The Washington herald., 1908-08-26
CLEVELAND PITTSBURG PIRATES BASEBA

ball, and Cy believes that II time II viii
be the most popular curve in baseball
This ball. according TO Morgan. IS OF the
in-drop variety, and has ts-o-foot break
at the plate
Supremacy IN baseball unquestionably is
with the West in distinction from the East
this year. With four Western teams oc-
cUpying the four frst-division berths in
the American League and a Western team
holding first place in the National League.
not much comfort IS left for baseball
patrons Of the Atlantic slope. Only New
York and Philadelphia in the National
League retain . foothOld for the East
among the so-called winning clubs.
II was not so long ago that the East
was supreme On the diamond. In the de
cade preceding the birth OF the American
League and the subsequent baseball war.
the lions share Of the h0nors was mo-
nopouzed by the Eastern clubs Of the ma
jor league. and 1t seemed impossible to
break into their strong tntrenchments-
The baseball war did this by breaking up
the powerful combinations got together
In Eastern cities and scattering the brainy
players over the country.
For three years In the present century
Pittsburg carried OF the honors for the
West In the old league. while Chicago and
Boston divided them In the American
League Then the rennants switched 70
New York and Philadelphia IN the East
Following this came the segregation Of
all the highest honors in Chicago alone
IN 1906, and since then both peunants
have remained with the West, along with
the worlds championship.
But there has been no such spectacle
recently as that presented this year. when
the Western clubs hold practically all
the desirable positions IN both leagues
The result o3 this gradual change during
the last eight years has been q great re
vival Of interest n the national pastime
in the West. without any serious loss Of
perstise IN tho East, where the enthusi-
asn Of former years stiu IS OF impelling
force
The Widespread interest has spelled
prosperity even IN a year when business
n general has been stagnant- The con
tinUayi0n OF this prosperity naturally VIII
Eecessltate concentrating more playing
strength in the East before the West gets
palIed IN winning and the East becomes
weary OF losing IN the enterprise and
hustle Of managers lies this remedy
There is no likelihood Of another big
league war 70 disturb the playing talent
sgain-
Our old friend, Smiling A. Orth, the
oae-tiue Philadelphia favorIte. who has
been pitching for the Yankees ever since
the American League invaded New York
and who until this year has always been
the mainstay OF New YOrks box men,
was yesterday sold 10 the Lynchburg
Cva) club. O-th has been q disappoint-
nent This year
he looked pretty good early n the
spring, but when the team got IN the
-uck he seemed 70 lost interest He was
lot z the best Of shape lately. having
won but two games this year, and II
has been known for some time that Al
would Ike 10 get away from the big
town LynchbUrg IS his home. and he
VIII IN al probability. manage that club
next year. Il was from Lynchburg that
OrLh first broke into major league com
pany.
The passing OF Orrh marks the first
trimming Of dead wood which VIII be
pursued by the New York mana cement
Other pitchers who have failed 70 SHOW
class are branded for the burning Il IS
fu1iDatsd that not more than three or
four. at the outside, OF the present star
OF regulars VII De retained Doc New
ton, the southpaw sold 70 Newark about
a month ago, has been repurchased by
New YORK