Clipping:Criticism of the fifty cent admission; how the gate is split
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| Date | Sunday, August 11, 1872 |
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| Text | We take the present opportunity of once more calling the attention to the various base ball clubs throughout the country to the serious injury they are doing to themselves by still insisting upon the fifty cent admission fee to all championship games. Last season, and again in the beginning the present one, we admonished the base ball fraternity that they were pursuing a suicidal course in keeping the price of admission up to fifty cents. Had they listened to our advice, and that of some of our contemporaries, we are satisfied that there is no club of professional players which would not have been better off, financially, than they are at present. Twenty-five cents was always considered amply sufficient for admission to a game of ball, until the Cincinnati Red Stockings introduced the fifty cent innovation, and the excitement to see them play was taken advantage of by them to dictate to all the other clubs what prices should be charged at any game they condescended to play. In the season of 1870 the Red Stocking were so much superior to all the other clubs that the public did not object to pay the increased admission to witness their performance, but there are several clubs now in existence which would have beaten the old Red Stocking nine, and therefore the same reason does not exist for the extra charge. Few persons who have followed and watched the progress of our national game will not admit that its progress has been not only checked but materially retarded by the imposition of the fifty cent fee. Hundreds of persons who used to attend three out of every five match games played on the Union and Capitoline grounds have not seen a game for the last two seasons, and will not go again until the admission is reduced to the old figure. Thus the interest in base ball has been checked, and if this imposition be continued for another season, cricket or some other out-door game will take the place of base ball. We have on several occasions spoken with the Mutual, Atlantic, and Eckford Club managers on the subject, and the reply has always been the Bostons won’t play unless fifty cents are charged for admission, but we consider that a poor excuse. The Boston Red Stockings are undoubtedly very find players, but they do no constitute the entire base ball fraternity, and there is no reason why they should dictate to eight or nine other clubs what must and what must not be. If the Bostons do not choose to accede to the terms of the other clubs then let the Bostons amuse the good people of the “Hub” themselves, and they will soon see whether they can afford to play in Boston only. If the Bostons choose th charge fifty cents or fifty dollars admission on their own grounds, let them do so, and let them keep all the receipts and allow all the other clubs to do the same. This is the plan the Athletics proceed upon; they do not share their receipts with visiting clubs, and they do not presume to dictate what price shall be charged for admission when they go on a tour. They very properly consider that each club is the best judge of its own interests, and that it ought to know what admission fee will return the largest amount to its exchequer. The Bostons have been too wide awake, however, to adopt this course, as there are always much larger crowds at the games in Brooklyn than there are in Boston. The Atlantics, in the last game played here with the Bostons, wanted to charge twenty-five cents admission only, but the Bostons demanded half the receipts if they were to lower their status by playing for a quarter, and the result was a very modest attendance. Still making a determined effort to return to the old popular price, the Atlantics announce that the admission to their game with the champion Athletics, on Friday next, will be twenty-five cents, and we feel sure the public will appreciate their desire to return to the old price by giving them the best attendance they have had this season. In all championship matches between the Mutuals, Eckford, and Atlantics, the admission will only be twenty-five cents, and we have no doubt the Eckfords will follow the sound financial policy of the Atlantics, and when they play with the Athletics will also only charge a “quarter.” Whether the Mutuals will do so or no, remains to be seen. If they are in earnest in their desire to return to the old price, they will do so. The Clevelanders make no objections to play the Atlantics and Eckfords here this season at the reduced price of admission, and we don’t think the Baltimores will do so, either. There only remains, then, for the Mutes, the Atlantics, and Eckfords to make a firm stand against this charge, and it must come down. New York and Brooklyn can afford to support our three home clubs, and with occasional visits from the Athletics and Clevelanders, we will be able to get along comfortably. |
| Source | New York Dispatch |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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