The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-13
TRREE-I LEAGUE IS
PLAYING FAST BALL
Leaders Are Closely punched and
Race for Pennant Is Wide
Open at Present.
REPUBLIC

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
bloomington. ILL.,. July 12-The Three 7
League IL daily attracting more attention
among the minor baseball leagues. owing
to the quality Of ban that is being played.
the neCk-and-neck race for the pennant.
the large attendance and the perhaps all
important fact that each club. having a
small salary limit. is making money.
The second half OF the Season IS now
well under way and the struggle for the
coveted bunting is more exciting than ever.
punched in the first division are Rock
ioru, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Blooming
ton and Terre Haute. standing. in percent
age. in the order named. But q few points
below are Evansville ana Rock Island.
while ut the bottom Is Decatur. which has
Just succeeded in taking nve straight games
from Terre Haute. which up 10 = snort
time ago was al the top.
The clOsensss OF the race demonstrates
that the clubs are evenly matched to =
surprising degree. and That a Oue-sIueI
game - u battle ADDS 10 the interest and
attendance. aEd II - no surprise. therefore.
that al the eight towns OF the ietsue the
baseball lever Is II the hottest point.
The remarkable rally OF the bloomington
team has been the surprise OF the last
three weeks. commencing with the three
defeats OF Rockford the week OF June -,
the home team has been steadily Crawling
up from seventh position until II Is now IN
fourth. and is 50 close 10 Davenport Ia
third place that another victory by bloom
ington and 4 defeat by Davenport will tie
the TWO teams for third position.
Bloomington was handicapped by the IoS
Of the old grounds, and the chanse % lev
and untTied pastures demoralLZed the team
in a measure Some Of the new players, OF
whom great things were eNpcctet, nasneI IN
the pan and had TO be released. Nhi.s IN
weak spots were being strengthened the
team kept losing games. ami the season was
nearly half over before a winning asSrs-
CATION could be secured.
Everything is harmony at present. ana
the prospects are bright for a continuation
of the excellent playing that has charac-
terized the work of the club for the last
few weeks. CaIfTyn. the new right nelder'
who has been playing In amateur orgdnIEt-
tons In Peoria. Is batting At a ~ GU!,-
Barr and McGrew. the new inteldeTs. are
building IN 4 stone wall. and with nNe
uitrbers ali in good condition. and headed
by tie premier. McGreevy. there = no rea-
son WHY the local team should not o. IN
the race Tor the flag. The work OF Blsh9p,
the amateur pitcher. who IS playing mas
first professional IA. 8 attract
ing wide attention. He has Fad hut one
hard drubbing this s~eason-that oy ENahs
will here on Thursday. A representative OF
the Louisville team was here his week
watching his work
The descent OF Rockford from ITS ntoul
position above .6o TO he ieVel OF Lscaf
Rapids has furnished another surprise MAN
ager Hugh Nicol IL afraid that the retro
grading Is to be Kept up, Win SuIh q
bunch o. hitters. however, he has little %
fear. and IL Is more than likely that w-,h
the eighteen straight games on the home
grounds that the Western clubs are 10
play. Rockford. as well as Cedar Rapids.
Rock Island and Davenport. III improve
their standing at the expense OF the Last
ern. ,
The total-abstinence rules OF Belden Hill
are LARGELY responsible Tor the standing ut
the Cedar RapIds team, and the chances are
now that the Rabbits will end either in
first or second place. Davenport Is also
making a fine squirt. and has been winning
steadiiy in the last two weeks. The return
OF smith to center field. after he waS re-
leased by Terre Haute. has put new lie
into the team.