Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1953-07-31
SPORTS CL 0SE.
BY ritz Pollard

NEW YORK (Global)-There has been a great deal OF
talk lately about the sad of the Chicago Cubs, and
great conjecture Just the other
day Frank Graham of the New York Journal American had
this to say:
There strange and in ways, fascinating sit
uation. the North Side, Phil Wrgley has conveniently
situated park that undoubtedly is the most attractive in the
majors, with gay flags flying everywhere and ivy growing
thick the red brick beaeher walls He has smary uni
formed corps ushers whose watehword courtesy AS his
caterer the succulen hot roast beef sand
wches to found any park anywhere But alas, he has
ball players, at least not enough to go around
Nevertheless" Graham on to say THE attendance
has held up surprisingly we'll although Wrigey is the only
against night baseball theory widely held in Chi
that the North Side fans have been turning out see
the visiting clubs the hot roast beef sandwiches and adj
mire the ivy climbing the wall This year new stlnuan
supplied Whenever the Braves show up they pack
the park bringing considerable part of the crowd with them
Milwaukee Which, by the way another strange twist
in situation Braves, who couldn't draw corporas
guard in Boston, only have firmly established themselves
in Milwaukee but giving aid and suceor to their new
neighbors down the road"
Graham then goes to ponder the reasons Tor the
slack business Wrgey Field Analysing Wrigleys dilemma,
loyaes of the FANS and then continues:
How did the Cubs get into this plight? Well in the first
place into it overnight This has been going
since 1916 when having the pennant the year before
they finished third then 1947 took the plunge and have re-
NAMED submerged in the They've spent money
wisely they made deals that didn't seem to make
sense the beginning and didn't in the end Managers
have come and gone Officials have been moved about.
Everybody work earnestly but they nave
not yet produced ball club nor an adequate farm system
from which might be developed
If all Mr. Graham says true, the chicago eoos aase
everything Everything that is but one thing:
appeal the Negro Market would venture to say
that largest records Wrgey field in the
been when the Dodgers play
ed the Cubs and the Giants And when Mr. 6rafan speaks
the the Milwaukee Braves draw, could he be
the that Bill Bruton has cut quite figure
this year? 1t all adds to the fact that the
coorf and the prosperous teams in the League
have Negro players who not only setting records for them
selves, but for their And they helping to I'LL the
the by pulling them in at the box office
When these hit town. they provide shot In the
business generally When they play St Louis Ne
groes charter buses from Georgia. Alabama Arkansas and
other points south get look at their boys
may be that people feel this kind of play
for popularity little obvious and they hesitate to Jump
wagon with those teams who have increased
their popularity and their revenue by this means
| Okay Mr. Wrigley if that's the way you feel maybe
you like your alone and the scenery and
the beef sandwiches in Cub park alone H. however you
would like little company, yourself Jackie Robinson
Monte Irwin Bill Bruton You'll find the scenery was
never SO Drettyi