This day in The Record in 1916

Thursday, May 18, 1916

The Record has taken heat from local baseball fans after our baseball columnist castigated “knockers” for refusing to support Troy’s struggling New York State League franchise.

The columnist claimed that fans were being unfair to Troy owner-manager Lew Wachter after he cancelled Monday’s game against Albany due to threatening clouds at noon. Wachter tried to reinstate the game after the skies cleared but the Albany owner refused to send his team to Troy.

The short-notice cancellation sparked rumors that the Troy franchise was about to fold.

As one fan asked our columnist after his Tuesday tirade, “Was it fair to have the fans go to the ball grounds, some of them having taken the afternoon off when they possibly could ill afford it?”

“We must admit the Troy faithful who motored, came to the grounds in the street cars, or walked, did deserve some consideration,” the columnist concedes today. However, the limits of early 20th century communications made it impossible for Wachter to get the word out Monday afternoon.

“But was it possible to notify each and every one? Until the local manager erects a siren that can be heard for miles, and toots the signal daily, ‘Game is On,’ or ‘Game is Off,’ there will be little chance to inform the fans.

“At noon it was really too late to notify anyone. Had the newspapers of the afternoon been notified it would have done little good, as the papers aren’t on the street until near game time. By failing to give the fans notice, Manager Wachter may have made a mistake, but how was he to notify the locals, pray?”

Another fan asks, “Well, do you think Lew Wachter is spending enough money to put a good club in Troy?”

“Lew Wachter is not endeavoring to put out such money as would bring a Christy Mathewson or a Walter Johnson here,” our writer admits, “He isn’t expected to do so. BUT he has spent a good sum of money guaranteeing salaries to men who do possess marked ability. Men who should be able to keep up with any club in this league.”

Since Troy hasn’t won a game in two weeks, since Opening Day in Syracuse, one fan wants to know, “Do you think the fans would be expected to patronize a club that hasn’t a chance in the world?”

“We certainly DO believe a fan should patronize the club, be it a loser or otherwise,” our writer replies, “A good sportsman should gain selfsatisfaction in many ways.”

Today’s game against Albany, meanwhile, is indisputably rained out.