The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-24
ATHLETICS ARE
STRONG BUNCH

With the pennant assured, the aim
OF the athletics Is. now to beat the
American league record for number
of games won, ninety eight by Detroit
in 1909. and then land the worlds
chanpio nship, by trimming the Chica-
60 cubs. The outlook is good for both
propositions, and when it is all over
and the highest honors in baseball have
been won the enthusiasts can be ex-
cused If they insist on branding the
combination as the best ever in the
history OF the game in this city. To
be sure, the claim win be disputed
by some of the old-timers, who re-
member the teams that have gone be-
fore, including not only the two other
winners that Connie Mack has sent
over In the American league, but Bill
ly Sharsig's champion athletics of
1888 and also the original athletics
which won the baseball championship
of 1871, Then, too, a comparison
must be emade with the many good
teams which have represented this
city under the name of the rnillies
for while they were never guilty of
winning pennant, some of them
have looked like champions and were
unquestionaIbly very strong baseball
machines. But not forgetting the
merit Of these great teams of the
past, a pretty good argument can be
put to show that none of them had
anything on the present athletics,
says The Philadelphia Record.
OF course there have been players
who were famous in those bygone
days, who, could they be rejuvenated
would strengthen the present ath-
letics, notably such pitchers as Fer
guson and Wadden, such catchers as
Clements and Robinson, or even stars
such as Lajoie, Delehanty and Sto-
vey; but taken team for team, man
ayers and all, that bunch of hustlers
out at Twenty first and Lehigh this
season would ask no favors of any
of them. Mack is still little better
than ever before, since he Is the kind
that never stops learning, each years
experience adding something Of value
to him in his chosen calling, while
his players constitute as nicely a
roundabout ball team as is often got
ten together. 1t Is a team where
stars are lacking, but where good ball
players who help one another may be
found in abundance. There is just
enough seasoned material distributed
among the young blood to make the
right balance with the result that
the team as a whole never knows
when 1t is beaten. 1t Is a band OF
pinch hitters with many gutter In
the whole company. All American
league presidents are being shattered
H., fha y,reSanf ing ndled appear
ance of the pennant race, the ath-
letics being so far out in front that
there seems no doubt, as to the fina.
result And this, too, with twenty
FIVE games yet to play, nine at home
and sixteen on other grounds. Two
of the latter are postponed games, one
at Detroit and one at Chicago botf
of which will probably be played of
so the team has only to win half Of
the contests yet to come to score it'
Tooth victory. AS 100 wins will takt
the pennant, 1t may be that the fina
ending of the race may see the leaders
punched in true American leagu'
style. The three teams hghting FOL
the position of runner-up are now 81
closely matched that a shift in posi-
ton occurs every few days, and If tina
ease-up that so many look for on thu
part OF the athletics materialize
there may he -four closely bunchet
clubs at the end. After two NOR
games with washington here, the ath
letfcs start on their last swing hom
on Sept. 30 to meet Boston and New
York and a double-header at Wash
ington. Then winding up the seasol