Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-31
WASHINGTON ALMOST "DAFFY" OVER THE NATIONALS
GOOD PLAYING OF LOCALS TALKED OF EVERYWHERE

Political and all other subjects have
been pushed in the background. and yes
terday it is estimated that fully seven
eighths of the residents of Washington
talked only about base ball. and the Ma
tionals in particular. 1t is claimed that
had the District of Columbia the deciding
vote Tom Hughes and Charley Street
would be elected president and vice presi-
Gent OF the United States without a dis
sentlng murmur The feat of beating
cleveland four games in two days. three
or which were shut outs. of course was
the principal theme. and then came the
immense turnouts. Never before have the
police prohibited the sale of tickets to any
Washington park on account of the jam.
and this occurred Saturday.
The handling of this immense concourse
was also discussed at great length wher-
ever the fans" congregated yesterday
and the police and park employees were
praised unstintedly for their good work.
Another feature of Saturdays sport was
the part played by the two railroad lines
IN getting the enthusiasts to and from the
park reporter of The Star came out
OF the park fifteen minutes after the final
out had been registered and was able to
ride down town in half-filled car. y
minute seems like ten at such times. but
III the people VIII nave llttle patience
and use some Judgment everybody can be
hauled away from the grounds in quick
order.
The BostbnS arrived at the Arlington
at noon today. in charge of the new man.
ager, Fred Lake. Everybody was in the
best of spirits and chuck full of conf
dence
We'll send old boy Cyrus in today
said one of the players. land he will
give us a good start on the series, and
TO my way of thinking the bunch here
VIII be lucky to capture a solitary game.
so have we. Beating those western fell
lows was no great stunt, but l look
for lots of sport this week. with the final
curtain falling On the Red SoX as the
victors'
Cy Young has certainly had it on the
Nationals this season, but he was
Knocked out of the box last week by the
Chicasos. and maybe the locals can also
turn the trick Manager Cantillon had
almost decided last night to send in
Jesse Tannehill today. but he knows the
Importance of winning the first game
especially against Young. and it wouldn't
the visitors. With Jack Warner behind
the bat and Johnson on the hill. Mr.
Young should have the time of his life
capturing today's game.
week ago there did not appear to be
anything to the American League race
but the Detroiters, despite the tena ciOuS
way In which the ST. LouisanS hung on
TO them. but the humping that the Ath-
let1cs gave the Tigers and Clevelands
victory yesterday has brought them back
to their field. In the meanwhile the
S s,a.di;U ma nave been coming forward
leaders. ready to go through if the slight
est opening presents itself. The Sox al
ways have been noted for their strong
finishes. particularly SO when finishing up
oof hot oil
four immediate contenders for the Ameri-
can League pennant finish at home in
wolves the result of the race in the
greatest doubt. although a good line
may be obtained when the eastern
clubs start for their last. invasion of the
western country Before he left here
LaJoie expressed his confidence in the
ability Of the Clevelanders to trim the
Tigers in the series Of five games which
began yesterday. If he makes good-and
he certainly. started in well-then it will
be up to the St Louisans to do up the Sox
in order to acquire the lead. 1t is the
possibility of rapid changes in the stand
ing of the western clubs that invests their
coming series between themselves with
the liveliest kind of interest. For the
Nationals to head the second division the
Athletics will have to experience q Sc
we're slump unless they can on the road
maintain the clip that they showed
against the Clevelands in the series which
closed Saturday.
In the National League struggle the
New Yorks ousted Pittsburg out of the
lead and yesterday the Chcagos beating
New York while Pittsburg was idle push
ed the Pirates down another peg De-
spite their setback at the Lands, of the
Cubs. from now on the chances appear
to favor the New Workers for the pen
nant because of the long string of games
they have yet to play on their own
grounds, but at that they will have any
thing but a cinch if the Chicagos and the
Pittsburgers stand up to the end. The
Phillies still have fighting chance for
the nag. but that is about all. To win
out they would have to win about four
games to every three won by the clubs
above them. This is possible. to be sure.
but to do so they would have to de-
velop one of the greatest spurts known
to base ball. McGraws chances to land
the flag will depend largely upon the
ability of his pitchers to withstand the
extra work that will be imposed upon
them. In the pitching end of the game
he does not appear to be so we'll forth
fed as either Pittsburg Or Chicago What
ever assistance he gets in the east will
have to come from the Phillies. for
neither Boston nor Brooklyn Is likely to
stop the other contenders. 1t promises
to be a great finish. with the likelihood