The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-03
BIG LEAGUE SEASON ENDED.
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE
LIFE OF THE LEAGUE.

LIFE OF THE LEAGUE.
Boston VIII Fly the Pennant For n
Year Mt Least-The Orioles "a Close
second After Game Fight-Ncw
York Third. Cincinnati Fourth and
Cleveland Fifth-WashingtOn and
Brooklyn Tied For Last Place in
the First Division-St. Louis De-
pIorabIc Condition should Be
Looked Into by the League.
The playing season of 1897 Of the Ma
tional League closed yesterday. Boston
wins the pennant. The Beaneaters won
50 and lost 80 games, and have per
centage of .705. Baltimore is second, with
80 games won. 40 lost, and percentage
of .692. New York is third, Cincinnati
fourth and Cleveland fifth.
After a hard fight, which only ended
with yesterdays games, Washington and
brooklyn are tied for sixth position. Both
of these clubs wanted to land in the first
division, and the recent games against
Baltimore and Boston were all the more
hard fought because the Senators and
Bridegrooms wanted to beap each other
out. Pittsburg is in seventh place, with
Chicago, Philadelphia and Louisville fol-
lowing in the order named. st. Louis, as
usual, brings up the rear, with the poor
est showing ever made by a National
League club
The season which has just been finished
has been the greatest and the most sue
cessful for the good Of the sport in the
10 nolI hoe
been known as the national game, but the
fun meaning of the term has never been
so thoroughly realizeS as it has the past
season. The interest in the National
League race was not confined to the cities
which comprised the league 1t extended
over the entire country The progress of
the league and the results of the games
were as closely watched here In Savannah
as they were in the league cities, and the
interest was comparatively as great.
There has been but one bad feature in
the games played in the big league this
season, and that was the kicking and RUIZ
fianism which, 1t is sad to relate, was
unusually prevalent. For the past month
or so it has not been so bad, but during
the earlier part of the season it threat
ened to assume proportions which would
endanger the standing of the sport, if not
entirely disrupt the league
Savannah feels like it had something to
do with the winning of the pennant this
year. Boston put in its preparatory train
ing in this city last spring, and to the
splendid condition in which the team got
into here can be accredited its good work
in the earlier part of the season.
The Boston team came to Savannah last
March for a three weeks stay. The team
numbered fifteen men, with Manager Selee
in charge, and while here the men made
many friends. They played several exhibit
ton games of ball and also played a game
of indoor base ball with the Y. NJ c. A.
team.
Boston made a bad start at the begin
ming of the season. Notwithstanding that
they were in fairly good trim. They won
but one out of the first eight games play
ed, but after that the Beaneaters straight
ened out and since then they have played
a class of ball that is worthy of the
highest commentator. The work of
Pitcher Nichols is something that has
never been equaled. Although he does not
head the list of pitchers in the league, his
work has undoubtedly been the strongest
and most consistent. In the recent series
with Baltimore he pitched the two games
which Boston won, and to his superb work
Manager Selee credits the Boston's excel
lent showing.
The benefit of Bostons trip south this
year VIII llDSb uhely serve 70 DIlus llltul
here again next spring. Manager Selee said
when he left here that he preferred Sa-
vannah 10 any city in the south for pre-
parator'y practice and stated he would
again hiring the Beaneaters here.
There is a consolation for Baltimore in
the fact that the Orioles made a game
fight They have played excellent ball, and
this in tae face of a badly crippled team
for a good part of the season. They were
only beaten because Boston had a stronger
team, for the Bostons are at present I'M
doubtedly the strongest team in the league.
The pennant is rightly placed.
New York finishes in a position which
the Giants need not be ashamed of. Had
Joyce had the management of the team
earlier in the season, there might have
been different story to tell for New York
would have made a strong bid for Temple
cup money.
The following is the standing of the
clubs, including yesterdays games: