The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-27

~ winning over the IlBers yes
| terday the Athletics cinched the PEN
nant in the American League for 1919.
They also cinched the series cham
| pionship between themselves and De-
troit. AS the Tigers have been their
| only contenders since tho carly stages
OF the season. 1t looks as IL the Mack
men are rightfuliy entitled to their
proud position. When Detroit took
the lead from the drop of tho flag and
galloped away to the front, thcte
were many heads set wagging and
many were the tongues declaring that
Macks youngsters could not repeat
Not only did they repeat, but they
overcame lead which is seldom OBJ
| t+ined by any team In big league
| race. Frank Baker. in that game yes
terday gave an Idea of what can DO
expected in the worlds series. He
banged out couple of doubles and
then helped himself to two four
saekers. which might he called some
hitting In one ball game. Baker ia by
no means the only member OF the
team who performs this kind OF feat
In fact. he is Just one OF many
Tho Giants. while not playing yes
Seiudyt were driven u Nttle nearer
the pole when P!ttsburg dropped one
to the Trolley Dodgers. and the Cubs
split with Bosom. 1t isn't cinched yet
| for the McGrawites, but they are al
most in sight Strange to remark, tho
Giants appear to be the only team In
! the first division of the older or
sanitation to be finishing strong. The
others have weakened 'perceptibly ana
are beginning to show the wear of
the seasons campaigning
or course. there are those who
figure the Giants to win. Little IN.
terest could be injected in the battles
II there was any degree OF certainty
1t is this element OF uncertainty
which makes the game of baseball
popular. Followers OF form will tie
to the Athletics. while those who are
Influenced by sentiment will pick the
| team toward which their heart leads.
This much is certain: Mack is going
to win. But whether It be Connie or
Johnny is largely a matter of guess.
work. The games will probably start
Saturday. October Il. and until that
time many thousands OF words Will be
written pro and con. Only ono thing
Is certain. and that is that with
! fair break from the weather man all
previous attendance records will be
smashed.
With the interest which is being
manifested locally in the An-Stars-
Athletic game hero on October II. tho
old talk OF Richmond In the Atlantic
League is being revived. Two OBJ
stacles stand in the way OF such an
achievement. One is the present
owner of the Richmond franchise In
! the Virginia League. The other req.
4 unr &c Nv u 49,
been pointed out In this column be-
fore that there is not a chance for
Richmond TO see anything but the
| bushiest kind OF bush league base
ball until the tinan-ial interests now
controlling the franchise are con.
WINGED that the public is not merely
a. machine to be mulcted out OF It's
cash regardless Of the return made.
While business men realize that Rich
mond in the Eastern League will
mean increased expenses. many of
| these business men feel that the In
creased expense would be compensated
for by increased attendance at the
gamae.
Even though less money were made
| for few years. II would still be
profitable. But what's the use of
talking? Nothing can r4 done under
could be bought. 1t Is true. but this
| would be paying tremendous price
| merely for the privilege OF buying n
franchise In the Eastern or some
otner league in which better baseball
IS played. The first cost of
franchise in such a league would be
reduced to a minimum IL the owncr
of the franchise were the purchaser.
But again, what's the use. Speak OF
( pspI ~, %ha a
| that old threadbare argument about
Richmond being a rotten ball town
and cheap ball town and town
which VIII not support good baseball
| is brought from under cover The re-
suit is that the public must stand for
| these base destinations. A good idea
of whether Richmond will support
good baseball will be given when the
All-Stars and Athletics plays here. The
prices will be steep. but watch the
| Richmond public patronze the game
and rebuke those too fervent and ar
dent friends OF the present ownership
! A quiet movement is being inaugu-
rated here which Will have as its
| final aim of reintroduction of box
Ing contests in Richmond A particu-
lar friend OF the .game has prepared
the bill. but the information was I'M
parted in the strictest confidence. and
only under the promise that the mans
would be omitted from print. Neither
would be given the name of the Scion
! to whom ne would give his valuable
manuscript for presentation. There
was time when boxing matches were
permitted In Virginia, but abuse of
the privilege brought the repeal OF
the law. The bill just prepared, II
passed. will admit of six-round bouts,
with no decision and for no compen-
sation either in prizes or money. A
J boxing commission Is also provided
for. and this commission. Just as in
| the case Of New York, will have the
rir SavoGa tho r~y,,t1o-. 49,.