Evening journal., 1909-10-06
DETROIT-PIRATES
DOPE CONFUSING
Each Team CI,arIy ExceIs in
Certain Departments
of Baseball
CAN GIBSON STOP
TIGERS RUNNING

The 1909 baseball race is now almost
matter Of history. as aside from a few
unimportant games the championship in
both the major organizations has peen
determined and only the worlds series
now remains 10 be played.
While Pittsburg has had the pennant
safe in the older body. it has not been
until the past week that Detroit has
been assured of its third championship.
new record for the American League.
Though the race in both leagues has not
been as close as a year ago, the rest
that the winners will get before meeting
ia the worlds series should prove bene-
fcial to both. In years past it has been
said that the hard race had handicap
ped Detroit IN the games with the Ma
tional League champions and that the
tension was too great for the Tigers to
do themselves justice in the post-season
series. No such claim will stand this
season, for both will have had suf-
1cient rest TO be at their best when they
meet in the first game.
Not Much to Choose.
Opinion is pretty evenly divided con-
cerning the outcome of the worlds
series between the Pitlsburg and Detroit
week Judging solely from the showing
of the two teams the past season. there
is not much to choose. and the cham
pions Of either league look more evenly
matched than any Of the contenders OF
the past.
1t must be remembered that the con-
ditions under which the games are
played while the same as ordinary
championship contests, vary in at least
one important particular-there is more
at stake for the players. and that will
make them work the harder TO win.
Victory or defeat may mean a differ
ence OF $500 or more to each man, and.
therefore, the games will be contests in
the full meaning of the word. Meas
ured team for team. each seems to have
a shade on the other in one or more de-
partments of the game.
What Averages Show
According to the unofficial averages,
Detroit excels in club batting having a
percentage Of .262. while Pittsburg has
but .25S. In club fielding. however, the
Pirates have "a shade on the Tigers. the
figures being 96i to .959-not enough IN
either respect to make much difference
in the coming series.
Where Jennings men shine is in run
ming bases. and here they far outclass
Pittsburg. From the figures Detroit
has stolen 2S5 bases. while the Pirates
are credited with only III. but in the
coming series this proportion Is likely
to be reversed as Pittsburg IS far the
stronger behind the bat. and in Glib
son the Pirates have as good or bet
ter catcher than any club in the Amer
/ lean League.
Whether Gibson can stop the Tigers
as effectually as did King in the past
years. remains 10 be seen. but none
OF the Detroit backstops can be classed
with the Pirates catcher when Il comes
to throwing to bases. In run-getting
there Is not one Of the Tigers who
can equal Tommy Leach. The Pirate
outfelder in 147 games has crossed the
plate 12i times. Cobb and Bush have
each ia runs in 155 games; Crawford,
81 in l5i; Wagner. % in 1877. and Clarke
%. in li7. All things considered. there
is not a more dangerous trio in base
ball today than Leach. Clarke, and
Wagner.
Pirates Long Hitters.
II is in long hits that Pittsburg cxceis.
having made total Of 1.764 bases on
drives. against 1857 by the Tigers. Each
CLUB mas TWO men DallluG ABOVE the ouu
mark. Wagner and Hyatt for Plttsburg
and Cobb and Crawford for Detroit; but
Hyatt has only taken part IN a few
games as compared to the others
In the pitching department Pittsburg
has IN Camuitz and Adams two with a
higher percentage OF victories than any
OF the Detroit stan. Add 10 these Willis
and Maddox and the Pirates have a
strong quartet Of pitchers. Against these
Manager Jennings will probably depend
on Summers. Mullin, Killian and Dono-
van or Willett.
Relative Excellencies.
To sum up, Pittsburg appears to be
the stronger hack Of the bat and IN
fielding and run-getting, while the
Tigers excel in batting and baserunning,
with nearly an even break in ne effec-
tiveness Of the pitchers From the
dope" the series promises TO be nc
best yet played. but so many contin-
gencies hinge on the determination Of a
game that "basebali luck IS liable to
cut a big figure.