Evening star., 1898-10-10
Record of the Clubs.

Today beSinS the last week OF tIle VA
tional League base ball season of 1898. the
least prosperous since the formation of the
present twelve-club organization. The
Washington club finishes the season. as
usual. away from home beginning a series
today with the Boston club at National
Park and closing the week and season with
three games with the Giants at New York.
While not so close and exciting as that of
last season, the fight for this years cham
pionship is still one of the closest in the
leagues history and has not yet been alb
soutely decided. The Boston team is prac-
tically sure of the flag, but there is still
a possibility of its defeat, although a very
remote one.
Boston must win two more games to
make the championship an absolute GER
tainty. provided Baltimore plays and wins
all its remaining seven games.
If Boston should lose all six of its games
this week and Baltimore wins seven, the
Orioles will win the pennant.
If Boston loses all six and Baltimore wins
six and loses one, the clubs will be tied
for the first place. they will also be if
Baltimore wins seven and Boston loses
five and wins one.
In other words. Boston must lose at least
two games in this city to give Baltimore
even fighting chance to tie. 1t is a very
remote chance that Baltimore has, but
base ball is mighty uncertain, and as in
seasons past. the Senators may be able to
make the Bostons play the game of their
lives to win even one game out of three
scheduled for the next three days.
Few. if any, changes will be made in the
standing of the clubs by the games of the
closing week. Cincinnati is anchored in
third place. Chicago has ousted Cleveland
from the fourth berth and it would seem
has a trife the better chance of ending
o a ic har 1v
possible that New York can get back into
the first division, so that Philadelphia is
practically sure of sixth place. If New
York continues losing as it has lately.
Joyce'S team may drop below Pittsburg
and give the Pirates the honor of heading
the second division. This is only a possi-
bility however as Pittsburg is still three
games behind the New Yorks. and will
meet Chicago and Cleveland in the closing
games. Louisville is sure of ninth place,
and the three ta1l-enders will hardly change
positions, although there is a possibility of
Washington and brooklyn being tied for
tenth place. The probabilities are that the
clubs will finish in exactly the same posi-
uGns as at present. the only change within
the realm of probability being a possible
shifting of Cleveland and Chicago.
The good work of Louisville and Phila-
delphia and New York's big slump have
been the surprise of the latter part of the
base pail season. Public interest in the
war and national questions has been given
dS IIt reason Tor the comparative lack of
interest shown by the public in base ball.
While the war was probably the principal
cause. 1t was by no means the only one
The war. bad weather. the long schedule
and Unpopular management in New York
ana st Louis and poor clubs in Washing
ton ana brooklyn have contributed to the
lack of public interest
II Is interesting to compare the prelfc-
ions or The league magnates made about
May /. with the present standing of thu,
clubs: "
'Scrappy'' Joyce of New York saws his
club will finish first, with Boston Balti-
more, Cleveland and Cincinnati fighting it
out for second place, with the chances in
favor of their finishing in the order named
Fred Clarke of Louisville says Cleveland
hrst, Boston second, Baltimore third and
Cincinnati fourth.
Earl Wagner of Washington-Nax York
or Cincinnati first or second. Baltimore and
Boston will finish no better than fourth or
fifth
Frank Stallngs of Philadelphia-''Pl do
my talking when the season is ended Gin
cinnau has been strengthened more than
any club in the league
Watkins of Pittsburg-Ill make no guess.
The Pittsburgs will play first division bail.
A H Soden of BOston-Our team will get
the flag.
Pat Tebeau-Cleveland will be first, New
York second. Baltimore third Boston
fourth.
Tom Burns. Chicago-Our team Will win.
l don't know enough about the other teams
to place them.
Tim Hurst St Louis-Baltimore will win
the pennant with Boston and Cleveland in
the order named. St. Louis will lead the
second division, If we do not land in the
first.