The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09
TEAMS IN BOTH LEAGUES
NEARING REMNANT FINISH,
Race in American Interesting With Boston Having the CaSees
Now Being Played Between Athletics Coinss Play
Attracts Attenon-Cieveand Probably Will
Finish Third Pittsburg Has Insurmounta-
BILE Lead n the National

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
From now until the close Of the season
the pennart races in both leagues will be
watched with increased interest.
About two-thirds Of the games have been
played and the teams nre nearing the
stretch. But a little more than month and
a half remains of major league baseball.
Sunday. September q, Is the close of the
National League season locally. while the
American Leaguers put up their shutters a
few days later.
The leaders are grasping their final breath
for the rush down the home stretch, where
no mercy is shown. The stars OF the game
will be expected by their respective man.
agcments to stick to their posts. and noth-
ing short of serious injury or ailment will
be taken as an excuse for absence from the
game.
Every game from now on will count. The
clubs that have not gotten fully under way
by this time will be lost in the struggle OF
the stretch and will have to satisfy Them
selves with back seat in the second di-
vision. ~
AMERICAN RACE INTERESTING.
In the American League the race Is the
most interesting. At present the battle is
being wased fiereely with Boston and Phila-
QclpGl1 the storm CeuSerS. CiGVeianu ID diso
q contender. while New York and Detroit
loom up as the dark horses
Much will depend on fortune In this race.
An accident to star or two on either the
Athletics. Bostons or Cleveiands would ma
terially lessen the chances of the team sus-
tanning the injury. At present the three
leaders in the American League are for
tunate in having nearly all their best play-
ers in the game.
The Athletics and Boston Americans are
now in the midst of death struggle. Last
Wednesday they began a series Of .. SIX
straight games, three Of them being played
in Philadelphia and one In Boston, the re-
naming two to be played in Boston this
week. So far neither team has shown any
ture the TWO games scheduled for Boston
this week they will take long stride to-
wards first place. The Rostons' showing
OF some lukewarm supporters Of Collinss
team, but II they can trim the Athletics
they will win back ali their old supporters
and host of new friends
PITCHERS IN GOOD FORM.
The pitching stan of both teams are in
good condition and the hi.ters are doing ex-
ceptionally well. Patrick Dougherty. Bos-
toms Celtic batting marvel has been coming
heap in few weeks His recent feat Of
making twelve hits in three games shows
how handy he is with the shiilalah,
the burning question Of the flag raising"
.Cy Young, Dineen, Gibson. hugnes and
Winter are all on edge, and so are Waddell,
Bender. Plank and Henley. On the work OF
the pitchers much will depend.
So far as batting Is concerned, the Ath-
letics. Boston Americans and Clevelands are
fairly evenly matched. On their recent work
the Athletics showed superior form to Bos-
ton. At that they have done none too well.
Since their return home July 4 they have
not quite lived up to the expectations OF the
Philadelphia fans. They do not seem to