The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-13
/ ALKING
IT OVER
by JOE WILLIAMS

i Y be merely a local condition. l
am not sure. But there seems to
be distinct emotional difference in
the way baseball exploits are re-
ceived at the Polo Grounds in Man
haitian and Ebbets field in Brooklyn.
At any rate John Joseph McGraw
weighs in with an interesting COM
plant. 1t seems the people who at
tend games at the Polo Grounds
are deficient in palm pounding
tendencies. They do not open their
necks and bark violently when one
of the Giants makes base hit, nor
dc they rise upon their forefeet and
0ip-yip with any great ardor when
a pitcher turns back the star enemy
slugger
on ne other hand over in Brooklyn
foul -.p or an umpire with a clean collar
represents a baseball cliraax Of sufficient
drama TO set the entire stands afane.
II the newspapers quote Mr. McGraw
truthfullY-and from what hear Of news
papers I am disposed TO believe they can
be trusted at times-the Clans manager
is at a loss to understand or explain the
conflicting peculiarities Of the situation.
But what interests me mostly is Nc
C5raw's contention that his Giants would
be playing better and livelier ball If the
customers gave them more verbal ana
moral encouragement It strikes me that
this is the equivalent Of saying that the
Giants would perform more productivity
for the money they are receiving II the
people who paw money 70 see them per
form helped them do IT, Perhaps tnere
should be a society for the prevention OF
cruelty TO ball players and managers
I have been told OF course. that pat
On the back. in some cases. will produce
greater results than a kick in the pants
II NAV be permitted TO become literary
but I have heard so many ball players say
that when they are out on the field they
do not even know anybody else is around
that I am somewhat astonished at NC
Graw's attitude.
And besides there is the less sentimental
angle that ball player is paid so mucn
per season to play set number OF games
regardless OF the volume of applause. or
the number Of floral wreaths he may re-
re!ve. So far as I know no ball player
has ever had a contrac. STIMULATING that
on the occasion OF each home run or we'll
pitched game the stands must rise IN
body and tender unto him three rousing
hoop-las. together with the padlocks OF the
city and the mayors best wishes.
Z Asst weekend some Of the
greatest tennis players in this
country competed in a professional
tournament out at Forest Hills, and
the daily attendance was Of such |
meager proportions that the days
receipts could be counted in a dime |
bank, and yet the MesSrs. Tilden,
Richards, Kozeluh and Hunter APP
peared to be playing their heads
off.
doubt very much If they could have
plaved any better tennis II the STANDS
were packed and there was a separate
cheering section for each competitor. do
not know how much money the tennis
players divide among them when the tour
nannent was over. but it seems quite OBJ
vious that there was not enough to pay
for big league ball players table tips
admitting without further controversy
that these incidental expenditures have
never been sufficient to prompt any red
headed waitress to retire.
have written before about the subtle
power Of the Woodworking handicap and
the raucous hooray. but always it has
been along the line Of the hired carnival
barker and the professional gallery
sparker Only few days ago l dis
closed that the late Belasco used to en-
plov Mr.. Mike Jacobs. the ticket broker.
"a 90 around the country and steam up
the vokel enthusiasm for his nightly per-
Torrance. a contribution of singular
merit for which Jacobs was paid $3.50
week. -, -
1t is still a happy memory with Mr..
Jacobs. those moments back stage with
the old master when the two Of them
chuckled together over the success of the |
adventure. with particular emphasis on
how the paid shills would come in heavy |
with hand beats at the big cue line, which |
might otherwise have dragged too long |
for the proper dramatic effect. My idea IN |
recalling the incident is to suggest that |
possibly Mr.. McGraw might adopt with
profit this same system OF artificial but |
dependable appreciation Of the efforts of
his sterling performers which in turn |
would very probably reflect no little upon
his own managerial genius.
T DO not believe the Little Ma
4 poleon should frown upon the
suggestion as unworthy of his high
standing in world affairs because it
is a matter of record the practice
is common in many phases Of
American endeavor, not even ex-
cepting the national political con-
ventions where at given note large
bodies of men swoop down the
aisles. grab up standards, and begin
to whoop things up for Otis H. Oat-
meal.
Mr.. McGraw has seen enough of life to
realize the futility of 1t all and by now he
should know how idle 1t is to stay in the
dugout and indulge his lamentations and
despairs. II the customers refuse to
cheer his ball players 1t behooyes him to
step out and do somthing about it. To
suggest that he should get some better ball
players would not only be harsh, but I'M
justified. Still, it has been long time
since Mr. McGraw had a penpant winner.