The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
M1vincible,
Says Frank Chance
Leader of the Chicago Nationals Frankly Admits
That Philadelphia American League
Team Looks ImpregnabLe

Los Angeles. Cal. Dec. 23.-Thatt
the Philadelphia Athletics are to-day
invincible for another year, and pos
sibly two, is the belief of Frank
Chance, winner of four National
League pennants and two worlds cham
pionships.
Chance subscribes to this belief. His
statement to your correspondent was
unique in that so far as known he is
the first National League manager to
voluntarily recognize the superiority of
the American League leaders.
This however. is as far as Chance
is willing TO acknowledge the supe-
riority of the younger organization.
He does not believe that the results
of the several post-season- contests.
aside from the worlds series. served
to give a true line on the actual
strength of the competing clubs. In
this, he unquestionably is right to
certain extent. For instance, not even
the veriest baseball tyro believes that
the st. Louis Browns are the equals
of the st. Louis Cardinals, and yet the
former won IN the post-season series
between these clubs.
Viewing the question from another
angle, a majority of baseball experts
agree that Cincinnati. while really
having one of the best clubs in the
league, as far as individual ability Is
concerned. really did not figure to win
from Cleveland in the Ohio State cham
pionship series on the form which the
Reds displayed in the National League
race, and yet Griffith's men turned the
trick.
Laying aside prejudice and profess
sional bias, the dope" would seem to
indicate that the American League is
a shade faster than the National, but
the difference would be but barely per-
ceptible in a full seasons play, and in
all probability the conditions will be ex-
actly reversed two or three years hence.
Chance Is Sincere.
Chance is sincere in his estimate of
the Athletics, and give his opinion 70
garding them freely. He harbors not
the slightest ill-feeling toward Mack
and his doughty ballgamers, despite
the decisive trouncing which the Cubs
experienced at their hands in 1910.
You ask wherein lies the great
strength OF the Athletlcs? said
Chance. repeating the question which
had been put to him. This may best
be answered by saying that the Mack
machine really has no glaringly weak
place in Its lineup. First base Is the
only position that Is open to question,
and am not qualified to pass on that
for the simple reason that 1 did not
have an opportunity to see McInnis in
action. II he Is as good as claimed, the
Athletic infield practically Is without
a flaw. Davis, of course. slowed down,
as shown In Macks willingness to al
low him to go to Cleveland, but he
managed to fill the bill in the worlds
series.
Just to what extent McInnis would
have increased the effectiveness OF the
Athletics in the series with the New
york Giants is problematical. but
.Stuffy' certainly made a fine and
dandy record during the regular sea-
son.
Mack has fine pitching stan. his
outfield has shown It's ability to de-
liver the goods, while the catching
corps has demonstrated that II Is good
enough for all practical purposes. In
short, the Athletics are well-rounded
baseball machine, and / believe that
they are in line for another worlds
championship. and possibly two.
Returning to the Athletic pitching
stan. / regard Bender as one Of the