The evening world., 1912-08-10
American League Race Is the
Most Surprising h History Of
Organization. WIN Red Sox
and Senators, Two Dark
Horses Struggling for the
Honors-AfhIefics Are a Bio
disappointment.
ny ALEX SULLIVAN.
.H1S seasons race for the Der

nant in the American League
10 by long odds the most re.
markable In the history OF the
younger major league organization.
Not that the struggle for FIRST place
Is any closer than some that have
gone before--for it's not BY Q jugful
but because the two teams con.
tending for tho honors didn't have
. look'in when the experts were fis.
uring out the probable winners
around the brightly burning logs In
the headquarters Of the Winter
League.
II has only been during the PAST two
or three seasons that the Bostons have
been making any kind OF a showing, a.
directly after they won the pennant In
1901 they went on . long slump and
never really recovered from Il until
Jake 6:ahl was Installed as manager.
The Chicago banker and player rested
last year because he preferred handling
somebody clse's yellow and green backs
to his own. but this season he Is back at
his old Job. covering FIRST. and IL his
club captures the worlds championship
which 10 not unlikely-he'll have q
good chance 70 count quite . large sized
bankroll Of his own.
The Senators have been the Joke Of
the American League from time imme.
mortal. In fact, Washington as q big
league factor has always been negative,
and II wasn't until the much abused
Clarke Grifhth, who has been knocked
around from pillar to post, took charge
this spring that Washington finally gave
the lie to the well worn epigram, First
In peace, first In war and last In the
American League"
When the Senators eventually lost a
double header to the Athletics after
their record string OF victories Of the
year--seventeen-tt was remarked every
where that they had shot their bolt.
However, after losing the series In Phil
adelphia the washingtonians went back
to their old tricks Of winning games.
and they have been the most consistent
winners Of any club since.
Even In defeat the Senators are great.
and II they carry OF the supreme title
Of the baseball world this season II will
20 down as the greatest form reversal in
diamond history. The Senators had be-
come so used to seventh and eighth
places In the annual struggles that II
| almost seems that II Is q typographical
/ error when they are placed second.
No,w,,hs,ard,n~ the rrsst al,-around
-. ~, % c. a,, ~.
pias'"s VI W." o
senators up 10 da'e' '"ey wou'o piop'
ably drop with smash anytnins
happened to either OF two stars that
both have in their lineup
It has been Walter Johnson's great
pitching that has kept the washingtons
| so near the front. ably seconded by Out
fielder Clyde Miian's all-around play.
! johnson Ia now pitching out the second
season of a three-seasons' contract.
which calls for 81, 900 a season-one of the
hest contracts ever awarded a pitcher.
The two great factors in the Red Sox
cIub's great fght are the work OF Joe
WOOD IN The hoy ana of iris Speaker in
,hs outnsid
TIE, ,h,nL - a,thsr the Senators or
o.. p.5 Soy mat with any Of the hard
inoL In ~. way NJ accIdents that has
49, ,,,s,,Irg Tho pbiI,es during This
sas.o, and Ia. whore would thew he?
Lat .nnno.,ng ,h., bo,h clubs were
r.,.,,.a -, ,hs,r .,ar.-.Johnson ,hrsw
"a. 80, o,, M,,sn hroka hi. ,s~ and
wood ava sns6G,, we're incanacita,ed-.
49, -,o,,IS nv h., Thev vou,a
49,. ,,,' 90 ,nn,b,,,a aown tho nor
pau,aaa oni,,,nn
W,Ssn ,ha .,,o,, r..g,. mo.
as ,h,. saa.on 80, 60 n,,La,
~ s..,..,s. 80 go. n.,.,'.. - 49,.
-, n,.,Jny t. ,ha ,.o.Id.. .sr,..