The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-20
AMERICAN OUTDOOR SPORTS
The Rush of the Detroit Ball Club to the
Front of the National League.
The st. Louis Browns in the Lead for the AS
ISOLATION Pennant-Results of Yesterdays
Games-Tla Racing at Louisville.
Standing of the Clubs for the Pennant In the
League and the Association.

BASE BALL.
Standing of the Clubs for the Pennant in the
League and the Association.
Correspondence of the India napolis Journal
CHICAGO, May 17-Surprises have seemed the
order of things in this years race for the Ma
tional League pennant, and not the least of
these has been the remarkable rush to the front
by the Detroit team, which now leads the re-
naming clubs, and that with several games to
spare. That Detroit was strong at the bat was
generally conceded before the season COM
menced, but that the team would thus early in
the race develop such uniform and effective
work in the field was anticipated in no quarter,
save perhaps in Detroit itself. and the predic-
tions of Detroiters were looked upon more in the
light of pardonable enthusiasm than as pos
sessing any likelihood Of ever being fulfilled.
To one who had never seen the League teams
upon the field, first sight Of the
Detroit lads would prove a pleasing
one. New York must certainly relinouish
their title to 1.-THE Giants" this season in favor
Of Detroit, for a finer looking lot of fellows
pever crossed the diamond than these same
Detroiters. Two of the team, Dan Brcuthers
aud Big Thompson, are six feet two inches tall,
and weigh over 210 pounds. Bennett, Baldwin.
Richardson, White. Rowe and Hanlon all
long-limbed, powerful fellows, and the team,
taken as whole, is without question as form
liable a looking body of men as there is engaged
in professional base ball to-day. WheE the men
played in Chicago they created impression
among Chicagoans in every way favorable, and
when they left here for Detroit to meet the
New Workers, many hearty wishes for their
success against the giants went with them.
We did not dream of such thing as their
taking three straights from "Tne Giants" and
now, with Detroit three games ahead of us in
The race, we are not 30 much in favor Of their
winning any more games, this week, at least. tits
too early in the season for our comfort to see
Detroit walking to the front in such business
like STYLE for you know if the psnant is COM
ing West again this year. Chicago is just enough
OF a pork packing center TO want that rag AT
New York we out here are surprised, though
there really seems to be no marked let-down in
the play of The Chants New York played good
ball. but Detroit played better. and that perhaps
is all that need be said of those games To one
familiar with the strength of the respective
teams, it does not seem probable that the Go
thamites will long remain under their present
cloud. The ability of the team seems too great
for that. WEIGH and Keefe both seem to have
retained their speed and ceverDess in the box,
and with the exception OF Philadelphia, which
club proved the bete noir Of The Giants last
season. New York has made her usual showing
until she met Detroit. That she will yet head
Detroit in the race seems very reasonable thing
TO predict, and that Detroit may yet meet a Wei
aington In some of the clubs she has still to face
would seem ground upon which to speculate
As for Chicago. our lads are playing their old
time steady game, with our old batteries. as eff
fective rs Of yore and our new one all and more
n wa hau ayn q
proving valuable find for the club, and is prov
ing himself born ball player, and prettier field
ing work was never seen in center upon the home
grounds and at the bat he is as strong as he is
fearless and successful between bases Kelly
is the same Kelly that has caused spectators
TO laugh and applaud at his base running
tricks for so many years past, and Gore An
son and Dalrymple are playing even better
than last year. Flint is catching with his old
time effectiveness, but is weak at the bat
and slow between bases. Williamson is playing
at short this year and Burns at third. Some
costly errors upon the part of both have re-
suited from the change, but these have been
fewer than was expected, considering the mum
Der of seasons that Burns had covered short
and Williamson third, and had played no other
positions Our grounds still remain the finest
An the country, and the public is supporting the
game in Chicago as generously, II not more So
this year than last 1t must gall New York
bit TO slowgoing old ST. Louis step over
her head into third place but that is just what
she has done, and Inc GlantS, with the close or
the week just past. held fourth place, above
Philadelphia by just one more game won St.
Louis might play better ball than she is now
playing but for the personal ill-feeling that still
exists among certain members of the club, de-
spite Manager Schmetzs earnest efforts to
exterminate all such and retain his team Such
a state of things is very much to be deplored,
and it would seem managers duty TO drop the
disturbing element in his team, no matter how
valuable the players Following these
clubs is Philadelphia in fifth place, Washington in
sixth place, Boston in seventh, and Kansas City
In eighth. Altogether, the race assumed a char
acter the more interesting because of its wholly
unexpected coloring. What this week may bring
1t is indeed difficult to predict. but it is pretty
safe say that it will close with Detroit still in
the lead and Chicago not far from second place.
The race for the American Association PEN
nant still continues, with the st. Louis Browns
ia the lead and playing great ball. Following
Is the standing of the clubs to date
Won. Lost.
st. Louis -.-.-.---....-.......... 10
brooklyn
HlttSburg. ~ L.
Louisville ~ Il
Clnclnnatl ~ AS
Athletics
Baltimore =
MetropontanS LIZ