Evening star., 1909-05-27
WILL EASTERN CLUBS
FALTER AT THE END?
I'M the St. Louis Post -DiSpatch.

From the st. Louis Post Dispatch.
To all appearances things are shaping
up for another tight race In the Ameri-
can League. The veteran teams of the
organization are tagging a bit at the
start, while the clubs with young blood
have been forging to the front. AS the
season progresses the veterans are bound
to get into a winning stride, while the
younger fellows are more than likely to
fall back under. stiff pressure. When the
finish comes it should not be surprising
to see five or six clubs punched in ter
rife wrangle over first place.
There is but one condition that is liable
to spoil the race. Detroit has been gong
faster than any of them, and might stick
to the end, being a team that mas cap
tured and pennant twice under grueiing
finishes. Some means must be invented
to beat the Tigers down or they may win
out far in the lead.
The surprises In the early stage of the
race have been the Philadelphia Athletics
and the New York Highlanders. Both
these clubs have much young material,
and fast, lively base ball has taken the
older players off their guard Boston. too.
is a team of youngsters, but because OF
its place of last season was expected to
set merry clip this time The Browns,
White Sox and Maps have fallen below
their rated speed, but each one Of the
three is considered too classy to stay
down all season.
Postponed games for the Browns may
be the means of pulling them to the
front later in the year. They have bump
ed into bad weather about as much as
any team in the league, and as they have
not been going at the. strong stride very
much of the time these postponed games
were welcomed by Jimmy McAleer. There
is every reason to believe the Browns
will become faster as the sun gets hot
ter, and then there will be better chance
for them to win a double-header than to
win one game under present conditions.
Base ball is more and more getting to
be young mans game. The fans of
today want speed. They like to see
base running and daring plays. Only
young players who are trying to get to
the front will take chances in sliding
sible hits. The veteran hangs back,
taks care of his body and puts forth
no exertion that seems wasted. He has
made his place in the hall Of fame and
he proposes to lie in it.
Youngsters have forged to the front
In the early games this spring. but
when the final struggle comes for the
pennant they may be far In the rear.
Young Austin of the New York club
electrified the fans here with some of
the most daring base running ever seen.
Cree of the same team seemed TO be a
speed wonder. Barry and Baker, two
beginners with Connie Macks club, were
doing startling things both in fielding
and base running. Speaker and Hooper
of the Boston club are leaders in fielding
and hitting. All these fellows are fresh
men In the base ball school.
The public wants that kind of base
ball. But where youth Is too prominent
it seldom stands the pressure of a pen
nant race. Men who have been through
battles will beat the young fellows In
the end. That's the reason that the
nd "a
are almost sure to get back on even
terms, If no go ahead of, the Athletics,
New York and Boston. But in the
meantime Detroit must be watched.