The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-18
Will Boston Win Baseball Cham
piOnship:

Now that Pittsburg is conceded the
championship in the national league
and Boston in the American, the fol-
lowers Of baseball are discussing the
outcome of a series of games between
the leaders in the respective major
leagues. mat such a series will be ar
ranged is practically certain, as there
will be large financial returns for the
interested parties, and this particular
feature is not being overlooked with
the public showing a desire to see the
two leading teams in the big leagues
come together at the close of the regu-
lar season. The Pirates are easily the
pick of the eight clubs IN the national,
while Boston must outclass it's rivals
in the American to be at the top Of
the list in the championship race.
Dreyfuss and Killilea, owners of the
two clubs, have been in correspondence
with a view of arranging the post sea-
son series and something definite will
likely be forthcoming in a short time.
Reports have been circulated that a
series OF nine games would be played
and that only one of this number
would be scheduled for Pittsburg.
AS no official statement has been is
sued it is all speculation to discuss the
arrangements in oivance. PittSburg
Is about as good a baseball enter as
any city in the country, and this nat
ural advantage will be taken into con-
Sideration. Interest in the proposed
games should run higher in Boston and
P1ttSburg than in other cities, and the
magnates will undoubtedly bear this in
mind in fixing the dates. In Pittsburg
almost everybody will pin his faith to
the Pirates to win the series, while the
reverse will be the feeling of the fol-
lowers Of the Boston team 1t is said
that BostOnians intend to raise a purse
of $4,000 to wager on their team and
already enthusiastic friends OF Col
Inns team are said to be offering odds.
Commenting upon a series between
the Boston Americans and Pittsburg,
the New York Sun says: THE teams
on paper and comDared individually
present such a difficult question to de-
termine beforehand that one is quite
excusable for arriving at a conclusion
in accordance with his sympathies.
That is as good a way as anv of set
ting the question in advance. Base
ball-eSpecially in a short series-iS SO
largely determined by unforeseen hap
penings that arise on the field that
speculation is useless save as a harm
| less occupation. There has been a
tendency to rate Lachance much below
BranSfleld as a first baSeman, but IN
reality there is little disparity. La
chance is no wooden image at first
base, particularly When he partakes
| of the sreed of the rest of the team.
On low throws he is hard to beat, and
| can make as many effective plays as
| his rival. though man for man he does
not impress one as favorablv as the
| other man. most notably, probably, in
| stick work. The speed and clocklike
| precision Of the rest OF the Boston in
| field has been shown in this city by
the Pittsburg infield. In the outfield
the Pittsburg trio appears to be one
tina covers more ground than the Bos-
ton trio. Where Boston has one Stahl
Pittsburg has a Beaumont and a
Clarke. and in getting the ball back
from the outer garden, mailing men a
the plate and preventing the annexa
ton of extra bases Pittsburg % tc
be more proficient.-Atlanta Journal.