The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-04-12
De PALMA ENTERS TWO CARS In SPEEDWAY RACE MAY 81
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A Wall OF WOE
By VEDDER GARD

I-HERE is no use running
away from the facts. Indi-
- annapolis Is not what Is
termed a good sport town. If the
Indianapolis baseball club decides
to invest some $250,O00 in new
park next year it is taking no
little risk
The return on such an invest
ment is not likely to be great un-
less sentiment in this city sudden
ly turns and it becomes interested
i'm the great national game to a
greater extent than in the past.
Last season the Indians made
money by selling players and not
by admissions at the turnstiles.
Many believe that a new park will
increase the attendance. There is
no doubt but that new playing
grounds is needed.
But we Just wonder how many
of those who are crying for a
spic and span baIlyard, away
from the smoke and dirt Of the
railroad, would be willing to
risk their money III such a ven
ture?
Any number Of these same folks
probably will kick like steers be-
cause their passes won't be good
on Saturdays and Sundays this
season. A ball club can not be
.sGun on the pass list. Few fans
81 )ealize the heavy expense Of
operating a class AA team.
40, 20. 80 Town"
It Is no boost for this metropolis
to be classed as a. 40, 20, 30 town"
by the sporting fraternity. but one
must admit there is some truth in
the assertion.
It is not only baseball that
does not receive the support it
deserves. Local boxing promoters
have been handicapped in trying
to bring tOp-nOtch attractions
here, owing to poor attendance
and small gate receipts.
A local promoter endeavored to
sign Doc Smell. Pacific Coast
featherweight title contender, but
received this reply: II received
$4,000 for Cleveland appearance.
What can you offer?"
Such purses are out of the ques-
ton here. Good fighters demand
good money.
$3.50 Top
At a recent boxing show in
Terre Haute between Bud Taylor
and Abe Goldstein the top price
was $3.50, and the show drew a
capacity house. What means and
groans would be heard here if
such an admission were charged.
Even football doesn't seem to
go over like it should. Butler
attendance fell off last year. OF
course, bad weather had some
thing TO do with it. But city
Mwith a population of approx
WmsteIy $4,000 should turn out
more spectators than it does to
sport events. just what is the
matter?
We do not blame those who are
not interested in athletics. That's
their business. But we have the
right to wonder why the percent
age Of fans is lower here than in
so many other cities.
The opening games in the
American Association on Tues
day follow:
Indianapolis at Kansas City.
Toledo at st. Paul
Columbus at Minneapolis.
Louisville at Milwaukee.
National League openers:
Boston at Philadelphia.
Brooklyn at New York.
Pittsburgh at ST. Louis.
Chicago at Cincinnati
American League:
st. Louis at Chicago.
Cleveland at Detroit.
Philadelphia at Washington.
New York at Boston.
Along with the A. A. and both
major leagues, the Southern AS
ISOLATION also will open on Tues
day. The International, Western
League and Texas loop open on
Wednesday. The Eastern League
starts on April 81. The Three-I
gets away on April 20.
7ANY new faces will be seen
I'M In the American Associa-
G ton this year and some
veteran DlaVerS will he seen will