Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-31
ny MONTY.

NEW YORK. Dec eO-If Il wasn't sur.
passed IN 1911. Il was at least approached
so closely that II trcmblod with fear Of
annihlliation. and this applies to every
sporting record I'm the book.
Il has been an unusual year. the one
that comes to close az midnight tomor-
row-a most unusual year. II was ban
ner one In every line OF sport. Through
out the entire gamut OF competitive
events, from boxing to billiards, base bail
10 wrestling golf 20 auto racing, there
we're noteworthy performances recorded.
Base ball being considered generally
as the particular hobby OF Uncle Sans
children. Is entitled TO first consideration.
And there Is nobody who can deny Il was
an eventful year for the most uncertain
OF all games" Exciting pennant races
were fought out in both big leagues, and
this was also true OF practically all the
minors. The worlds series. while tainted
with more or less scandal, was neverthe-
less a memorable one. and Connie Mack
deserves all the credit that he receives
for tho great battle his iegions put up
against the Giants: The worlds series OF
1911 is rendered all the more important
by the fact that II may be the last Of
the Mohicans," the squabble between the
two leagues appearing just now to shave
sounded It's death knell.
Ty Cobb OF the Detroit Tigers can Justly
lay claim 70 the supremacy as an indi-
vidua1 ali-around valuable diamond star.
The men who voted him the automobile
know what they were doing. without con-
sidering those most elusive OF all things
"a 81 ~. r4k
must go TO Chief Albert Bender of the
Athletics. whose cunning was the great
est factor in the overthrow of the Giants,
paying all due respect to the prowess Of
one ]. Franklin Baker and his home-run
stick.
Passing along from the diamond to the
roped arena, we find dusky Jack John
son stili holding the fort against the
heavies in popular opinion, although he
didn't really put on the gloves during the
entire year. "A Wolgast-poor, unluclIy
little men-has not lost his right to the
lightweight sovereignty ana, although the
close OF the year finds him In an incapacl-
tated condition, IL seems certain that he
Will sweep away the many disputes TO
his crown when he is able again to 20
after them. Johnny Coulon has defended
Attel is still supreme among the feathers.
Two champions were toppled, however,
In the persons OF Billy Papke and While
Lewis. In the welterweiglt and Riddle-
weight divisions, respectively. The hon
ors that were wrested from Papke are
In dispute and could be claimed by any
one OF a dozen men, including sailor
Burke, Australian Dave Smith, Hugh
Kelley, Eddie McCoorty and Frank
Klaus, Mike Gibbons. the st. Paul won-
der who flattened Willie Lewis, seems TO
possess about the best clutch on the lat
! ter's title, but Il Ii not a very tight one
at that Should Paclkey Mcfarland ana
Matt Wells declare themselves welters--
which they really are-Monsicur Gibbons
would more than have his hands. full.
So wo find real champions In
four clasBes-heavyweights llghtweights,
featherweights and bantamweigh ghts--and
jumbles In middieweight and welter-
weight And the "whlts heavyweisht''
obamplonship II undoubtedly Jlna Fiynn's
a. the new year rolls In.