The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1956-05-11
Just Among Ourselves
Psssins Comment Considered or ineonsider.t.

SION continues TO disturb the atmosphere on the
question of whether the national pastime is az
popular as once il was. Some say the game is
on its way up, others maintain that it is on its
way out At all events it is its way
There is an ominous note in the fact that
some writers and announcers now calling
baseball the Grand Old American Sport. AS soon
as that phrase Grand Old attaches to thing
you may set il down that the thing has passed
into the state of incpent decrptude, Like the
Grand Old Men" of baseball the game itself
may be showing the weaknesses of age and
moving into the affectionately remembered past
Look at what has happened to the stage-coach,
and touring cars, and the COP.
1t is, however, pretty sure that professional
ball will stay with us for long time, for it has
become kind of big business, and big business
usually has a long gamut to run But IN running
IFS gamut big business suffers essential change at
fairly frequent intervals, that when the race
is finally run, the contestant who emerges looks
very different from the sspirant who started.
Certainly, there have already been many notable
changes in the baseball business.
Sixty years or so ago. the professional baseball
player in the major league there was only one
them had pretty good job, but il was rough
job among rough and often rowdy companions,
and il was not considered quite respectable.
Mr. DoOley says that the family with member
on baseball team was somewhat ashamed of
him, and no one had admiration for him but his
little brother. The professional ball-player was
on par with the przeiighter People went to
see him perform and cheered him, and perhaps
bet money on him, but few cared to meet him
socially.
In an era when having an assured position in
a respected profession, or at least trade, was
considered the normal ambition OF sane men, the
professional ball-player was just muscular and
agile lug who was wasting his youth in short
lived employment that commanded no respect
whatever and promised nothing for the long fu-
ture It was generally thought that if a ballplay-
er had any sense he'd quit his f00lishness and
get himself solid job.
But all that has changed The player instead
Of being misguided lunkhesd who gets what
he can by playing ball for six months of the
year and loafing the other six, has become bus
ness man who commands prlncely salary,-or
may come to it,-and who deals in contracts
and hodouts and other activities that set him
among Men of Distinction.
Professional baseball was smoothly emerging
into its status as big business when along came
the first World War TO take all supplies of pros
pectve big leaguerS into military service, After
this upheaval, canny promoters of the sport las
businesS) set up farm systems TO insure suf
ficing flow of candidates to the major leagues,
then came bonuses and other inducements to
Young Men with Talent A capable sand-iotter
or high-school player, or lad with live hop
on his fast ball was suddenly as respectable
candidate for financial and social success as
the pale student who hoped for eminence as a
professional or business man or a scientist
But with the social and scientific advance of
professional baseball appeared an appare eaty
increasing apathy the part of the paying Gus
toners who had once delighted to pay for the
privilege of shouting themselves hoarse for the
home team. Lazy fans sat by their radio Apa-
ihetic ex-fans took themselves and their clubs
TO golf course. League races failed TO hold the
interest of millions who once thrilled to the
cry of PLAY ball' II was more and more taken
for granted that the Yankees were permanent
world champions.
Night.play furnished much needed shot-in-
the arm to professional ball, and grandstands
were filled with people interested in the novelty
of baseball under the lights Many whose day
light hours we're necessarily devoted to business,
now found new and pleasing opportunity to be-
come fans. But novelty wears off and people
find that there are other attractive places than
the ball-park for an evenings entertainment.
TV came on. too, with much more appealing
home-programs OF baseball than radio could
offer. Grandstands in many cities once more be
gan to show great open spaces.
Some cites-three in all found the support
of two professional baseball teams impractical
Transfer OF franchise aroused new and iubilant
interest in the favored towns. But the old cities
or most OF them continued 10 be more and
more apathetic more bored with the whole bus
mess of baseball. People were still interested IN
the All Star Game and in the World Series. But
the ordinary scheduled game was neglected
Managers and owners who would once have
scorned the very thought of the thing, began TO
present pre- game programs of vaudeville; to sci
up Ladies Days; to give space free to Knot Hole
Groups of youngsters.
ShreWd plans were enacted to promote Little
Leagues among very young lads in communities
large and small, AnnouncerS of TV baseball pro
grams never failed To urge people 10 he inter
eSted in their home teams professional or am
ateur, and in furthering the activities of the lit
tie fellows Advertising with capital A. wa
put 10 work TO save the Grand Old Nationa
Game Ii is still working What will it accomplish,
Who can. tell? Maybe ii will arouse enthusiasm
like that described by Mr.. Dooley: 1T reminds
me of . honfre on an ice-floe II looks goof