The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-10-03
BY WALT CARMON

D 1
n asks sports writer on the New
York Times, "Tush, tush! Fewer
persons will be discussing the merits
of Herbert Hoover and Alfred E.
Smith than are engaged in bitter
controversy over the world rever-
berating question whether Tony
Lazzeri is a better second baseman
! than frankie Frisch. ....
an other words, this is baseball
week, and little thing like ma
tional election can wait"
This man knows his masses. He
is keenly aware that professional
baseball serves we'll to keep the
workers mind away from the more
important problems that concern his
welfare. This week and next, Amer
lea is baseball mad and there's
money in this madness. That ex-
plains why it is so systematically
promoted.
The Pennies Come In.
The newspapers announce special
sports writer's, humorists, baseball
stars and cartoonists who viii re-
4 port the series games from all
angles at right fancy salaries.
There's circulation in it. The radio
will broadcast to waiting millions.
The movies will do we'll Even the
crack Of the bat and the roar of
/ the crowd when Ruth takes wal
lop will be brought to the theatre
/ by the "talkies." Ticket specula-
tors and the gamblers look forward
to a cleanup. The presidential can
didates will be tolerated only if they
express themselves for the Yauks
or the Cardinals-for these are the
( only issues that matter to millions
of people this week and next. Base
ball is sport" that has been sold
to the American masses at hand
some profit.
1t pays in many ways. 1t pays
the baseball magnates. Only a
week ago a ;'crucial series" between
the Yankees and Athletics reached
new records for attendance. Some
$4,000 rabid fans paid from 81 and
up to the owners and good deal
more to the spectators to witness
the spectacle. A few days later the
Cardinals repeated at similar
profit.
Anticipating the final game last
Sunday between these teams to be
deciding one, the spectators lost
an estimated $4,000 because the
game of the day before settled the
matter.
Sold Out.
All reserved seats for the OPEN
ing game of the world series have
been sold a week in advance and
10000 seats will be sold at the park
to a crowd that will begin TO gather
as early as. 6 in the morning and
will wait in line for hours to pay
for the privilege, Interest in pro-
fessional baseball has been drama
tiled to such unbelievable success.
Which makes it easy to use this
interest for other purposes. Lead-
ing political takers will display
themselves democratically to be ap-
plauded, quoted and photographed
to ease the unwarv vote their way.
Jimmy Walker will see that Tam
many and Smith are represented
Usually the American Legion
band opens the festivities with the
musical murder of the national an
them. The organization, as at all
sports events, sneaks in for some
patriotic publicity. The uniform
will be on display. The flag will be
in the breeze from every corner of
the park. The baseball fan will not
be allowed to forget his patriotic
duty" Baseball fans arc the cam
non fodder for the future wars for
much greater profits in the markets
of the world.
Easy Graft.
Then there are concessions. Score
cards, peanuts, hot-dogs, pop and
ice cream-there's lots Of money in
these, too. Even in the renting of
cushions to those who don't fine
hard chairs very comfortable.
| Judge Lands, notorious labor
hater, is the chief impresario Of the
big show at a salary of $4,000 a
year. 1t is no wonder that baseball
parks are scab-built in the face OF
the protests of organized labor
Babe Ruth, baseball prima-donna
who works" for $4,000 a year, en-.
dorses prison made goods and
gladly adds his voice of popularity
to every purpose that serves the
patrioteer and the boss. 1t is nc