The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-08

Pittsburg IS baseball mad over the
worlds championship games between
the Pirates and Detroi,s. which begins AZ
Forbes Field to-day
1t IS the consensus OF opinion that this
series viii prove more interesting than
former struggles for first honors, be-
cause of the great batting streak Of the
rival teams.
The Pittsburgs are strong favorltes at
Z 10 D. and it is said that more than
$4,000 will change hands on the result
Of the series in the Smoky City alone.
Partisans of the rival major leagues
in other large cities are backing their
/ opinions literally. with the result that
the outcome Of to-day's game viii at
tract attention all over the United States.
The American League has not won the
world championship since 1906. when the
White Sox defeated the Cubs. four games
out OF six. For that reason American
League fans are particularly anxious
to see the Tigers trim Plttsburg in order
to regain the laurels won by Comiskey's
team three years ago. National League
sympathizers are just as eager 70 see
the Pirates triumph. for It means IN
creased prestige for the parent organi-
zatiOn- Much depends upon the result
OF to-day's battle. for the winner w.u so
after the other games with both nerve
and confidence.
{ Before leaving here for Pittsburg Man
ager Jennings declared that his team
was 80 per cent stronger than last year
and that II Pittsburg wins the series II
viii not be Que 20 iuke
"GOOd Condition." Says Jennings.
I'VE will make them play for ali they
are worth" he said, and il they make
even the smallest mistakes We viii take
advantage OF them. eur players are in
! spleudid condition and are ready for a
hard fight"
II was said in Pittsburg yesterday that
at least 1000 persons would see to-day's
game. the largest attendance ever re-
corded IN the history Of organized base
ball
Bins Of letters have been manufactured
into words telling why the Pittsburgs
should beat the Detroits or be beaten by
them. II is noticeable that most Of those.
who have not seen the National League
/ teams play this year. but have been
J 'steadies' at the American League
games are pretty well convinced that the
/ Pirates haven't much OF q chance
/ On the other hand those who reside in
cities where there Is National League
/ baseball but no American League base
ball, can't see that Hugh Jennings has
more hope Of dining on worlds cnam-
pionship turkey than he had last year.
/ In the cities where both Of the leagues
are represented il seems quite generally
[ the belief that the Pitis5urgs may win.
but that they will find Detroits OppOsi-
ton stronger than Chicago has found It
in the two years preceding.
Base Running.
1t seems to be the tendency OF the
critics in the American League TO rate
too high the strength Of the Detr6its as
base-runners and behind the bat
The Detroits appear to be excellent
base-runners, for the very simple reason
that the American League is weak in
catchers. Let a fast man get on first
base in the American League this year
against many. though not all of the
teams, and he had about as good a
chance Of making the next base as he
did Of being thrown out, when, if the
catchers had been expert. the odds would
have been against him.
The Detroit catchers are no whit strong
er this year than they ever have been.
The PittsburE players are a great deal
better base-runners than they seem to
be TO American League folks. II the
merry -go-round starts successfully and
the opportunity is right for base-run-
ming, the Detroit catchers are not likely
TO have any more success in stopping the
Pittsburg players than they had IN stop
ping the Chicago players when they met
them for the worlds championship
The best way 70 compare ball players
is not by averages, which tell very little.
but by knowledge of the characteristics
and abilities Of the men.
Here's Tom Jones and Abstein at
first for instance. The question is as to
which Is the better in team work. not
which player IS the higher in percentage.
whether Il be for batting or fielding.
Points to Be Considered.
Is the Pittsburg inheld collectively q
more powerful machine than that of De-
troit? Does the Plttsburg outneld LOOK
as II Il would handle itself better at bat.
on the bases. and IN the field than De-
trOit? What is the comparative value OF
the catchers from all standpolnts, not
from the mere matter OF put-outs.
So far as the pitchers are concerned.
no man knows more than another The
pitching corps Of either team must face
all new batters. Neither Jennings nor
Clarke knows what the outcome may be.
and both must feel their way Pitching
in a first series or In a single series for
the first time rival teams meet in more OF
lottery than anything else in connec-
tion with the game.
1t Is the impression Of many writer's
that when the series Is ended Il will bs
found that the team work and ail-ar0und
ability OF the Pittsbtrg in.isid was bet
ter than that OF the Detroit inheld. that
there will be little difference IN the work
Continued on Page $, Column 5.