Page:America's National Game (1911).djvu/531

 In connection with the subject of new stands for the convenience of patrons, it may also be added that most Base Ball concerns are finding it advantageous to purchase the property on which their parks are located. As in most cases this necessitates buying real estate of much value, the fact that such holdings become permanent for the purposes of outdoor recreation is confirmatory of the stability of the national game after its years of evolution.

In the major leagues both of the St. Louis grounds, both of the Chicago parks, that at Detroit, the one at Cincinnati, the field at Cleveland, Pittsburg's new park, the Washington ground, both of the Philadelphia grounds, the Boston National League ground, a new field to be provided for the accommodation of the New York American League club, and the Polo Grounds in New York, since the recent agreement between its owner and the owner of the New York National League Base Ball Club, are permanent.

The field in Brooklyn is leased, as is that of the Boston American League club, but it is said that the Boston American League club has purchased a plot of real estate in that city on which a structure will be built for the national game corresponding in all its details to the best that have been built elsewhere.

The value of this real estate is rather hard to conjecture, for it is located in varying sections of different cities. Presumably it would be out of the question to estimate the property which is used by the New York club at less than $300,000. It comprises two city blocks and might bring that amount at forced sale. As this