Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-19
SPEED Is CAUSE
OF SEALS LUCK
NEW CHAMPIONS EARN THEIR
H0N0RS FAIRLY
MoHLER'S TEAM HAS PLAYED
WONDERFUL GAME
San Francisco Men Deserve Pacific
Coast League Pennant by Ad-
herence to Principles of
the Game
BY A. e. DUNNING

Whatever doubts were held when the
Angels started north regarding the
outcome of the present season in the
Coast league have been scattered to
the four winds. From Portland to Los
Angeles a new championship team Is
heralded-Capt. Mohler's aggressive
whirlwind, spectacular band of Seals'
which has had things its own way
since the opening weeks, has played in
remarkable luck and, what Is more
has played remarkable ball.
There is a certain division or IAN
dom that can figure nothing put Luch
in winning a ball game. Every close
nlav is luck: every doubtful decision
called for the leaders is luck; every
home run, every steal or squeeze Is the
gift of fortune. They never consider
the speed with which a bail player
covers ground; they forget that nara
slugging is not luck, but pure aplllIyi
they overlook the fact that team WORK
is one of the essentials OF winning
ball team.
Nohler has won the 1909 pennant-
for II is now conceded that he has the
remnant as surely as though 1t had
been handed over to him-by produc-
ing one of the grandest baseball ma
chimes ever seen in coast baseball:
lCAiAAANSN|AN
Individual stars of big league callber,
nevertheless it is the workmanship OF
the team as a unit that has given the
Seals the top place on the Paclrc coast
this year. Every play IS the result VI
careful preparation. Their signals are
obeyed to the letter. their held leauef
word is law. and combined with the
sinking of their individual talents into
perfect team play they early acquired
the speed and fighting spirit tlat
saved the day many and many time
Pitching Staff Consistent
For two months in midseason the
san Francisco team was practically
unbeatable by anv of the other teams
in the Coast league. Their pitchers,
headed by Browning, Henley, Eastley
and Griffin, have been consistent WIN
ners, and when they tired toward the
latter part of the season Mohler ald
not hesitate to import fresh tWlrling
material, strengthening his pitching
staff without regard to expense.
Those who travel out to Chutes park
to see the San Francisco men play,
marvel at the lightninglike handling of
the ball Kid Mohler, shrewd little
general that he is, has persistently
taught his men the value of making
every move count For instance when
an infielder starts for drive, ne aims
In his possession in such a position that
he can easily shoot the sphere to an
other base and complete a double play
without twisting to a throwing posi-
ton Zeider, Mohler and McArdle daily
execute plays which are marYels. Inc
Seal third baseman Friday ran away
out to left field foul territory for bail
and got it. 1t was wonderful catch'
for he made a. far run and a leaplng
scoop-in. But the beauty or IL was
the way he did it. Rollie took one look
at the ball, turned his back on 1t ana
ran at top speed for twenty yards
Then he turned, tackled under the ball
with perfect judgment of distance and
received it neatly. McArdle's work at
short is a daily duplication OF this sort
of thing. There is no guess work, no
momentary confusion, no blowing up
on the San Francisco. 1t reminds the
spectator of a well regulated CLOCK,
performing it's duty without hint OF IN
struction, always ready and always re-
liable.
Speed Has Done 1t
It cannot be said that the Seals have
won on their hitting. Mohler has some
great sluggers, including Tenant,
fPing" Bodie and Nick Williams. But
time and again their opponents have
outhit them in a series while the game
scores have found the Seals on top 1t
is taking advantage of every opportun-
ity the game affords that has given
the Baysiders the title of Champions
of 1909; in other words, it is perfect
baseball On the bases the most dan
eerous men in the league are Rollie
Zeider and Kid Mohler. They possess
great speed and daring, but it is their
accurate Judgment, that faculty which
prompts them to do the right thing
at the right time that has given them
their regulations as base robbers. San
Francisco has deserved the pennant
this season, in all justice and without
detracting from the playing OF any
other team in the league.