The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-05-01
RACE FOR MAJOR
LEAGUE REMNANTS
WILL BE WARM ACCORDING TO
OPINIONS OF PRESIDENTS
PULLIAM AND JOHNSON.
NEW MANAGERS IN NATIONAL
First Division Teams-Head of
American League Asserts Belief
That Detroit Will Not Make Rum
away Race of Contest.

marry u Pulilam, president of the
National league. and Ban johnson.
president of tie American league.
look for warm races for the champion
ship bunting in their respective or
CARNATIONS In a recent interview on
the outlook for the season. Mr.. Pull
liam said:
In forecasting the championship
race of 1909 in the National league
One has but to recall the exciting
and gruelins struggle of 1908 and note
the elements that go to make repe-
tition of that memorable campaign
possible and very probable Chicago,
the winner of both the National and
worlds championship. will enter the
race the same great machine it was
last year. and it is reasonable to sup
pose it will not be handicapped by the
abnormal number of accidents that
it had last season To offset this it
will meet stronger adversaries.
New York has undoubtedly been
strengthened by the additions to its
team, notably in the pitching depart
ment, by the securing of Marquard.
Raymond and Durham. Pittsburg, the
the championship without a regular
first baseman. has not only filed the
vacancy there, but has strengthened
the other departments. Philadelphia
will have to be considered before the
championship honors are awarded.
This team gave evidences last year of
its class. and the additional strength
added should show results.
The clubs that finished in the sec.
ond division last year will all have
new managers-Griffith in Cincinnati.
Bowerman in Boston, Lumley In
Brooklyn and Bresnahan in ST. Louis.
OF these Griffith has won his spurs
in the managerial field. while the 9TH
ers have their careers before them.
All have brilliant records as players
and they will bring to their new du-
ties those qualities that showed their
class as players and marked them for
leadership. These clubs have all been
strengthened by judicious deals and
the acquisition of players from the
minor leagues. and under the direc.
ton of the new arrangements they
should all show improvement over the
form of 1908.
The season of 1908 was memorable
for not only its spectacular rise and
finish, but also the great interest
shown by the public, the attendance
being the highest in the history of the
league. l look for a continuation of
this interest. as am sure the
race will be the most open in years"
Mr.. johnson does not share the be-
lief frequently expressed during the
training season that the Detroit Ii
gers will have a walkaway in the
American league He says:
There have been some predictions
that Detroit will make runaway race
in the America league championship
contest this season | do not share
in this belief. Detroit staggered over
the chalk line last fall and won by a
very narrow margin the year pre-
vious. The club has been strength
lened some this winter, but to no
Louis. The maps and browns have
materially bettered their lineup. and
hopes are kindled high among the
fans at Cleveland, and the many thou
sands who support the American
league club in the city by the big
bridge. The veteran 'Cy' Young
will prove a tower of strength to
Lajoie and his tribe. while Criger
will bolster the catching department
of the ST. Louis Browns.
1T is difficult to predict how great
loss the absence of Jones will be in
the playing strength of the White
Sox. Comiskey was always the guild
ing spirit, but he must have the right
material to secure the highest results.
From Philadelphia comes the re-
port that Connie Mack has unbounded
faith in his band of rejuvenated
Quakers. The prediction is made
that he has a club that is a pennant
possibility. Down at Washington the
management has been steadily build
ing to a major league standard, and
the team of this year is far the best
that ever represented the capital. Few,
If any, predict a pennant for the Sena-
tors, but the club will surely play \
most important part In the fight.
1t is hard to analyze the worth and
strength of the New York club. Many
changes have been made, but hard
campaign can alone determine the
value of the team. Under new lead
ership much better results may be
secured. Boston has one of the speed
lest teams in the American league,
but, unfortunately, is overlooked
with left-hand batters. Tho chief
point of concern, however, Is tho
pitching department. Should the box
men come up to the standard, Boston
will occupy a creditable position in
the race next fall"