The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-10
Thousands Out to Witness First
Game Of Series.
Between Champions of National
and American Leagues.
OPENS UP AT DETROIT.
The Tigers Push Over a Man in
Fist.
Drizzl ing Rain Falls Bothering
Fielders and Runners.

Detroit, Mich, Oct. 10.-With base
ball interest throughout the country at
an almost unprecedented intensity as
result of the remarkably close race
for the pennants in both leagues, the
Detroit American and Chicago Ma
tionaI league clubs took the held at
Bennett park this afternoon to Degln
their second battle for the worIds
championship. Both teams are in the
finest condition despite the gruelling
contest each has been through for the
preliminary honors.
Both Manager Chance of Chicago
and Manager Jennings of Detroit nave
declared that there would be no eX-
cuses to offer when the series is over.
Memory of the crushing defeat ad-
ministered TO them by Chicago IN the
worlds series last year, was an added
incentive to the determination OF the
local team Opening this afternoon at
Bennett park the clubs move 10 chi
cago for games on Sunday and Mon
day and return to Detroit to play on
Tuesday and Wednesday.
Whatever advantage may accrue
from d period of rest and relaxatlon
after the regular season is the portloh
of the Detroit team this year. Ihey
have not played since WiIhlns tIle
last Tuesday. Chicago on the con-
, trary, played a bitterly fought game
with New York on Thursday and then
hurried to Detroit, arriving yesterday
afternoon.
The list of injured is fortunately
short. Catcher Schmidt of Detroit
donned his uniform despite hnger'
the condition of which would have
kept a less plucky player from play
ing. No less Spartan was the conduct
of Shortstop OLeary. who ignored
badly bruised thumb. Captain Chance
showed no effects of the blow Wnlcn
he received in the neck at New iorK
except in the huskiness and falntness
of his voice. Shortstop Bush, whose
sensational work was vital factor IN
Detroit's final dash for the pennant,
was unhappy. He was inehglpIe 70
pIay. having Joined the club too late
in tue season.
President F. j. Navin of the De-
troit club had erected an outf1eld or
circus seats which extended from tne
left field foul line over to the pavllion
in right field. They would accommo-
date 10000 spectators in addition to
the normal seating capacity or the
park. Altogether there were accom-,
rnodations for between $4,000 and
10000 persons with space left for
those who were enthusiastic enough to
sit upon the ground or stand to watch
the contest.
The batting order:
Detroit.
Mcintyre, left field.
O'Leary, shortstop.
Crawford, center field.
Cobb, right field.
Rossman. first base.
Schaefer, third base.
Schmidt. catcher.
Downs second base.
Killian, pitcher
Chicago.
Sheckard. left field.
Evers, second base.
Schultz, right field.
Chance, first base.
Steinfeldt, third base.
Hoffman. center field.
Tinker, shortstop.
King, catcher.
Ruelbach, pitcher.
mpires-Sheridan and Connolly
(American); O'Day and Klein (Na-
tionaL)
First Fan at Midnight.
IF was lust 20 minutes after midnight
when the first fan" arrived at the
hall park and took up his position un-
der the ticket window to begin nine
hour wait before he could exchange his
money for one of the coveted admis-
eions. At l o'clock six more enthusl-
asts had Joined him. The forethought
Of one of them kept the hours from
dragging. He had brought deck of
DIaving cars and several candles.
souatting around a box the walters
DeRdn d 6ciAAC NAiAoAA
after daybreak.
More applicants for tickets drifted
steadily in behind the early seven and
the waiting line grew until at 3 O'CLOCK
n reached the full length of the park
fence up Trumbull avenue to Cherry
street Many of them brought camp
chairs TO lessen the discomfort of the
U,aIt Scattered through the long string
Of people were a number of women
FANS who took the discomfort of the
waiting as uncomplainingly as did the
wen Some of the early comerS had
not been forehanded enough to bring
lunches. The gates to the park were
onened at 10 O'Clock and the crowd
fmmediately began pouring in. Every
s+reet car which passed the enclosure
after that time brought its quota of
enectators willing to endure the long
1..a{t for the privilege of first choice
~ the seats AS the morning wore on
tbe cars brought constantly larger
crowds. The earlier corners were en-
tertained by the light morning prac
tice of the Detroit team which they
cook as final preparation for the Strug
Roth Manager Jennings and Man
agpr Chance today repeated their ex-
Dressious OF confidence of success in
ttheir men. 1t is evident there will be
no excuses offered. Chance said that
ne felt as sure of victory as he did
last fall, while Jennings said that his
men enter the contest TO prove that
their overwhelming deIeat last year
was a fluke.
ssIf we are beaten again" he said.
ssit will only be after one of the hard
est fights ever recorded in the history
of baseball"
Cubs Take the Field
An hour and a quarter before the
came began the Chicago team took the
6eld amid a chorus of cheers and
blasts from the hundreds of horns.
Rattles and megaphones added to the
"Cub' to come through the gate and
the gate gave him a personal welcome.