Clipping:Dissipation of baseball
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| Date | Tuesday, October 2, 1866 |
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| Text | [following the failed Atlantic-Athletic match] The rush to see the contest was so great that the contest itself was prevented. So it will be with the whole system, unless something like moderation is instilled into its devotees. The business men of our city are getting disgusted; and althou8gh they may like to see the young men indulge in the game once or twice a week, the present dissipation will not be tolerated much longer. But even if they were willing, the excitement is now at such a fever heat that it will degrade the sport to a level with horse-races and prize-rings. We know that there are hundreds of respectable people who attend these matches, but there are hundreds of gamblers, pickpockets, and other scoundrels, who are present also; and the latter class will soon drive the former from the field. Yesterday we witness the betting freely and openly performed inside the field, and in the presence of a crowd of witnesses, notwithstanding the rules of the Athletics. Such infringements of the law and such exhibitions of immorality are calculated to drive all honorable admirers of the game to their homes in disgust. It is a duty which the clubs owe to themselves, to save their amusement from becoming disreputable. This great congregation of people drew together a vast number of liquor booths, rum shops, and lager beer dealers. They surrounded the outskirts of the crowd, and made the game tend to promote intemperance. The whole this is “being run into the ground.” The rowdyism exhibited was enough to drive all respectable people forever off the field. The betting engaged in resembled more the scenes at the old Suffolk Park Races than a respectable game of base-ball. The drinking done was calculated to alarm all lovers of morality, and unless a total revolution is effected, the game of base-ball will be ranked with the vices, and all little boys who engage in it will, like those of the novel, who watched horse races, be considered the synonym of fast young men, and parents will frown down that which will only degenerate. |
| Source | Philadelphia Evening Telegraph |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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