Clipping:The behavior of the players and the respectability of crowds at professional games
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| Date | Sunday, August 16, 1868 |
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| Text | [Mutual vs. Eckford 8/14/1868] The return-match...attracted a very numerous but anything but respectable gathering of spectators, judging from the scenes which were enacted, the outside crowd being of the most disreputable character. It is a little singular that Mr. Cammeyer does not adopt some means to prevent the gathering of the sans cullottes outside; for by their blackguard remarks they not only insult the players, but lead to disturbances inside. New York Sunday Mercury August 16, 1868 [Mutual vs. Eckford 8/14/1868] The odds were laid upon the Mutuals in every instance, 100 to 60 being the ruling figures, but many bets were made at 100 to 40. Whether the players were influenced by these bets of course, only those who are within the “Ring” know; but that both clubs acted as though their dollars, and not their souls, went with the victory, was too palpable not to be mentioned. The Umpire, Mr. Mills, was the choice of both clubs, his decisions in contests this year winning for him the highest praise among ball-players. Although reluctantly serving in this position, and never giving cause for just complaint, he was badgered almost beyond endurance by the players for decisions on this or that point, and if “judgment” was asked once it was asked a hundred times. Between the excitement within the gates and the abusive remarks hurled by the crowd without, the scene was of the most disorderly character that it has been our reporter’s fortune to have witnessed in this neighborhood. No blows were struck, but threats were made, and many assumed a belligerent attitude. A few more such scenes will effectually rid the game of all respectable visitor and players, and make it a reproach–as it was once an honor–to be connected with a ball club. New York Dispatch August 16, 1868 [Atlantic vs. Mutual 8/17/1868] The estimate of the attendance on the occasion being at a moderate calculation at least 10,000, over 7,000 paying an admission-fee. ... we are glad to be able to state that those...who are hopeless of better things in regard to the moral status of baseball, would have had less reason to feel despondent had they seen the creditable contrast this game afforded, marked as it was by good order and friendly feeling, to the discreditable proceedings on the occasion of the Mutual and Eckford match the previous Friday. That game, by-the-way, opened the eyes of the professional clubs occupying the Union Grounds to the fact that a recurrence of such a disgraceful scene would not only bring the clubs participating in it into disrepute, but also be quite a severe blow to the pecuniary interests of the two organizations, inasmuch as it would prevent all respectable people from patronizing the grounds. On this occasion, therefore, an effort was made to offset the black mark of the Friday-meeting by making this quite a model game for professional nines, and the result was very satisfactory, for it proved to be, the order preserved and the absence of discord and ill-will among the contestants was quite noteworthy. We trust to see all the grand matches of the season pass off as well as this did. New York Sunday Mercury August 23, 1868 |
| Source | New York Sunday Mercury |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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