The Washington herald., 1907-09-01

The season IS rapidly nearing an end.
and the fight in the American League is
getting hotter every minute. Chicago
Is crippled by the loss Of IsbeiI, who has
left the team for good, and Comiskey
is claiming that his whole team has suf-
fered all year from the effects Of a too
early opening Of the season. Just why
the Sox should be any more affected than
the Browns or any other team is not
apparent, but ii is an assured fact that
the season next year will not start of so
soon as it did this year.
According to men high up in both
leagues the same number of games viii
be played next year. but play will not
begin until at least April %. There VIII
be a few more double-headers scheduled,
and less open dates, so that the season
viii not run any later than it will this
fail.
But TO get back TO this season. With
the end only six weeks off, the Chicago
Cubs are sure winners in the National
League, with the result OF the tight race
ia the American League still a delightful
uncertainty. The Cubs are roofing fer
the White Sox 10 win out again, and
they have two excellent reasons for do
ing so.
Cubs Want Revenge.
In the first place, they are anxious 10
retrieve their hunailisting defeat IN the
worlds championship series last fall,
when they were badly beaten, after being
touted all over the country as easy
masters Of the sox. The Cubs want re-
venge on their eonqueTors, and they want
IL badly. In the second place they believe
that second series between the two
Chicago clubs viii sdraw better than
any series between the Cubs and a team
representing another city. X was shown
last fall that Chicago will furnish euOT-
nous crowds for a combat between its
two crack clubs. The size Of the crowds
is a matter Of intense interest 10 the
players, as they take for themselves a
gOOdly percentage OF the receipts OF the
first four games. The Cubs have an idea
that their share VIII be large enough II
they can meet the Sox fer a second time.
But, though they hope 10 see the S0S
win out. the Cubs do not expect them
20 do so The COmiskey infield has slow
ed UP, and the pitching staff seems 10
=
do not think that Fielder Jones and crew
are going TO land. though they are pulling
for them with might and main. II the
SOX can't win, the Cubs hope 10 see the
Athletics top the American heap. for the
excellent reason that they can figure
larger crowds and an increased share Of
the coin for themselves by playing in
Philadelphia than In Detroit The
grounds IN Detroit are small. and II would
be impossible 10 play ball 10 2, 600 people
there. even if that number would turn
out in the Michigan city, which is doubt
ful. The biggest crowd ever in the De-
tr0it park was 14000 on the opening day
of the season Of this year. and that
number taxed the capacity to the Ut
most. The Cubs are looking for victory
this fall. and also coin. and they feel
they can beat the Athletics as easily as
the Tigers. and would draw down large
checks for doing so. The general public
in the West is roofing for Hughey Jen-
nings and his plucky team. but the Cubs
are not among the number.
Forecast OF the Dates.
II the Athletics win in the American
League. it will mean at least one jump
across the country for the two eontestng
teams. and those incurable fans who in
sist on witnessing the entire series. It is
probable that the series viii open with
three games IN Philadelphia, beginning
on Tuesday. October S. - two teams
would use Friday for the trip West. and
open IN Chicago on Saturday. continuing
on Sunday and Monday. II the series was
not finished in six games the place for
playing the seventh game would be de-
cided by the national commission. Ac-
cording TO the rules Of the commission.
the place for playing the first game viii
be decided By lot. but the cast Of the die
will undoubtedly favor an arrangement
which win he most satisfactory 10 the
clubs and players. Two years ago the
schedule order Of games between the
Giants and Athletics would have brought
the Saturday contest 10 Philadelphia. but
both clubs agreed 10 waive the rules on
this play and play at the Polo Grounds
on Saturday, for TIE sake of the larger
field and the better facilities for handling
a big crowd. This fan the Cunday game
in Chicago will not be overlooked, and the
lot will fan with that in view.