Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-15

curity and Trust.
Not in wears has there been so much
interest displayed in amateur base ball
as in the present season. About a month
ago tho leaders in nearly all of the vari-
Gus leagues around the city had such
biz leads that il looked as if they had
the pennantS cjnched. Since that time
the other teams have strengthened up.
and now when the season is but a few
da-s from being over. the leading teams
are fighting il out for the pennants and
Their. is possible chance Of tie in
one of the circuits.
The interest that is being displayed this
year differs from that of past seasons.
and whether or not it is the slump of
the Nationals that is causing the fans
to turn toward the amateurs nobody
seems 70 know. One thing is certain.
the rivalry in all of the leagues has been
so keen that il has attracted the at
tention of thousands. Another thing that
has helped to make amateur base ball
success in this city this year is that
nearly all of the leagues have played in
sections Of the city where there were no
other leagues playing. In only one sec
tion this year have two leagues had to
fight il out for the patronage of that
district.
Fight for Patronage.
The Marquette League has been play
ing al LIST and W streets northwest. while
the Independence League was perform
ing at McDevitt's Field. which is just
two blocks east of the formers grounds.
Roth organizations have prospered. des-
pite the fact that they were playing so
close together Last year the Marquette
SclA IEaC ha6 frnI
out I'm the northeast. one trying to out
do the other In the way of large crowds.
The race in the Marquette this year has
been closer than for several seasons, but
even with intense rivalry between the
leading teams The Independence cot the
bulk OF the crowd One reason for this
Is that the teams that make up the
Inderendence roster are nearly all from
the R'oominCdale section.
Another thing that has attracted more
people to the Independence League
games is that their playing field is better
than the Marquette's. although the latter
organiza ton has better seating facilities
There has been no complaint about not
having large attendances In any of the
other leagues The Departmental always
played before hiG crowds. although their
support comes from the departments. The
Capital City League has enjoyed better
support from the public this year than
any previous season. This organization
Is the only one that has an inclosed park
day School League is another circuit that
has always boasted of big crowds. Those
who have been watching this league year
in and year out say that they have had
bigger and more orderly crowds this year
than ever before.
Suburban Has Prospered.
One league that has enjoyed probably
more prosperity than any other circuit in
the CRY is the Suburban. This league
get good start for the present season.
From the very first of the season up to
the present time the race has been close
and exciting. More close games were
played in this circuit than in any of the
downtown leagues. This has attracted
lot of attention, and not only that but
this league has the entire Mount Pleas
ant. Parkvew. Petworth and Bright
wood sections to play TO. The Suburban
League has three sets of playing grounds.
and any one of them can boast of big
crowds. even though they have no seating
facilities.
Last fall when the pcst-season series
were concluded good many of the wise
ones predicted that amateur base ball
would fail during the 1909 season. but
instead Of falling. interest has increa sed
10 such an extent that next year there
will be no less than ten leagues.
The races in the Departmental and Rail-
road leagues were the only ones that
were not close. The formers season is
the pennant Last year Treasury won
the pennant, but with practically the
same team this year il had little chance
against the Farmers. more evenly
balanced team could hardly he found
than the Aggie team. and its perform
ances in the post-sea son series this year
will be closely watched by many. It's
chances for the District title will depend
on how we'll Sanders works in the box
He is the best slab artist OF that team,
although Newberry and Fields could be
allied on in case he should fail. New
berry twirled great ball for the Farmers
during the latter part OF the season.
after Sanders had left the team and
Joined Brentwood. Newberry is a good
batter. and should he not pitch in any
Of the post-season games he will be
been worked much in the box this sea son,
but should he he called upon he could de-
liver the goods.
Important Set of Games.
The most important series of games in
class A Of the post-season series will be
those between the champs of the De-
parmental and Capital City Leagues
These two organizations are the two old
est and strongest in the District The
Farmers VIII have their opponents
the fast Brentwood aggregation. This
team TODAY owes the credit for win
ming the pennant in the Capital City
circuit 10 Sanders of the Agriculture
team. Sanders joined II at time
when his services We're badly needed,
and 10 say that he Clinched the pen
nant for the Suburbanites would be
putting II mildly. Sanders will not be
with Bren' wood. though. in the post-sea-
son series, and the Capital City champs
Will miss him in the coming battles
Brentwood will pin it's faith on the work
of Busher and Dolly" Gray. Kerr may
also be called upon to officiata In the
box. Busher will be the mainstay, al
though he stated to the writer recently
that should Ninth Street win the pen
nant in the Sunday School League he
might play with that club Should he
play with Ninth Brentwood's chances
for the District title would be SLIM as
Dolly Gray has had a sore arm nearly
all summer. and Kerr's work in the few
games in which he participated was any,
thing but encouraging The rest of the
team is about as good as can be found
In the city.
The race in the Sunday School League
was not decided yesterday, as expected,
Ninth and Bethany playing to a tie
Both of these teams have been going neck
and neck all season. and the rivalry
between the two churches has attracte ed
the attention of nearly everybody In the
northeast section. Bethany won the pen
nant during the 1907 ason, beating out
Ninth in the last game The Sunday
School League had only one thing to