Evening star., 1963-05-22
Baseball Needs
Self Impetus
SEGH AT LARGE
By MORRIS SIEGEC

IN BURST OF INIMODEsTY unequaled until Jackie
Gleason raised serious objection to being billed SIM
ply THE Greatest" baseball many years ago proclaimed
itself the national paStime.
Abner Doubleday proud he must have been his
contribution to bare recreaonal program probably
envsioned that his original game Of FOUNDERS would
amount to quite as much.
The boast went unchalenged for years. Suddenly
couple of years ago. it behooved George Preston Marshall
eminent football firser wade into the legend with full
larynx.
Pointing to the steady upswing in his own racket al
though his Redskins had little nothing to do with
it at the me-Marshal quick-ptched baseball into i'm
minent oblivion
MARSHALL SNORTED THAT 1t was tired, old-fash-
ioned do-nothing unsmuatng waste of time archaic
game which only wasn't national pastime but one
which likely to fall victim to rgor mots at any mo-
ment. Pro football was the of the game Mar
shall argued.
The idea wasn't original with Marshall A magazine
writer to him with the notion and sought from
George only predicabe Endorsement The author knew
his man we'll when he chose Marshall subscriber to
theory which had strong foundations for controversy
If baseball made any immediate official reply it went
unrepored However several vgiantes did in feeble
rebuta They offered comeback merely questioning
the patriotism of who dared speak thusy To them it
was like insulting the flag.
NOW BASEBALL, with capital in this instance, is
beginning to wonder if all those nasty things being said
about the game might have little truth in them 1t
finally has come to bat with booklet detailing the won
ders glores and benefits the game holds for youth
1t Is glossy recruitment brochure aimed at interest
ing abeboded youngsters in The Game say opposed
to the Navy Air Force Marines Coast Guard the elec
troncs industry. The idea good and is the 46page
book, but what took them so long?
Several years ago pro football which never ceases TO
brag began its literary counteroffensve with neat pack
age called THE NFL and You"
In general, both calls to arms from two leading
commercial sports list the pleasures to be derived by those
who make the gradebenefits pay travel job opportun-
ties and exposure.
IF BASEBALL is SLIPPING, and judging by the local
the evidence is ncontestabe much of the blame
belongs The Came the leaders of which with the
rapidty of a tethered elephant.
Baseball for years felt inherent right to the No.
position simply because it got there first Many older Amer
ican institutions either No no longer in
existence for the They failed to exploit them
selves and to move with the times
Bill Veeck, in reluctant retirement has been base
balls sanest critic the years. even when he had
piece Of the action And behind Ford Fricks iron curtain
Paul Richards resident genius at Houston nfrequenty
lashes out at The Game, and makes sense.
Baseball lacks gus Richards says citing the various
command appearances its leaders have made before
greSsonal committees The tmidy of their performances
couldn't have been surpassed by Casper Mquetoast who
the patent.
BASEBALL. OUGHT TO have the courage to stand
up feet tell the Congress whoever questions
our ethics that II we're bad, close up" Richards
argues Instead Of that he says The Game with hat
in hand.
Richards doesn't believe pro football is closing in on
baseball will PRO football thrives the back
wash of the popularity baseball created Richards be-
ieves But too timid Others shout do nothing
Richards cites an example Here in Arizona" he said
during spring training "the new little town of Scottdae
really only about years old keeps blowing off that
1t is about overtake Phoenix population in size and
and in everything else.
"Scottsdale isn't but the people don't AS long
Phoenix continues TO remain smug people will continue
to believe and the claim of Scottsdale"
Baseball is suffering from self-inflcted wounds 1t
urgently needs TO rediScoVer itself.