SPORTING LIFE
20
PIRATE POINTS
The Ancient Custom of Giving Out
Attendance Figures Abandoned
Pirates© Poor Start a Matter
of Keen Local Disappointment.
BY A. E. CRATTY.
Pittsburgh, Pa., April 20. Editor
"Sporting Life." On the eve of the get
away at Forbes Field, Colonel B. Dreyfuss made an announce
ment that cast dismay into
the hearts of fans who
make it a point to register
guesses on daily attend
ance. Dreyfuss, as you no
doubt have heard, will not
permit his officials to an
nounce turnstile counts
any more. Here is a 1912
racket that has been under
advisement for some time.
A. R. Cratty
Dreyfuss last season was
often tempted to counter
mand the policy, but refrained because a
certain element seemed to derive enter
tainment out of the diversion. Though
more than once provoked to action, the
Pittsburgh boss kept the edict in abey
ance. You will wonder as to the cause
of the provocation! Nothing more than
insulting letters from fans who were dis
satisfied with the amount bulletined, and
in so many words, insisted that the home
magnate had a meagre knowledge of the
truth. These kickers no doubt had bet
and lost.
0
BIDICULOUS COMPABISON.
this defect were cited. In the Winter
one appeared and it was finally substan
tiated. Last Summer, when the Pirates
were spurting, and on their second East
ern jaunt, a crucial pilgrimage, they
doubled up on the Polo Grounds. A vast
throng watched the Pittsburghs win the
"first game by a small score. Wi,th the
Corsairs grabbing a tandem event, they
were liable to land the New Yorks© goat.
Hunter got on second base with none or
one out, if memory serves/ well. Clarke,
eager to get that score home, began coach
ing at third base. Far out in right field,
Cammy and
OTHEB PIBATE HUBLEBS
were warming up. Rules require reserves
to warm when the Pirates are afield.
Clarke thought Camnitz was going to stop
loosening up his arm and made up his
mind to signal him to keep pegging away.
Raising his arm he made it illustrate
significant wig-wags, meaning "don©t let
up." Suddenly Hunter, who was leading
off second base, bolted for the third cush
ion ahead to the amazement of pals and
foes. A true throw from a surprised
catcher to an amazed third-baser, and
Hunter was extinguished by a couple of
yards. New Yorkers dinned the air, but
their noise-making wasn©t a marker to
the tumult in the Pirates© camp. Clarke
tore into Hunter with a ferocity rarely
equaled. Could you blame him, for in
reply as to reasons why he broke for
third, Freddy ejaculated: "You waved
for me to come on." That settled the big
first baseman on the Pirates. Can you
wonder at Clarke for letting Hunter go?
now has virtually a commission form of
government, the councilmanic body con
sisting of nine men. They are elected by
the people and up to date their adminis
tration has been of a commendable type.
They are aiming to secure efficiency in
public manoeuvers. Of course, this re
duction in the number of councilinen en
abled the Pittsburgh Club to reduce its
season book offerings considerably, but
the shaving was not alone confined to
law-makers. Numerous heads of depart
ments will have to fork over their easily
earned cash at Forbes Field this Sum
mer. Back in the early ©90s, when the
custom of placating publicans was put
into effect, the Kerr-Auten regime ruled
the Pirates© destinies. Though originally
under control, the matter got beyond the
club©s domain. Not satisfied with hav
ing season books, the favored fellows
often sent touches for four or more single
admission tickets. Once, when the Pitts
burgh team office was in the Smith block,
at Liberty and Sixth streets, the writer
recalls a policeman in uniform bolting
into headquarters and
PRESENTING A BEQUEST
for four tickets to the game that after
noon. Colonel Harry Pulliam received
the communication. He realized at a
glance that there was something dubious
for the application, though written on
official paper, was merely signed "Cap
tain
." Pulliam wasn©t a man
given to frequent losses of temper. He
was equal to this occasion. He politely
called the bluecoat©s attention to the
oddity in signature and assured him if he
©
"COMP" HUNTEBS HIT.
brought back a letter properly signed
Commencing with this season, the there might be consideration shown the
Pittsburgh Club inaugurated a decided letter. Seeing that he was nipped, the
change in the number of©season courte policeman hemmed and hawed something
sies. There was a big slice made in the thaf "the captain had written the mis-
Washington©s Weary Way
in American League Race
This Spring the die was cast. Drey
fuss scanned a guide containing attend
BY W. A.
ance figures at the various parks in the
Mr. Taft and his policies may carry their
National. They were utterly ridiculous
share of interest in Washington, but this
in so much as the Bostons were credited
interest is bleak and barren compared with
with attracting nearly a quarter-million
that now focused upon Clark Griffith and
the policies planned for his regime. For
more than the Pittsburghs. Attendance
Washington
is waiting to be set right. The
chalked up to the Buccanneers was cor
"first in war, first in peace, but next to
rect ; as to the others, no one need be
last in the American League" gag is be
told that they needed trimming down
ginning to pall and lose its pris
tine flavor. In 11 years© stress of
and emphatically so. From this moment
battle the Nationals have finished
the Pirate official decided to squelch any
sixth twice, seventh five times and
figures on turn-outs at Forbes Field.
eighth on four occasions, an aver
age lower than seventh. It has been
"Why shouldn©t we?" queried he. "There
nine years since the national capital
is no pleasure derived from being put in
has trailed in better than seventh.
a ludicrous position. Our announcements
Her average percentage for 11 years
*xwere accurate, yet hundreds disbelieved,
has been .377, 56 points lower than
the St. Louis Browns, who rank
others were inaccurate and no doubt they
next,
and 207 points back of Phila
were accepted. Theatres never announce
delphia©s yearly average of percent
the size of their crowds, neither do other
age figures.
forms of entertainment." Dreyfuss© talk
A GOOD BALL TOWN.
drifted to opening days© assemblages East
Washington©s best year was in
ci«rk
Ulark
and West. Next to the Polo Grounds,
1901, when she finished with .459.
No National line-up has ever won
Forbes Field has the largest capacity in
half its games in any one campaign©, the
the country. It takes care of close onto
only record of its sort in either wing of the
20,000 people. Wires told us that cities
Big Show. From Loftus to McAleer, each
in the West, on opening day, had turn
succeeding dynasty has been tinted with
indigo and crowned with crepe. And yet
outs of 23,000 and 25,000, and yet photos
through it all the people have stood by with
of the scenes show that the grand stands
had vacant space. Brooklyn, with a socalled 30,000 crowd, had all kinds of
growls to attend to. People who paid list, and for the first time in years, the
couldn©t see.
sum total of season books has gons far
BUGS GBOWL.
below a century. This is in striking
Now that the fray is well under way, contrast to the old-time list, the days of
it is entertaining to note that fans are civic hold-ups for instance. Then base
all wrought up over the combat. No finer ball clubs were the prey of councilmen
example was possible than the gloom and and other city and county officers. Solons
woe prevalent after an opening-day de made no bones about demanding season
feat by the St. Louis Cardinals. It has books, in fact, they sent in lists of names
been Pittsburgh©s wont to easily spank with the demand that coupon tickets be
the Western men in initial events and furnished to the men mentioned. The
this 7-to-O shock hit the fans hard, hun days of graft government may not be ex
dreds being unmindful of the fact that actly over, but there has been a decided
each year is finding the National League improvement, and the base ball owners
a better balanced union. Once there were no longer must pay tribute to the gang.
five "come ons." Now there are nearly Men handed season books now are en
a half-dozen trouble-makers for the for titled to them and the award is not made
mer fliers. From the way the Bugs howl to them for fear that they may instigate
ed after the straight defeats, one imag adverse legislation. Threats of such stuff
ined that one swallow made a Summer. can be
Colonel Dreyfuss was called on to give
SCOBNED BY THE PITTSBURGH CLUB.
his opinion and he declared with empha There was a time when the club had to
sis, that he was sure the Pittsburgh team fix fences frequently. Pittsburgh and
of 1912 was of championship calibre and Allegheny had a raft of councilmen.
if patrons were only patient they would Every man John had to be remembered.
see something to their liking. Things If not, he got on the war-path at once
were breaking badly in early games.
and tried to harass the club in every way
PBEMATUBE JUDGMENT.
possible. Though the season books were
Just because Jack Miller blundered given the officials on the idea that they
twice at first base in one game at St. were for the sole use of the name printed
Louis, and gave the Cards an easy run, in the book, the terms "not transferable"
virtually handing them the bout, Bugs were abused without stint. The writer
began to belch. The writer encountered has known cases where books were sched
one fellow who started on a tack that uled for use by others than the right
brought to my mind a long cherished owner games ahead, the applicant being
yarn. "That fellow Hunter was better compelled to bespeak the same a week in
than Miller will ever dare be," snapped advance. The owner frequently happened
the snarler. Here was an opportunity to be an official who didn©t care much for
the "Sporting Life" man has been wait professional base ball. He played the
ing for. Last season, it will be recalled, courtesy to the limit in order to retain his
Hunter©s relegation to the minors was popularity with certain henchmen in his
surrounded by a mild halo of mystery. district. The base ball pass was loaned
Intimations that the big fellow wasn©t often to pay old favors.
there in mental alertness followed in the
CHIEFS CUT OFF.
nrake of his release. No instances of
Greater Pittsburgh, as you are aware,
PHELON
amazing loyalty. Figure the attendance in
New York, for example, with an endless
chain of tail-end or near tail-end teams.
The average output of humanity per con
test would be about 6%, including the
passes. But hope has sprung eternal in the
Washington breast and her fan guard has
rallied each season, taking the chutes game
ly and then returning for another
headlong dive through the abyss.
With a first-division club the ad
mission would pack the ball yard,
while a pennant entry would back
the forming line into the Potomac
and edge along In John Franklin
Baker©s plantation at Trappe, Md.
PULLING FOR GRIFFITH.
Beyond the crust of home-club In
terest there probably isn©t another
ball club In the country with so
many outsiders pulling for its suc
cess. For Griffith is not only a wellliked and able leader, but the gray
streak of rough luck which has fol
lowed Washington has also harassed
its new mojiul of late years, and a
big boom for the game would follow a
double turning from the rocks back into
the rosebeds for a spell. It©s a long lane,
by report, that knows no turning, and both
Griff and Washington are waiting for the
next kink in the road.
sive." The baffled Bobby departed, never
to return. That was a sample of the way
the club was pestered. Pass-hitters once
had Greater«Pittsburgh©s club by the
throat, but it is doubted if the situation
ever equaled the racket that existed in
Philly four or five years ago. The writer
was told that the Quakers had 800 season
books among politicians, firemen, et al.
©MAY DAYS.
Official scorer John Gruber is happy.
He works day in and out on the base
ball records only.
Fans are certainly hard to please. Max
Carey didn©t play brilliant ball in games
number one and two, at St. Louis, and
the writer ran across half a dozen root
ers who insisted that Carey was destined
to be the Pirates© weak spot.* One man
recalled a famous game at Forbes Field,
in 1911, when Carey fanned with three
on. Others have turned that trick,
haven©t they?
Pittsburgh players faced Tesreau, the
New Yorks© big boy, last season while in
Toronto. Tessie didn©t seem over-burden
ed with steam that afternoon. Never
theless, the Corsairs agreed that the man
had something.
_ Local bugs who have given some atten
tion to the Boston National League team,
manifested surprise over the team start
ing with McDonald on third base. OThey
don©t think he can handle that cushion
satisfactorily. Of course, Devlin©s hold
out may have compelled the Bean-eater
management to keep Mac on the bag.
C. B. Power, veteran writer, is one
local paragrapher who is more than sat
isfied that the U. S. League will start and
hold to its knitting throughout the sea
son. Power has given the new union lots
of space in his journal.
APRIL 27, 191:
THE UNION ASSOCIATION
Sir Richard Cooley, the Chesterfieldian Boss
of the Sal* Lake Glufa, Complacently
Views the Comiag Championship Race.
Salt Lake City, Utah, April 20. Edi
tor "Sporting Life." President Dick
Cooley, the famous owner of the Salt
Lake Club, regards his
team as sure pennant-win
ners this year. "No second
place this year," said he
today. "There is just one
answer to this race and
that is Salt Lake. Why,
man alive, we are stronger
in every department right
now than we were at our
best last year. You can©t
get away from it, we
Richard Cooley are going to land that old
rag this year, and we
won©t be long in showing the fans when
the season gets going. Look at the catch
ing staff. I have three good men. One,
of course, will be dropped after the sea
son gets started well. Then there are
the pitchers. That department looks
mighty sweet to me. Three right-handers
and three side-wheelers. Last year© the
best we could show was two reliable men.
Now, say, I certainly get peeved when
anyone starts talking about the other in
fields in this circuit. Look ©em over !
See anything wrong with ©em? Certainly
not ! Fast, every one, and all have good
whips and good eyes for ground balls.
And, too, you can see them developing
that ©inside© stuff right now and this is
pretty early for that game to be reporting.
As for the outfield, I wouldn©t change it
for any in the league. All of them cover
a bunch of ground and have good pegs.
That©s enough for me. Now, of course,
it©s pretty early to say positively that
every man in the squad is going to turn
out a fence-buster. Some of them we
know will be well above the .300 mark
and from the way some of them are
sousing the ball during practice I feel
pretty confident that the sluggers we
know of now won©t be very lonesome.
Honestly, I believe we are showing the
best stuff in the league today. The team
is well balanced and we are going to
make this old Union Association circuit
sit up and howl before the race is four
weeks gone. And say, tell the fans that
I am going to fix this park up in good
fashion. The ground isn©t in the best
shape possible, but I have men at work
on the infield morning and night and will
have a fast diamond to show in a week.
I have already started men at work en
larging the grand stand. The right field
bleachers will be remodeled and added to
the stand, which will make its seating
capacity almost 3000, which is 800 better
than last season. Then I am going to
build bleachers from the end of the left
wing of the stand almost to the left field
fence, which will add almost a thousand
to our entire capacity. Outside of that
I guess everything is all right.".
HELENA TEAM STRENGTHENED.
Great Falls, Mont., April 18. Man
ager Bob Reed, of the champion Great
Falls team, is not unduly optimistic for
his Electrics in the pennant race. Reed
has a bunch of youngsters to pick from,
but whether the recruits will fill the holes
now vacant is problematical. Toner will
be the only man of last year©s infield to
be seen in a Great Falls uniform during
the coming season. His outfield, however,
he considers stronger than last year. The
addition of Kelly, who played sensational
ball for the Moosejaw team in the Cana
dian League last year, is the man who
Reed figures will add greatly to the field
ing and batting strength of the Northern
aggregation. The Montana manager re
ceived word yesterday that Hildebrand,
the mainstay of his pitching staff last
year, has been released by Cleveland, and
is now on his way to report here. This
is the best news, Reed declares, he has
received this Spring.
"HONEST JOHN" AT OQDEN.
Ogden, Utah, April 18. Manager McCloskey has had the new base ball
grounds turned over to him the early part
of the week, and at once he put his men
to practice. The players now here are
as follows : Catchers, Walter Alexander,
of the Manhattan Club, of the Kansas
State League; William Steyens, who was
with Boise last season. Pitchers, Stone,
of Boise ; Wells, of Butte ; Lewis of the
Oakland Club, of the Pacific Coast
League ; Andy Jensen, with Butte and
Missoula last season ; Steve Stainer, of
Garland ; Alfred Nokleby, of Ogden, and
Brian, of Rexburg, Idaho. First base,
Bartliff, of the Canadian League ; Faith,
from ©Ely, Nev. Second base, George
Wessler, of Ogden. Shortstop, Levy, of
last season©s Boise Club. Third base,
Clyde Gay, of the Portland Club. OutBeldefs : Jack Murray, Helena and Boise;
Coffey, of Los Angeles ; O©Leary, of Lou
isville ; West, of the Lincoln Club ; Plaka
and Imlin, of Ogden.