The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-19
in Both Leagues

The pennant race IN both leagues has
passed the half-mile post. and while the
fight in the American League Is close and
undecisive, the question of supremacy has
been definitely settled in the National
League.
In the parent body 1t looks like a walk
homo for the Pittsburg team. Second place
will be tho plum that the National League
teams will fight 1t out for from now until
the close Of the campaign. At the present
writing it looks that J. Muggsy McGraw's
band Of 'disturbers" will be the runner-in,
but Cincinnati probably will give tho
''Giauts'' q hot night toward the finish Of
tho campaign. Chicago also will make q
bold bid for second honors.
McGraw's team at present is fighting
tooth and toe nail to hold the place and
their showing In impressive In their games
on the local diamond New York showed
class that wSuid ent1t!e them to second ,s
doubleday much weaker as a whole than the
johnson organisation
be his pitching department, and the fighting
tactics that won for Baltimore and Brook
lyn 30 many pennants. While the writer
Contends that eo' little ginger and spic: in
tected into q teams work will go a long
way in helping a team win many games.
III ClOSc lue team lIlaI HaB IHo
coaching line occupied by couple of gabby
boys IL going to bother q pitcher and
make the umpire sec several things that
never occurred.
The scarcity Of coachers on the lines when
either Of the local major league teams has
players on bases has lost many q game.
Barring Padden on the Browns and Jimmy
Burke of the Cardinals. neither Of St.
81 Sor lac En- havA
a man with a voice that has any terror for
an opposing team.
The local National League team has an
outfield that might coach IL the mute
conversation, but when it comes TO trying to
rattle pitcher by making a LITTLE noise the
Cardinals seem to be out Of the running.
Not once since the opening of the present
season have the coaching lines been proper
~ handled by the Cardinal players. the only
one who does any work on the lines being
IN the National League may be attributed in
a large measure to the constant coaching
going on while q New York player is oo-
cupying any Of the bases as a runner. At
runner on base for the New York players
TO direct remarks at the pitcher that have a
among tho neecy heights. This coaching
has done much to give New York a Sec
ond-place team with sixth-class material
At the beginning of the season 1t looked
as though Cincinnati might give Pittsbure
fight for the honors, but that idea has
been exploded. On paper, the Tribe of
kel' looked to be warm proposition. With
Hahn. Ewing, Suthoff, Poole and Harper
as box workers the German Barons''
looked to have a formidable pitching ag-
gregation. but barring Hahn and Phillps,
the Reds twirlers have fallen fatty. SUIT
koff has done fairly well, but his work has
not been Of a character to arouse the fans
to a very high pitch Of enthusiasm.
With Beckiey. Daily, Steinfeldt and Cor
coran in tho infield the Cincinnati team
looks very strong, and when the pitchers
get going and the team gets hitting as a
whole. they Will make New York and Chi
cago hustle harA to keep them from second
place.
Frank Selee certainly deserves much credit
for the showing no has made with the
Windy City tribe Early in the season the
Chicago National locked but little stronger
than the Cardinals. Their pitching depart>
rnent, however, proved a big surprise to the
critics, and the Societies owe their position
tL the race to their pitchers more than to
any other department OF the team.
Brooklyn, Boston, St Louis and Philadel-
phia look destined to fill the second division
In the National. The Cardinals have been
doing some very consistent work OF late,
and IL they can maintain their present gait
Until the seasons close they will have q
very strong chance to land at the top Of
the second division. With the infleld Of the
Cardinals - constituted At present thsH