 1925-04-19
BASE BALL WORLD
TO HONOR EBBETS
~
National League to Call OFF
Games Tuesday, When
Funeral Is Held.
By the 4 .soci.t.d Pres..


Ebbets. president OF the Brooklyn
League Base Ball Club. died Of heart
disease In his rooms In the Waldorf
A storia Hotel at o'clock this morn
ing. He was 66 years old.
Seriously i'll throughout the Winter.
Mr.. Ebbets came North just ahead of
the team. which he had hoped to
cheer on TO victory in the 1925 pen
nant race, but he was too Ill TO see
a game in the new season.
Next Tuesday. the day of Mr.. Eo-
belts funeral in Trinity Cruch, Brook
lyn, base ban will pay him tribute
as one of its outstanding figures.
There will be no games in the Ma
tional League and officials and play.
ers OF many teams will attend the
services. The president of the other
seven senior Circuit clubs, together
with Base Ball Commissioner Landis
National League, will be the pail
bearers.
Tribute by Players.
The great crowd saw Brooklyn play
the Giants in Ebbets Field this after
noon. but the renewal of the peren-
nially popular inter-borough series
was noticeabIy saddened by Mr.. Eb-
bets death Just before game time.
the Two tSdI1e. cdtD 1ldytt
a mourning band on his left sleeve,
gathered at the plate and stood. with
heads uncovered. for a minute of si-
lent tribute to the Squire of Flat
BUSH" as the Brooklyn magnate was
affectionately known TO New York s
multitude Of fans.
Mr.. Ebbets launched into base ball
as a printer OF score cards, which he
produced on a little hand press, dis
posing OF them TO the fans before the
ink was dry. For several years he
was a vendor and then a ticket taker,
but In $50 he came to the attention
OF Charles II. Byrne, then president
OF the Brooklyn Club, and was made
secretary. Ten years later Byrne
died andS Ebbets succeeded him.
The sea sons Immediately following
were turbulent. with the national
game undergoing attack from many
sources. The year 1898 saw the pres
ident become manager and the team
lose more than 100 games. Then
came the consolidation of the Brook.
lyn and Baltimore Clubs with Ned
Hanlon as manager. The team won
the title in 1899 and 1900.
E,bbets placed his, savings in stock
of the club. BY borrowing more, he
gained control in 1909 and then de-
cided to construct a field. He choose
his ground, but found that the erec-
tion of a modern concrete stadium
was beyond his resources. Then he
made a move that mystifled his
friends--he sold a half interest in a
club that was making S100, 1000 a year
for the very price. The purchasers
were Edward and Stephan McKeever.
Reinforced financially he again faced
disaster, for the advent of the Fed
! Y haK NIL.
cations. Harassed on all sides, Eb-
bets refused to sell for 500, 900, say
ing he would ''go down fighting"
When peace finally came. the Brook
lyn owner was some $500, 900 in debt
Wilbert Robinson went from the New
York Giants to manage the club and
in 1916 drove It through TO National
League pennant, the proceeds from
the World Series with the Red Sox
cutting Ebbet's debt in half. In 1920,
Brooklyn scored again and met Cleve-
land in the World Series. This wiped
out the owners obliga tons.
Charles H. Ebbets, ir., only son of
the magnate, tonight said that al
though his father had lost this large
sum of money fighting the Federal
League. he had since accumulated
more than a million dollars" He
said he had no idea as to how the
estate will be distributed.
Sponsored Draft System.
Ebbets brought about the raising
of the tariff at the gates, but at the
same time he originated the rain
check, which assures the fan of see
ing a full game. Also he sponsored
the draft system in organized base
ball, and throughout his presidency
in Brooklyn, was a member OF the
games most important committees.
He lived to see the National League
SO years old, but not long enough to
participate in the celebration.
He had been sufferer from heart
disease for some time, and the fatal
attack found him endeavoring to re-
cuperate sufficiently to leave for the
Adirondacks. where his physician had
hoped he might find relief. He died
while asleep. Members of his family
occupied an adjoining suite at the
hotel.
Mr.. Ebbets, a native of New York,
is survived by his widow, son,
Charles II. Ebbets, jr., and two daugh-
ters, Miss Mary Ebbets and Mrs.
James A. Gilleaudeau.
TRIBUTE BY AMERICAN.
ST. LOUIS, April 1s.-Ban johnson,
president of the American League, an.
nounced here today he had requested
all of the club presidents in his league
to attend the funeral Tuesday of
Charles Ebbets, president Of the
Brooklyn National League club. A
decision would be made tomorrow or
! Monday, johnson said. as to the form
which recognition of Mr.. Ebbets' death
should take on the playing ffeld,
/.
COUNCIL ELECTION
MAPPED BY CITIZEN
| FEDERATION GROUP
CONTINUED from First Page.)
| provide that balloting shall continue
until the six members are elected
! Should the vote be incomplete al
80 on the night of Saturday, May 2
| it is provided that the federation shall
| resume balloting Monday evening