The Washington herald., 1912-09-29

IL ~
Nv baseball championship = the
NV New York "Giants" of the Ma.
w tional League or the Boston
Red Sox'' of the American
League?
That's the question which is agitstins
millions of fans throughout the country
right now. Beside it every other CUES
ton of national Importance sinks into
insignihcance. and until it Is answered
By the final returns from the Polo
Ground and Fenway Park the, outcome
Of the Presidential race, the Panama
Canal controversy. the police investiga-
ton, the high cost of living, the possible
return of the hustle and other matters of
public interest vii have to 80 way back
and sit down.
With the two major leagues ready to
ring down the curtain on the regular sea-
son this week and the flag winners IN
both organizations already known, the
stage is being cleared for. the October
classic which will determine whether the
Giants or the Red So1 are entitled 70
fly the pennant Of the baseball universe.
The first clash in the seven game series
probably will take place at the Polo
Ground Tuesday, October S, and until
one Of the teams is returned winner
business will be compelled to mark time.
Ordinary pursuits were sadly neglected
last year while the Giants and Athletics
battled for basebaIrs biggest prize. 1t
was thought that the interest in that
historic series would never be duplicated,
but present indications are that the com
ing contest will hang up a new record
for enthusiasm. New York and Boston
fans are at fever heat, and their red hot
condition is shared by baseball enthusiasts
in all parts of the country. Thousands
of persons who take only an idle interest
in the sport during the rest of the year
are swept off their feet by the wave of
enthusiasm which ushers in a worlds
SERIES Like the regular fans, they haunt
the bulletin boards and tickers until the
last man has been put out.
By next Saturday night almost every
one you meet will be talking baseball
and discussing the merits of the rival
teams, so intense is the interest in this
city in the outcome of the struggle. Bos-
ton is just as badly worked up over the
situation, and the interest in the homes
of the contesting clubs is reflected in a.
smaller way in every city, town and ham
let in the United States. While only a
small percentage of those interested will
be able to see the games, the telegraph
wires will enable the others to follow
every play in the series.
For two hours every afternoon during
the series What's the scorer will take
precedence over every other phrase in!
the English language so far as Americans
are concerned. And this applies to Pres
ident Taft, journeyman fan, as well as
to the smallest boy in the land.
Baseball is the greatest of all American
sports, and no occasion brings together
such a representative American crowd as
the worlds series. Men in all walks of
life, from the humble day laborer to the
captain of industry: meet on common
ground inside the ball park. Formal in.
Productions are unheard of in such gath
erings. Everybody talks to his neighbor
and slaps him on the back when thrill
ing play calls for such emphasis. 1t isl
the dyed-in-the-wool fans who attend the
worlds championship games. They have
the records of the teams and Individual
players at their finger tips. They follow
the work of the player in both leagues
during the regular season and are prop