Evening star., 1938-07-03
DOESN'T SUPPORT
0R0PP0SE LIGHTS
Griffith Quoted as Saying
Nocturnal Tits Would
Fill His Plant,
BY EARL HILLIGAN,
Associated Press Sports WritAr

ssAsSSSAoSCN 4Coc SpOA 70 WI1VOIs
CHICAGO, July might baseball
for all clubs is coming to the major
Ieagues-and coming to stay.
That is the belief of William Har-
ridge, president Of the American
League, which for years was opposed
solidly to the playing after nightfall Of
a game which for almost a century has
been the Nations greatest outdoor aft
ernoon sport.
Harridge makes it clear he neither is
advocating nor opposing baseball at
night. He is convinced, however, that
night games in the majors, pioneered
by the Cincinnati Reds and adopted
successfully by the Brooklyn Dodgers,
soon will become fixture of big league
schedules.
Might baseball is coming to the
majors there's no question about i"
he said. TITS coming just as radio
came to the game. Not so many years
ago major league owners thought radio
would ruin the game. They've changed
their minds, and I think they'll change
their minds on night baseball"
Whirls Reds Turnstiles.
Night baseball undoubtedly has been
. big financial boon to the Reds. The
Dodgers, in their experience with 1t,
drew $4,000 persons through the turn
stiles and in second after-dark tilt,
against Pittsburgh, drew $4,000 fans.
1t takes several weekday crowds for
any club to match those Sunday
figure totals.
I think that perhaps no more than
10 or IL night games for each club
each season would be good for major
league baseball" Harridge said. ITO
me it's more of spectacle than any,
thing else, and I don't think fans
would care for night games every night.
But there isn't any question that it
would benefit measurably certain clubs,
such as st. Louis.
"A few years ago the American
League owners solidly were opposed to
night baseball, and, while I do not
think they are completely night
minded yet, there has been a change
in feeling toward the game. Two years
ago they gave st. Louis permission to
play seven games at night, but lights
never were erected.
Macks and Tribe Refused.
I'm 1896 Philadelphia applied for
permission, and Cleveland made appli-
cation in 1887. They were refused, on
the grounds their cases were not of an
emergency nature, as was the case of
st. Louis, where attendance was low
and new owners were taking over.
Il believe that if club needed night
ball to increase its financial position,
American League owners now would
grant permission. We have the seven
night-game rule, the same as the Ma
tional League, but clubs must be given
permission from year to year." ..r .-
Harridge believes night baseball
would do especially well in st. Louis
and Washington, where evenings are
warm. He said Clark Grifhth, owner
OF the Washington team, once voiced
the belief that night baseball in
Washington would pack them in"
Were Wrong About Radio.
1T took club owners years to realize
that radio was great thing for base
ball, instead Of something that would
harm the sport, and night baseball will
grow on the league as radio did," the
Junior circuit president said. New
York and Detroit never have cared
much for the idea, but, should other
clubs eventually receive permission to
play seven games a season at night,
they can fill their night schedule by
playing other teams more than once"
Harridge believes that night baseball
would create interest in the game
among persons who find it impossible
to see afternoon games during the
week and prefer motoring with their
families on Sundays. He also believes
seven night games would add about
that many Sunday attendance crowds
to the seasons total and make up for
many slim week days encountered by
every club in both leagues.
If night baseball comes, however, it
may prove q financial boomerang for
father. Instead of asking for 1.-TWO
bits to see movie" Johnny may form
the habit Of dunning dad for "a buck
ten for a grandstand seat near the
first-base line"