The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-25
FANS PULLING
FOR THE GIANTS
Cubs Are Making Grand Finish
Giants Best Against the
Athletics
(By w. s.

Wy " -.
New York. Sept. 25.-(Special.)-A
qtieer state of affairs exists in the Ma
tional and American leagues. Every
city, excluding Chicago, which has a
representative in the parent organiza-
ton, is pulling for the Giants to win
the National league pennant. Even
~Pittsburg's enthusiasts, realizing that
their favorites are no longer in the
hunt. are offering silent prayers that
the Gotham horde emerge from the
gruelling struggle with the premier
honors. In the American league towns,
on the other hand, the fanatics are ex-
pressing the desire that the Chicago
Cubs beat out the Giants SO that the
Zephyrville contingent should be the
ones to oppose the Athletics, which
team has the American league banner
cinched and nailed. And all because
the Giants are generally considered
the team to give the Athletics the
sttffest kind of an argument in the
worlds series. Just why the Cubs are
looked upon as a weak outfit is hard
to see. They are going along in their
own happy-go-lucky style, winning
games consistently. 1t is true that no
one player on the Chicago Nationals
stands out prominently; but that is
all the more reason why the Cubs
should not be looked upon with con-
tempt, for their team play is what kept
them up in. front up to this stage of
the campaign.
Here is a roundabout way of figur-
ing the situation. and, when every
thing is given due consideration, it
will be found that the Cubs have the
shade over the Giants: Cubs VS.. Ath-
letics! Now many, will argue that
the Cubs have absolutely no chance
against the American leaguers, judg-
ing by last years performances and
this years apparent feeble team. Gil
ants VS.. Athletics! All, that's some
thing different-so will a good major
ity say. The dopesters will delve into
old statistics and show that the Gil
ants trimmed the Athletics good and
plenty back in 1906. Then again, as
the Giants had the Indian sign on the
Athletics then, why shouldn't they
have 1t on the Quakers If they meet
again? Giants vs.. Cubs! Now. we're
getting down to cases. These teams
have met in battle arary many times
this season, and it will be found that
the Cubs had better backing than did
the Giants.
Now, why is it that the Cubs are ia
vored. w the Giants, the Giants owe
the Athletics, and the Athletics, in
turn, are conceded to be the strong
er than the Cubs? That is the three
cornered question that is agitating
the baseball fraternity at present. The
best way to answer that query is to
wait for the outcome of the worlds
series. / still maintain that the Cubs
should win out in the National lea
que chase. The Giants have hit the
trail for the tell-tale games. They
will play all but four games on hostile
territory. 1t must be admitted that
McGraw's men are not the best road
sters in the country. The Cubs play
nearly all of their remaining games
on their home lot. Therein is the ad-
vantage which should aid the Chi
cagoans to the highest honors in the
National league. The Cubs have al
ways put up their best article of ball
in their own yard, and there is every
reason to believe that they can con-
tinue to win a majority of their games
at the West Side park.
The Cubs are now going like we'll
oiled machinery. with that master me-
chanician, Frank Chance, supervising
the running of the machine, the Cubs
should be right there at the finish.
The Cub pitchers have gone through
their autumn slump and are in prime
condition to make a strong finish. The
acquisition of Kitty Bransfield has
done a great deal to bolster up the
Chicago outfit. Kitty may be a bit I'M
steady on his pins, but he is still there
with the bludgeon and can field the
first sack as we'll as any of them. Sa-
Ter is much too young to be developed
into a finished first sacker in less than
a season. The youth ear hardly be
expected to stand the strain and wear
and tear of a torrid campaign as we'll
as a hardy veteran like Branfield. That
is where Kitty will help the Cubs a
good deaf. Ee has been on champion