New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-05

About the same condition obtains in
the American League SO far as the
Philadelphia Athletics are concerned The
worlds champions have fighting
chance. to he sure. but they must travel
at much faster pace than the Red Sox
or the Senators TO bring the race down to
a head and head drive in the last two
weeks. In truth. the Athletics have even
greater handicap 10 overcome TO win
their third consecutive pennant than tho
Chicago Cubs have IN the National
League and IL looks now as If Boston
and Washington would fight II out. with
the chances in favor Of the Red Sox
Il could catch Matty sitting in a rock
Ing chair, says Chief" Meyers. OF the
Giants, and adds: There is no COM
pari on between Matty ard any pitcher
that ever tossed bail, or. in my opinion.
that ever Will toss a ball He's the old
master the pc feet artist" Meyers may
ne prejudiced, but this expr ion con-
forms so closely TO my own views that I
take pleasure IN living his words more
publicity. His r ason FIR saving that h.
could catch Matty citing in a rocking
-ir lie in the woud rful control of Big
Six who more than any other pitcher
seems TO ha the ability to put the ball
just where he wants to-
Natty has signed only nineteen free
tnkcts to first base this year in twenty
Eve games. and ] st what this means is
well illustrated by a comparis on with
'Tnc OF the other star pitchers OF the
moment Bases on balls have been dolod
NJ by other pitchers as follows: Joe
Wood. OF Boston. 50 in p games: Ed
Walsh. Of Chicago, IS in 80 games; Wal
1er Johnson. Of Washington. - in 81
games. "Chief' Bender Of the Athletics.
q iE 10 games; Jack Coombs. OF the Attn
[eticS. 90 IN % games; Rube Ma guard. Of
The Giants. 81 In % games; Hendrix, Of
pittsburgh, u IN % games; MART O'ToOle,
of Pitteburg % in q games. Nap Rucks r,
OF Brooklyn. 90 IN % games, and Benton.
OF Cincinnati, "a In 20 games. No wonder
Matty Is king Of en- all
English sporting writer's almost with
out exception. in commenting on the
Olympic games. have sought in a rather
for Great Britsin's poor showing on track
and field By casting slurs. so TO speak,
upon the amateur standing OF the Ameri-
can athletes who carried all before them.
The following written by Ranger" in
The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic
News IS fair sample:
The press has been deploring the deca-
dehce 81 tritish pluck anu muscle. ali be-
cause Of the utter defeat OF the British
during the Olympic contests IL sJms
quarters II Is now roUnaly a. Sc ted that
IL IL better not 70 compete al all than to
make 80 poor show In these columns
that view was expressed before the event
The point that has 10 be settled here is
not whether FISHERS are decadcnt but
whether II Is worth while abandoning our
Dsular notions Of proles io. alsm in or
der 10 win these games. In my view,
games are Of no national use unless they
are spontaneous. These international con-
,wC sh uld regard a. semi prof, ss .onals
That Is - say, they are specialists, sup
ported for their SIKH. and trained 10 ac-
eOmplish victories, regardless OF money
and Of amateur status. such as We know
A. There IS y crr by some OF those who
.are officiaily connected with the British
defeats for Specialists but that Is only
another word for professionals. and, f
n Is acceded 70 then there will be a Seri-
Gus blow struck At the line between anna
4eurs and prOfessiO ais IN hi count
The real fact Is t'at our representatives.
In the council Of the Olympic gam either
have or thirk they have. status or some
thing to gair by keeping these competi-
lions on their legs For that r. asOn they
make no sort Of satisfactory ultimatum
Ytand TO get co 81 ions 81! che u
isb views. The result IS thar real English