The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-20
is A GRAND RACE.
Dash for the American Pennant
Growing Interesting.
Philadelphia Has Come Up With
Winning Rush.
LOOKS FORMIDABLE.
FORMIDABLE.
Chicago and Detroit Neck and
Neck Most of Time.
Tim Murnane Thinks White
S0x Are Dangerous.

| Boston, Mass, Aug. 2o.-Tim Muir
name says: The great race in the
American league has oversha dowed
all other baseball events for the LAST
two weeks 5
For half the season Chicago and
Detroit were running neck and neck,
with no thought of dark horse. The
Detroit Tigers have strengthened lit
| tie, II any, since last season, with the
| exception of hustling leader, who
! had gone the routes and was ambI-
| tious to sho wthe baseball world that
| he was master of the business. Con-
ME Mack, with his Athletics, was not
counted on for a moment. In fact,
the bad setback that his team re-
ceived in the spring series with the
Phil1ies had made the cool-headed
manager apprehensive or the future
in baseball The crowds were fall
ing off, and Mr. Mack grew desper-
ate. 1t looked like runaway race
for the White Sox. as no one out of
Cleveland had the least confidence
that Lajoie's men would go the full
distance without a serious break. The
So xhad shown remarkable nerve and
staying powers for the last two sea-
sons, and had the same men in line
for the hard work ahead.
The New York Highlanders had
splendid possibilities, but Clark Grit
fth's fatal mistake of continually
swapping horses while crossing a
stream was bound to upset the New
York mems chances. St. Louis went
bad from the start, while Boston was
late in landing a capable manager,
and Washington developed into joke
club.
Then came the surprise. The Quak-
ers made one change in the person.
mel of their team-Jim Collins. a vet
eran, for Jack Knight. Collins, far
from being the brilliant player of old,
but still cool under fire. always re-
liable batsman, and well liked by the
fraternity.
Mack paid a big price for Collins
and took a long chance. AS he SAID
at the time, he was forced to make
the play after the patrons of the
sport in Philadelphia learned that it
could be pulled off, as they were
soured on young Knight, a home play
er. Collins presence seemed to change
the complexion of things at once for
the Quaker team and it was not long
before Mr.. Mack caught sight of that
pennant bunting and mapped out a
campaign. That carried his team to
the top last Monday.
Manager Jennings observed that
Cleveland was breaking up and went
after the second money, to find the
Sox in trouble, and with the Attn
letics a bitter fight was made for the
first honors. Cleveland was in bad
shape while in Boston, but has man.
aged to hang to the bunch and has
just as good a chance for first place
as ever. Chicago fell down badly
with Boston. or rather found Boston
playing good ball and having excep-
tionaIly good luck. The Sox were
playing as fine ball as early in the sea-
son, but other teams had improved.
I think the poor showing of Altrock
and the let-up of Walsh (overworked)
was the real. serious setback for the
Sox. I never saw ball players take
their medicine in better form than
the worlds champs in this city.
The Detroit players were free to
admit they expected to fall off the
first place. Cleveland seemed to have
little thought of first money. While
the White Sox said little, it was only
too plain that they felt cock sure of
still landing the winners end.
The Jones boys acted as If it
were up to some other team to take
the lead for a while. figuring when
they did get under full Roadway ones
more they could furnish a squirt from
the third quarter pole to the judges |
stand at full speed.