Evening star., 1953-06-03

though St. been the poorest city attendance
long period years. Other club complain they
can't when their teams play in ST. Louis and
yet when they get chance to they don't do anything
about it.
in hock too if he stays in ST. Louis But don't waste
sympathy the league and the club They're ask
ing for it.
RACING-RUNNINCs HORSE AND HARNESSES cutting
deeply into baseball Consider the last week end Memorial
Day the following Sunday Attendance at ball parks
dropped on for the fourth straight Memorial Day.
card of six drew only 222 spectators
the other hand, IL running tracks had turnout Of
SS4957 persons who Wagered $8769l22 almost matching
last years record when IS tracks operated Memorial Day.
There whopping baseball 97 watching the
White Sox and IndanSbut Hollywood Park attracted nearly
10000 more people for card Of racing.
Washington harness racing having its effect the
Mats For the first time in years Clark Griffith has live
club with division possibilities Yet often the
crowds at the hafme Rosecro Raceway larger than
those at Griffith Stadium. \
The average turnout at Rosecrof something like 5000
and the betting consistently 100000 night
Baseball people like to speak OF shortage OF the entertain
ment dollar Racing statistics don't indicate any such
shortage.
THOSE RosECRoFT CROWDS are remarkable for con-
stency far the smallest has been just short of 0O the
largest II Baseball people complain that the weather is
hurting their sport The horse parks however operate In
the weather. Rosecroft hasn't been getting the
better of the elements this spring Indeed there has been
rain or the threat of rain almost nightly
Cobb seems to make when he blames long games
and opded scores for basebas troubles He made good
point when he fingered recent Philadelphia
thon that wound 16 to after hours 20 minutes The
longest big league record played in 192O Iy
said It went 26 innings and lasted only few minutes
than took Brooklyn and Philadelphia to play nine
innings OF course, that 26innng wound in IL
pitchers who sartedLeon Cadore and
Joe OeSchger-were pitching at the finish"
Some baseball don't feel that long games have any,
thing to do with the decline in attendance Will Harrdge
Recently the president of the American League sad
years heard baseball writer's lament long games
yet have heard single fan complain. wouldn't
be surprised if they didn't enjoy long games"
MR. HARRIDGE MAY NOT have heard any protest by
fan but others long Griffith Stadium patron
was complaining almost got to take of the next day
work" said. By the time the pitchers finish
building the with their spikes, picking up the resin
and-ost of a-hndng the plate often enough find my
self getting o'clock in the morning just don't
feel like rolling of bed at o'clock to go to work,
Another thing added How does baseball expect to
with all these long night games? I've got
boy who like baseball but how keep him half
the night at ball park? can't watch full game
on television before bedtime"
The lively ball may play part in the number of time
consuming games but likely the exaggerated THEATRES
of some managers of control Of pitchers
seem greater evils Managers and pitchers behave
If they paid by the hour.
DOC WHITE A TRULY fine southpaw for the White Sox
many years ago and longtime resident of the District
deplorng modern pitching long ago. II can't understand
it, sad "but many pitchers throw the plate is
something to be avoided had trouble getting
the ball the plate Neither did most of the old pitchers
CLARK Grifdth uncanny with his control. So
Nick Altrock Alexander Mathewson Johnson Griffith would
walk about 80 baers Nowadays If doesn't
walk more than 100 or rated control pitcher"
Johnsons games rarely lasted two hours. Neither did
Aexanders and Matys They'd take the throw from the
fire it back not only true most of the time but
with plenty on it.
E.~nL / xno Ce,,.~ Do@r D:@eb:nr,