Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-21
Support for Our Ball Team

Everybody in town, from the Presi-
dent on down, is glad that the Mats are
going to stay in Washington, where they
were born and where they belong.
They are glad that Fridays decision
by the ball clubs directors was unani-
nous, and that 1t was coupled with no
expressed "ifS," "buts" or "howevers /"
Had the vote been to move, we would
be losing more than big-league baseball
team-a valuable asset in any city. Such
= decision would have repudiated every
thing that the late Clark Griff1th stood
for. 1t would have made q mockery of
traditions connected with one of the
proudest names in organized baseball.
The long period Of uncertainty over
the ball clubs future plans, period that
began as early as last May with rumors
Of possible chickering's with other cities
and which ended for the time being with
Fridays vote, has not been without its
possible benefits. Washington has learned
that 1t cannot take it for granted that
Its ball team is permanent fixture
The possible loss of the team has ex-
posed the other side of the coin. The
loyalty OF the ball club to Washington
must be reciprocated by Washington's
loyalty to the ball club. The efforts of
the ball clubs management to build a
better team must be accompanied by
patronage and support that will help
furnish the means. We believe the clubs
ownership was Influenced, in it's decision
to stay, by evidence that Washington's
baseball fans are convinced that the re-
tention Of major league club in any city
Is q two-way proposition, requiring Joint
effort by the community and the club.
We have, at least, new opportunity
to test the truth Of that proposition. An
organized effort should be made to help
the club sell season tickets, and Wash
ington's alert Board of Trade can offer
leadership in that field. If the results
are merely comparable, on a proportion
ate scale, with the fine response to sale
OF season tickets for the National SYM
phony, a splendid start will have been
made. The District Government should
get busy. A discriminatory tax against
the club for policing should be modified.
The ball parks surrounding area should
be adequately patrolled, and some i'm
SoAAoVAVS SAOAb oAAOu4Q NC 1IIdQC W 11IlQ
parking space for automobiles, and to
provide really adequate taxicab and
public transportation service. There are
many things that can be done through
serious attempt at cooperation between
the ball club, the citizens and the Munic-
ipal Government to preserve and
strengthen q valuable asset to this Metro
politan Area.
1t goes without saying, Of course, that
We need q nrst-rate stadium for Wash
ngton and we confidently believe that
one II on the way. But such improve
ments do not come overnight. 1t also
goes without saying that a winning base
ball team, to replace one that has been
knocking around at the bottom Of the
second division for ten years, will do more
10 revive and sustain interest than all
the new stadia that might be built
for an empty new stadium can be as dis
NAL q sight as an empty old one.
We think the ball clubs MANAGEMENT
and ownership want a better team as
much as our often disappointed fans But
this u q divided responsibility. 1t does
not rest on club management alone.
We want the Mats to stay here, and 1t is
about time that we in Washington prove
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