The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-01
GREAT RACE IN
JOHNSON LEAGUE.
Cleveland the Tall Dark Man"
Who Is Worrying the
Magnates.
Special to Tho Journal.

Special to Tho Journal.
Chicago. Oct. 1.-The race for the
year will be the closest and most ex-
citing in the history Of the organiza-.
ton Of which Ban johnson is the head.
Ihree teams, Chicago, New York and
Cleveland, have a chance to land the
bunting, and the contest for the flag
is played on Sunday. Oct. Z. !
For two months Chicago and New
York have been alternating in the lead.
Ihey were at one time nearly ten games
ahead of Philadelphia. which was con.
sldered the greatest rival. Cleveland
at that time was not play ingvery, good,
the club being in crippled condition.
players. Mack's pitchers went back
on him. and that spoiled the chances
of the. Athletics. But the La Joie ag-
gregation got a. second lease Of life
and began playing great ball. Then
Chicago and New York engaged in
their see-saw exhibition, and while
they were alternating as to losses and
victories, Cleyeland kept winning day
catch for the rag if they continue at
the clip they have been going for the
last three weeks.
There have been several exciting fin
ishes in the American league, but never
before has the race been so that three
teams had a fighting chance until the
last out of the season was made. In
| 1902. Philadelphia captured the bunt-
ing with five games to the good. The
| averages for the season were: Phila-
delphia, .6lO; st. Louis, .574; Boston,
1862. The next year Boston had a walk
away with a percentage Of $3.50 to $3.50
tor Philadelphia and $50 for Cleve-
land. In 1904 Boston and New York
had close race, the former winning
with q percentage Of .617 to 500 for
year, but six games behind the leader,
with an average of 1878. In 1905 Phil
adelphia finished .62l to sos for Chi
fSa agg{' Pc RetrG git was third but away
The last games that the three con-
tenders play will be. with the weak
clubs Of the league, and that should
ing. New York winds up next Satur-
day. on Boston ground, Cleveland closes
with st.. Louis on Sunday and Chicago
closes here with Detroit.
The white sox have, had to rely prin-
cipally upon their pitchers during the
last week. Frank Isbell was injured
in one Of the games with New York,
and this made an awful gap in the in
field. Dundon, who replaced him. is
with "Izzy" when it comes to batting
and taking chances on the bases.
Tannehill has been out Of the game
for a month. and this has crippled the
team Matters were helped along a
little when Catcher Sullivan got back
in the fray. @s;@- '.' ?"..:@ ~ .
Cleveland is making great fight to
| &Lo W, ~
pennant. Just now the pitchers are in
fine fettle and the batters are fatten-
ing their averages, whilee the felders
are killing bases hits with unceasing
regularity. Bill Bradley, the star third
sacker, who has been out of the game
for some time, is reported ready to
enter the game at any time now and
may be seen in action in the. closing
contests. Cleveland, has three games
week, and on the result of these. con
tests will depend the chances of the
leadership of the league.
President johnson fears that the
world s championship will 90 to the Ma
at that time was not playing very good
"We will have another race like last
year." said he, 'tho even fercer, i
anything. That means that the Ameri
can league cannot put a team in the
field under better conditions than the
Athletics were last year. If the Amer
lean league champions win the world ,:
series, double credit, will be due them
) for they will attain the highest homo
, under the most adverse circumstances
A race. such as the three leading club
Of the league are now fighting for, can
not help but wear out the players ant
unnerve them toward the flush.
would like to see the champions O
both leagues get together under NOR