Evening star., 1911-06-04
Special Dispatch to The Star.


PHILADELPHIA. June s.-Invariably
in the major league races the eight con-
tending teams have Struck their stride'-
as it is called in base ball parlance-by
June l. That does not necessarily mean
that first division teams June l Will De
first division teams In October. But q
close student of base ball can judge pretty
well which teams have q chance for the
pennant.
Last year, June 1, the Athletics were
leading in the American League race.
with New York second, Detroit third. Bos-
ton fourth. Cleveland fifth. Washington
sixth, Chicago seventh and st. Louis
eighth. They finished the season: Ath-
letics first, New York second. Detroit
third, Boston fourth, Cleveland fifth,
Chicago sixth, Washington seventh and
st. Louis eighth. 1t will be noted that the
only change was that Chicago moved
ahead Of Washington In the second divi-
sion.
Chicago was leading the National
League race June /, 1910. with New York
second. Pittsburg third. Cincinnati fourth,
st. Louis fifth. Brooklyn sixth, the Phillies
seventh and Boston last Chicago won
the pennant, New York was second and
Pittsburg third. But the Phillies ad-
vanced to fourth, sending Cincinnati to
fifth. Brooklyn got sixth. st. Louis re-
treating to seventh, and Boston finished
where 1t started, last.
About that same line of dope could
be followed out for several seasons, and
1t would be discovered that by June /
the teams as a rule have shown whether
l they are of pennant caliber. For that
reason we can begin to look the field over
today and pick our winners in both
leagues.
Surely every "fan" will agree that the
ov1t
is between the Athletics and Detroit,
with Boston and Chicago trotting along
ready to take advantage of double
slump-the Champions and Tigers both
hitting the toboggan at the same time
which is almost an impossibility. New
York Is an uncertain quantity, owing to
injuries to players, likely to beat either
Boston or Chicago, but hardly pennant
possibility at this writing. Cleveland,
washington and st. Louis have lost more
ground than they can hope to recover.
Four teams In the National League ap-
pear certain to monopolize the first di-
vision and incidentally make the fight
for the pennant. The Phillies. New York.
Chicago and Pittsburg are the quartet
Of clubs which will-uniess the dope"
miscarries-keep plugging along within
striking distance of the top for another
month or two at least
certain propositions in the senior base
ball organization. The Cardinals have
been sprinting along like pennant con-
tenders of late, but 1t has been the uni
yersal opinion that they were playing
above their true form. That may or may
not be true. Cincinnati has possibly been
playing below it's standard, but the Reds
have shown nothing to warrant any pen
nant predictiopsts ma hard ers, TO- see d,sioN now
Brooklyn and Boston may safely be
counted out for 1911.
While 1t may appear from what has
been written above that because the
June / last season and won the pennant
in their respective leagues. Detroit and
New York will; do likewise this year
Possibly. but we would much rather
think not.
There is no doubt in the mind Of the
writer about which is the best base ball
club in the American League today. 1t
is Connie Mack's band of worlds cham
pions. They have been unfortunate. The
pitching mainstays-Bender, Coombs and
Morgan. have either been unfit to pitch
or off form.
Injuries to Barry and Collins broke
up the regular infield. The team was In
slump, due to the various misfortunes
which hit them. They appear to have
regained their proper stride. however.
and should soon cut down the lead OF
the Tigers. and once at the top they are
going to be hard to head.
However, 1t means fight all the way.
Detroit-as Manager Mack expressed it
has q good ball club. Jennings Is nan
dicapped by two things. weak pitching
and an injury which took Gainor away
from first base. Gainor appeared to be
the infield find Of the season and filled
position on the Tigers roster which
had been causing Jennings much worry.
It has hurt Detroit to lose Gainor.
Three other clubs have possible
chance for the American League pen
nant, but 1t is most remote. New York
would be the first selection but Tor
the fact that Chase's star twirlers-and
| he has some stars, too-are not in shape
And the team was forced to travel
| through the west without Manager Hal.
So that is not likely New York will
regain the ground lost.
Boston is an uncertain quantity. The
Red Sox have some good pitchers and
they have some bad ones. They have q
star outfeld. but the infield, minus Harry
Lord, Is not as classy as 1t was last
year. It is sust possible that Donovan's
men will not finish in the first division
and their chances for the pennant would
warrant odds OF 100 to 1 with one Of
| three other clubs the favorite.
| Chicago is the genuine dark horse"
| Duffy has built up a team which. with a
capable pitching corps, IS making all the
teams step to win games. However. the
white Sox are hardly pennant contend