The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-05
National League Pennan. Fiaht.


The night for the pennant In the Ma
tlonal league promises to be as close
next September as II was at tho cor
responding season last year. or closer.
The race of 1908 was purely n threo
club affair, limited to tho Cubs. tho
Pirates and the Giants, with all others
outclnssed. The battle for tho nag so
far has shown that there are more
than three clubs to be rcckoncd with
this year All the second division
teams have bccn strengthened, and
there is not club In the entire list
Just now that can bo called joke club
Tho Cincinnati Reds have shown
marked Improvement, and tho ST
Louis Cardinals havo been playing
with the never say die spirit under
tho magnetic inspiration of Bresna-
han The Bostons. though n purely
second division club. have been put
ting up moro energetic ball than they
did in 1908 and bid fair to upset many
good club. The Brooklyns have
been playing better ball than for some
wears and Will probably continue TO do
SO None OF these clubs has any rca
sonablc hope of winning the Dennant
this year, but the fact that they arc
all stronger gives the race an Inter
esting aspect
So far the Pirates look tho strongest
A peek ut tho PIttsburg Nationals is
enough to convince one that the Pl-
rates are one of the best balanced
teams that Manager Fred Clarke over
commanded, and he has handled some
pennant winners. Young Miller on
second sack IS constructed according
TO specifications. "Big Bill" Abstein. the
former Providence player who is hold
ing down the initial corner for the
buccaneers, is the best tho team has
had since kitty Bransfleld was
handed to the Phlllies in 1906. Bill IS
filling all the requirements expected
from n man holding down sack No. l.
The shift that put Tommy Leach.
the former third bascman. in the out
field has added batting strength to the
team Jap Barbeau. his successor.
plays ball according to thc company
he keeps A few seasons ago he cs-
sayed 10 cover third and short field for
tho Cleveland Maps He made so
many misplays that he was sent back
to the minors Barbeau always could
bat and he became competent as a
ncldcr Now he is back with the bis
show and going along we'll. because
his associates are all playing cham
pionship ball There is a youngster
at short, John Honus Wagner, who
promises TO eclipse all previous rec
ords In the batting line before the sea-
| son closes This same fellow in re-
| cent game madc flvo hits in SIX times
at bat and managed to steal second
third and home in one trip around the
circuit Honus Is mauling the sphere
at 400 clip,
Clarke's pitching staff is In excellent
shape. with willis. Maddox, Camnitz
Lelfeld, Adams. FTock and the vet
Grams Philippe md Loover, the Pirates
have one OF the strongest twirline
staffs in the league.
1t IS a harder hitting combination
than tho Chicago Cubs. The players
arc not so crazy about the big sums
of money and do not own so many
orange groves. gold mines. shoe stores
etc Wealth is going to be Il big
handicap TO tho worlds champions In
their fight for n fourth pennant- They
arc not tho same happy and Indus
trious family they were before they
became rivals of Mr. Rockefeller
There are breakers ahead for them
The club that the Pirates will have tc