New-York tribune., 1908-09-14
COMMENT ON SPORTS
THE BASEBALL FIGI
.Nes,c and Viezcs on, Current Topics.
amateur and Professional.


Interest in the National League pennant race is
no less pronounced than IL was a week ago. AL-
though n is less nerve Tacking. The Giants are
still fighting along in the van. not by particularly
safe margin II is true but by enough to allow the
fans 10 breathe bit easier. The team mas oeei
playing fast, snappy and consistent oalL "itIou'
heine rnder the nigh pressure that marked their
work while they struggling to earn the LEAD
on the last Western trip McCSraw is handling ms
men with rere judgment by saving MatheWson ana
Hiltse as much possible for the hnal strnss!e
with Pftsburg and Chicago the latter part of this
week and next and confidence is growing among
+be fans that the Giants will win the coveted nag
and eventually the worlds championship. after one
of the best and closest fights in the history OF ue
old league. The Pirates and the Cubs are still TO
he feared. as both teams have been winning game
after game with consistency that marks them
dangerous foes and TO which no quarter can
he given. There must be no faltering. now ulaI
the end of the is IN sight and unless ali Signs
fail OF accident happens there should ne none
es the men are plaving with a confidence born of
success With more pitcher Of the callore OF
Mathewson and wiltse the outcome would iooA
reasonably sure with practically all the remaining
games to be played home ground, but even thls
&c moi necessary TO success If the will continue
to play the kind of hall 1t is capable or Inc
Giants lost one of two games 70 Philadelphia on
Mondav. and then came home make the most of
their opoort11nity against the Superbas by winning
FIVE straight games. The team across the TlVer
may be without honor in its own borough. but NOT
here. One more game viii be played with BROOKLYN
to-day. and then St Louis. the lowly tail ehoeIS'
will come to the Polo Grounds for three games
marking the last Western invasion On Friday the
real test will with the advent of the Pirates
who will be prepared get revenge IL possible Tot
the trouncing they received when the Giants "e'e
in Pittsburg some three weeks ago.
The fight for the American League pennant Is
quite as close and exciting that in the National
League although it has less interest 1oT local 10i
lowers of the game. inastnuch as the Yankees have
long since been out Of the fight and are only sITus
Cling 10 get cut of last place. The St Louis team
which only week ago was neck and neck with
Detroit seems have shot its bolt and has lost
valuable ground in the last few days Detroit
after a slump that threatened to be dlsaStrous'
took fresh heart and the have now fought their
way into safer lead than they have had for some
time Chicago and Cleveland are closing strongly
and or the other may Vet snatch the laureIS
from last years champions although at the present
writing Detroit seems TO have the call am still
rather favorably disposed TO Chicago as the ulti-
mate winner although judging from the games be-
tween that and Detroit last week. IN whicn
four extra innings there is little to choose
between them.
The dispersal sale of the E R. Thomas breed
ing farm at Red Bank last Wednesday was a sad
commentary on the value Of thoroughbred stock
under the unsettled conditions of racing and wholly
discouragins to breeders throughout the country.
Some of the most choicely bred mares in the stud
book were sold for song, and seventy-one head
of horses accumulated cost Of something over
slooaoo were sacrificed for the puny sum Of ST.
600. Herrnis. than which few greater horses ever
raced in this country, almost given away for
$780, partly. perhaps. because he has yet 70 prove
his value sire. but more because there is
little or no market this time for breeding stock
The time when Hermis was sold for price
said TO be $4,000 and il almost beyond belief
that the time should come and quickly. that
he should pass under the hammer for $500.
One short year ago-or. better. seven months ago
racing dates in such demand that the va
rious associations, after fighting to keep the En-
pire City Jockey Club out, found It difficult TO ac-
cept allotment which would be satisfactory to
all concerned. Now six Of the best days OF the
going begging as the Brighton Beach
Racing Association has decided not TO conduct its
fall meeting For the sake of the sport IT is hoped
that either the Brooklyn Jockey Club or the West
chester Racing Association. or, better yet perhaps,
the Empire City Racing Association. will take
the dates and prevent break which, under the
present conditions would be hard the horsemen-
Interest in lawn tennis circles will centre this
week IN the preliminary round for the Dwight F.
Davis Cup ernbler1atc OF the international cham
pionship. The matches VIII be played at Boston on
Thursday Friday and Saturday, between the Eng
Iish and American the winner TO in quest
of the coveted trophy to far-of Australia, where
Il was carried last year by Norman E. Brooks and
are the two Englishmep who have to this
country to meet strongest players in the pre-
lirninary round, and, while they not held IN
high esteem abroad the Doherty brothers.
who. IL is said. still in conflict with the Lawn
Tennis Association there, they quite for
nnidable enough TO give players keen fight
for the honor Of going the world to win the
trophy back.
with all due respect to the skill of the English
men. It be said that the odds favor the home
team. w. A Larned. the national champion.
and Besls c. Wright be depended upon to take
care OF the singles, while Alexander and Hackett,
the national champions in doubles, should be able
10 account for the doubles match without much Diff
hculty. Larned has said that he would not be able
TO 20 TO Australia In the American team won,
but 10 ell appearances that does not preclude his
playing in the preliminary matches. Ritchie.
is said. viii not be able to go. either the Eng
Iish team should win, which indicates that the
English Lawn Tennis Association would name some
other player to go with Parke. Larned, Wright,
Alexander and Hsckett among the leading
players IN the world. and with the advantage of
playing on home courts and under climatic condi-
tions TO which they accustomed. the followers
of the sport In this country have for
worry the outcome.
Racegoers looking forward 10 the opening of
the fall meeting OF the Brooklyn Jockey Club at
Gravesend to-day in the expectation that the ban
against oral betting will be lifted The conditions
that obtained at Sheepshead Bay, where there was
little or no betting Of any kind. the result of
the action OF the officials OF the Coney Island
Jockey Club. who. for not yet ex-
planned. decided TO overlook the decision of JUS
tfce Bischor in favor OF oral betting and conduct
the meeting tines never before attempted. There
has been intirnation mp to this time that the
Brookiyu Jockey Club would take the stand