Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-05
TIGERS ''D0PEO' TO
BEAT THE PIRATES
Pitchers and Experience
Should Land the Prize
for Detroit Boys.

With the pennant races of both the
American and National leagues settled
for the year. all eyes OF fandom are
turned on Pittsburg. where the Pirates
and Tigers get together in the first two
games, Friday and Saturday, i'm the
worlds championship series. There is
little doubt that those who want to
see the games will have to get inside
the gates in the morning and remain
there for several hours To make sure of
enjoying the contests. The sale Of seats
has been something phenomenal and
shows that there is plenty Of money in
the land to be spent on pleasure. Spe-
cial trains will be run from AS far west
as ST. Louis and east from Boston. 1t is
expected that the big Forbes Field at
Pittsburg will be able to accommodate
1900 people. but from present indica-
tons there will be 1oo,r01 enthusiasts
who will want to see the battles each day.
The latest reports from Pittsburg are
to the effect that the betting odds have
gone up to 2i2 to | with the Pirates the
favoriteS. These odds can easily be ac-
counted for through the great amount OF
money floating around Pttsburg to bet
on the outcome of the struggle. The
of the Tigers. and the wise boys around
New York and Chicago have commenced
to eat them up Two clubs strong as are
the Tigers and Pirates are not that far
apart on the field of battle. When the
White Sox first battled with the Cubs
the odds were the same as those now
existing on the Pirates, but that didn't
prevent the clan of Comiskey giving the
National League champions the trimming
of their lives.
Tigers Have Best Pitchers.
The opinion expressed by the so-called
experts that the National League is %
per cent stronger than the American
League can be taken with d spoonful
of salt, as it is based solely on preju
dice or dislike of the younger organ
ization. The Johnson outfit has two
first-class pitchers to one in the Ma
ttonal League, and this will be proved
when the Pirates face Bill Donovan.
George Mullin and .'KnuckleBall'' sum-
mers.
Many of the critics harp on the fact
that Cobb and Crawford are the De-
troit club, but cannot the same be APP
piled to Wagner and Clarke? Take
either pair away from their clubs and
1t would be hard struggle for the
teams to keep up with the procession,
especially Pittsburg, as the twirIerS
are not there.
The fact that the Chicago champions
trimmed the Tigers so decisively in the
worlds series should cut no ice in the
bettor's dope" Everybody will re-
call how close d shave the Cubs had
in that first battle last year. Two out
and two strikes on the batter when one
of Donovan's speedy curves. that was
the third strike, shot through Schmidts
terribly bruised hands, and this one
break lost the contest.
Had the Tigers won The first game it
would have revolutiOniZed the boys in every
way, but, losing out as they did. it made
them think the Cubs had sort of hoo
doo' on them. The players on the Chi
Cages will tell you that they feared the
White SoX last year as much as the Tigers
feared the Cubs on account OF this super
greatly relieved when the Tigers won out
by solitary game.
Will Outgame Pirates.
Gameness and the pitchers are going to
win out for the Detroits. 1t looks foolish
to credit the Tigers with gameness from
the way they have performed the past two
years. but they will be game just the
same. They have been through the fur
mace of experience and it will help great
deal No one ever charged the Pirates
with being exceptionally game when 1t
came down to a test. Clarke and Wagner
were members of the Pittsburg team in
1904, when the BostOns gave them the
trimming of their lives. The Pirates won
two out of three games in Boston, and
then Jimmy Collins took his crew to the
Smoky city and won three straight Look
back over the records and you will see
that Hans Wagner was the craziest
Dutchman that ever broke into the game
the three days Boston was winning out
The excitement was great. and the big
fellow simply caved under the strain.
He is five years older now, and per-
haps more steady, but the wise boys are
figuring on that disposition again playing
the Pirates false.
In the matter of comparing the players
of both teams. man for man. there is
only the personal opinion of the different
writer's to be put forward. A fair and
square analysis of the players would
make the teams very even, with the
Tigers having shade. on account of
their twirlers and experience.
Thus, Abstein of Pittsburg and Tom
Jones of Detroit, the respective first base
men, are about in class. with oJnes
more experienced man. Neither is top
notcher, by any means Miller is bril-
liant youngster, regarded by Pittsburgers
as the find of the season. and a really
good second baseman. Deiehanty, who
seems to be playing for Detroit as he
was never willing or able to do before.
has had more experience. and is just
good player when he feels like il,
having slight advantage. perhaps. with
the bat. wagner, of course, as the
bright particular star of the Pirates,
outclasses Bush at shcrtstop in all re
spects. but Bush is brilliant player.
none the less. George Moriarity is a
more experienced man that Byrne of
Pittsburg, and better third baseman in
every way. as well as being a powerful.
although none too dependable. hitter.
much for the infied. Wagner dominates
the situation. perhaps. but Pittsburg has
not much advantage even so, for De-
troit's inner line of defense is an entirely
Serviceable one.
Cobb, the Peerless.
II Wagner dominates the intield Cobb
certainly does as much in the outfield.
This remarkable player. with his ter
rifle hitting. his sensational ability as a
base runner and his general fire and
dash, must be the main hope of the De-
troit attack. He is easily the best out
fielder on either team. In Crawford and
Mcintyre Detroit has two men who can
at least hold their own in everr respect
with Clarke and Leach. and Cobb far
OutclaSses Wilson, the remaining Pitts
burg outfielder. Here Detroit has de-
cided advantage. All three of her out
fielders are natural hard hitters, and it
must be said that the analysis so far
seems to give Detroit the greater batting
strength.