The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-28

Brooklyn in Boston.
Chicago September 27.-(Special) The
excitement over the baseball race is fast
paralyzing the business of Chicago, as 1t
did two years ago when the Cubs and
the White Sox came together before
Every office is filled with fans of the
widest variety and on every street corner
groups of fans block traffic arguing over
the prospects of their favorite team.
Any place that has ticker" service is
more than popular every afternoon ana
will be for the next week if the race con-
tinues to be as close as it is now.
Chicago's world champion Cubs are hot
on the trail of another pennant Ihey
are virtually tied with the New York
Giants now and believe they see another
flag in sight.
McGraw has only one pitcher on whom
he can rely That is Mathewson. Even
Christy is liable to break down under the
strain He can't work every day from
now to the end of the season, and the
minute any other twirler goes in away
slips the game. The Giants have to shut
out club to beat it these days
The Giant twirling staff is badly crippled
and demoralized. 'Muggsy' was guilty of
what looks like another piece of poor
generalship the other day when he sent
his S11 900 beauty, "Rube' Marquard'
against the Reds. Against any other club
in the league such a choice of pitchers
would have looked all right. but to put a
southpaw against club where all the
batters are right-handed looks like sui
eide This selection can only be justified
on the assumption that McGraw was in
such straits for a pitcher that he was
forced to pick the big minor-league left
handler.
Figuring that New York is short hand
ed on pitchers, and that this week it
must play two more double-headers with
Philadelphia, the future does not hold out
anything very promising for the Napoleon
of baseball.
Chicago is still point behind New
New York, but this does not include that
tie game of last Wednesday. When that
is awarded to Chicago by forfeit there is
likely to be a change in leaders. How
that game can go any other way than by
forfeit to Chicago is hard to dope out
unless the constitution of the league is
grossly violated.
President Ebbets of Brooklyn raised
point yesterday that looked dubious when
he declared that as Chicago had asked
forfeit before the umpres had officially
decided it was a tie that question had to
be settled before the game could be
played over. and as the last chance for
playing it had passed it must remain
tie. This angle of the controversy was
spiked when it became known that on
Thursday morning President Murphy de-
livered to President Puiliam letter in
which it was expressly stated that the
Chicago club would abide by the decision
of the umpires whatever that might be
and withdrew its request for a forfeit
This was delivered before President Pull
liam's decision was given out and yes
terday he stated that there was nothing
before him from the Chicago club.
Accordingly President Murphy delivered
to Mr. Pulliam a letter demanding that
the game be forfeited because the New
York club refused to play off the tie OF
September % on September "a.
In this letter the Cub magnate quotes
sections As and So of the constitution
played Off and as the Chicago club was
on the field ready to play, and the New
York club was not. a forfeiture is de-
manded.
Some of the best baseball experts in the
National league have assured President
Murphy that he has all the law and facts
in his favor and that he cannot lose UNI
less the constitution of the league is over
ridden in an effort to hand New York a
game to keep the Giants from being beat
en- out of the pennant
Chicago concluded its last eastern trip
of the year by playing a double-header
in Brooklyn yesterday afternoon Tonight
the Cubs will start back west, going to
Cincinnati, where they will rest six days
playing five games.
Monday is open date, but as there is
a postponed game hanging over from
April 10 it will be played off on that day
Friday will be an off day unless one OF
the earlier games in the week is stopped
by rain or carried to tie.