Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1888 — Why Base Ball is Popular. [ARTICLE]

Why Base Ball is Popular.

New York Tribune . “Do you really know what makes base bail so popular?” was asked of a wellknown manager the other day. The question made him pause in praising his team and settle down to sober thought. After a while he said: “I think I can solve it. You man and boy, or I mean most of them, play or did play base bail. You see it in the streets and you hear it cn the cars. Then there is another thing. Don’t you know that every man and boy who takes a lively interest in the game, thinks, with a little practice he would be a great player too. Did you ever circulate around the grand stand and free seats at the polo grounds? Well, it you had or will next summer you will find out that I don’t exaggerate. You will see the pompous banker or merchant, the quiet looking minister of the gospel, the clerk, mechanic and small boy all together. If a phrenologist would study the faces ~of~airTh~6Bß~peoplc he would gather

enough ideas to make a telling lecture. Don’t you know that nearly every one of those people sitting there believes that ne could with a little practice go out and play just as well as any /of the green diamond kings? When a player makes a blunder, did you ever see how it is reflected on the faces of the spectators? Well, you ought tol Why, every mother's son thinks he can go right out and play base ball better than that ‘duffer.’ Baseball is a healthy,honest game, too; that is, of course, a big reason Tor its popularity.”