Evening star., 1925-04-12

Whether Independent teams and
leagues in the field this season viii
cooperate with the Washington Base
Ball and Amateur Athletic Associa-
ton, as the local chapter of the Ma
tionai Base Ball Federation is styled,
is not so certain. however. Some
leagues are to submit to the control
of the w. 3. B. A. A. A. that operated
here extensively last year. but others
with teams that once were under its
influence prefer to paddle their own
canoes this season.
Would Conduct Own Affairs.
And so il is with a number of the
independent mines that last year
fought for titles in various classes
under the jurisdiction of the local
chapter of the \. B. B. F. Their de-
fectton is not to be regarded as an
indication of ineficiency in control
on the part of the w. 3. b. A A A.
That organization conducted its tour
naments in admirable manner. But
restricted scheduling of games proved
irksome to many of the teams, and
they are eager to handle their own
affairs now.
Nor is the desire OF many of the
leagues and teams TO look after
themselves any indication that sand
lot base ball will not prosper here as
neighborhood ath. ettc clubs have
done valiant service~in taking care of
the diamond sport hereabou They
organized sectional tournaments and
handled city championships, and
while there were some kicks" about
the affairs. generally they were put
across in splendid style.
Not Hurt by Golf.
pleting the ranks Of the sandlot base
ball players in Washington, there is
but one answer-all bosh. The few
boys drawn from the lots to be en-
ployed as caddies at the several clubs
around the National Capital are not
missed at all. In fact, there are but
three or four clubs near enough to
the centers of base ball activity here
to be able to draw upon Washington
boys. And the game of golf itself is
not attracting enough sapdlot dia-
nond athletes in this city TO amount
20 anything. The golfins youth of
the National Capital never has played
sandlot base ball, so they could not
be missed.
At times the commercial spirit has
crept into the sandlot pastime here
70 a great extent, but in recent years
1t has been dissipated, and there Is no
fedSOU Dell6Ne II VIII De revived
enough TO be troublesome this year.
AT that II rarely affected the ranks
OF the young players. being confined
mostly to older men, who had had
some minor professional league ex-
perience and were ready to sell their
services TO the highest bidder.
About Is years ago there were a
number of teams in the field that
contained paid players = too highly
paid for the best interests of the
sandlot sport-but even then most of
those receiving money or given posi-
tions because of their exceptional
base ball ability were local athletes.
There never has been much import
ing of expensive talent to Washing
ton.
No Waning Interest Here.
The National Amateur Athletic
Federation claims it is fortified with
facts to show that participation in
base ball by the youth of America
has fallen off considerably in recent
years and fears the game may soon
cease to be Americas national sport.
1t cites STATISTICS CLEANED from nu-
merous small towns and some of the
larger ones, too, and now is engaged
| in laudable effort to revive interest
in the pastime.
ludNl the ~. n. "A. states
concerning the decline in the sport
probably is very true. There has
been a cry for some years that fewer
| boys are taking to the game. But the
National Capital is not losing any in
terest in it. Boys here are just as
anxious as ever to grab bat and ball
and HE to the nearest lot for a few
innings of play. They will continue
TO patronize the grand old game as
long as there is a place to play it
here.
And the provision of playing fields