Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-03
POOR BUNTING HURT
CUBS CHANCES IN RACE
Inability to Lay Ball Down May
Have Cost Chicago
the Flag.
EVEN JIM SHECKARD
LOSES HIS CUNNING
Worlds Series Will Prove Great Bat
tie, if Indications Be
Not at Fault.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The star.
CHICAGO, October 3.-Bunts-or rather
lack of them-have lost d league pennant
for Chicago this sea son. And thereon
hangs a story. Lase year Muggsy Nc
Graw, pilot of the victorious Giants, de-
cided that sacrifice hits were all bosh
He figured that this so-called inside ball
was all right in its place, but that his
men had better try the hit and run
game entirely. So this the Giants did
this season and they have managed to
pile up enough scores practically TO win
(, the pennant.
On the other hand, Chance and his
Cubs were the mightiest advocates of the
inside ball idea Sacrifice hits were fig
ured down TO an accurate science and this
ability has won them many titles. This
season, as usual, they started out again
to bunt, advance men around the bases.
and then figured on somebody TO swat
out hit and win the game. 1t worked
fne and dandy till about a month ago
Then something seemed to take away
the mems ability 10 bunt. Since tnat time
scarcely one of the players mas been aole
to lay down a sacrifice. Game after game
during these thrliling times has Deeh
lost because the old trick was reSorted
to and tailed. Even Jimmy Sheckard
the best bunter of them ali-who mas led
the league in this one respect time and
il agan-couldnt sacrifice.
n II actually has lost the Cubs the cnam-
pionshEp- Rainier poor excuse many
will say, but on looking over the past
deeds of the club and what II has zone
this past four weeks they will doubtless
come TO the same conclusion.
Will Be Interesting.
The world series will be most inter
es:ing comparison. Several years ago
these same teams battled for the highest
honors in base ball. and New York won
because it had Mathewson This season
the club still has the Big Six" but
part of the honor of the series-if they
go to New Iork-will in all probability
rest on Rube Marquard's shoulders.
This fellow-laughed at for Two years
has developed into a wonder, and il is
very much due TO his steadiness and abil-
ity to win games that New York is where
she is now.
However, the metropolitan city has
not the same scrappy team il had when
II won the worlds title six years ago.
The men are still fighters, il is true,
but gone are DOnlin, Bresnahan, Dahlan,
McGann and the rest of that bunch.
These fellows fought to the last ditch,
with mouth as we'll as with deeds.
From this angle il looks all Athletic
This team has bunch of splendid
TO that of the Giants and it has a better
outneld, according TO the majority of the
critics This team was able TO get the
Jump on the fast moving Cubs and may
At any rate ii will have the benefi. of
some of the finest practice possible
that with McAleer's famous AlI-stars.
Owens Good One.
The National staff of umpires is going
to be materially strengthened bv the
addition Of Brick Owens of the Ameri-
can Association. The National has one
or two dmpires il can we'll let go. and
there Is no handler of the Indicator who
could better take their place than this
same Owens. He is a lot on the same
lines of Joe Cantillon, who used to UNI
pire many years ago-so long ago that
few of the pTesent-day fans can remem-
Der him.
In other words. Owens is absolute mas
ter OF the field during a game He has
a voice that will make Silk O'LoughIin
jealous, and has a determined way of
making the players quit arguments. Can
tillon was the same Although compare
lively a small fellow. even the biggest
and huskiest of the players knew enough
not to start anything with Joe.
Owens has made great reputation in
the association. Some years ago there
was an attempt to get him out of the
league, charges being preferred against
him. But he weathered them with fly
ing colors and has won a place in the
hearts of fair-minded fans.
Many good stories are told of him-how
he lets a player pour out his feelings
once. but if he tries to repeat Owens
quietly shuts him up with singing or
witty retort. As soon as he says thing
the players have learned that il is best TO
forget their sorrows and walk back 10
their places In fact, they seldom leave
them when Brick is on the job.