The Washington herald., 1912-09-29

unae tue gates were opened until the sale
tof admissions was stopped "a STEADY
stream Of humanity flowed through the
turnstiles. About 40 600 persons saw the
/ hrst game and the succeeding days at the
Polo Grounds were almost a repetition
OF the first day 80 far a. the crowd was
concerned.
The interior Of the greatest baseball
stadium in the world presented an in.
spring sight during the games. Packed
about the rim of the big dish as tightly
as straws in a new broom, the thousands
of rootsrs dwelt in perfect harmony, the
rivalry between the followers of both
teams not being permitted to get beyond
the Joshing stage. Every clever play, no
matter which side made il, was applaud
ed to the echo. The fairness of the Polo
Ground fan is proverbiaI, and II was
never more apparent that during the try-
ing series Of 1911 when the Athletics won
the victory. The same spirit of fair play
prevailed at Shibe Park, PHILADELPHIA.
With one exception the games were hotly
contested, and old time fans declared it
the greatest set Of games from evey
standpoint that had ever been played.
The Athletics won four of the six games
played last year and retained the worlds
title won from the Chicago National
League team in 1910. Giant rooters were
anxious to see the Athletics win the
American League pennant this year,
in the hope that the McGraw men would
be able to turn the tables on their con-
querors. But the Red Sox beat the Ath-
letics to the American League wire and
won the right to battle with the Giants
for the championship of the woEld.
Random is about equally divided in its
allegiance to the National and American
leagues, and ever since it became assured
that the Giants and Red Sox would face
each other in the worlds series, followers
Of the teams have been figuring out the
chances Of their favorites and comparing
the records of the individual players.
National League adherents have no diff
Guilty proving by the records that the
Giants will clean up, while the American
League rooters take another set of records
and show beyond a doubt that the Red
Sox will walk away with the prize. Base
ball is such an uncertain game that past
performances of the players are of little
value in trying to determine beforehand
the winner of such a series. Players who
have been performing in a sensational
manner all season may fall down COM
pletely, while men who have been playing
ordinary ball may scintillate during the
struggle. II is this uncertainty which
makes the game so popular.
The Red Sox are slight favorites in
such bets as have been made up to the
present time. but it is hard to see why
such should be the case. So far as the
records show the teams appear to be
pretty well matrhed, the Giants having
a shade in the hitting department, while
the Red So1 have the best of the fielding
figures The Giants have the best of the
base running, but for that matter they had
it a year ago, when it was not produc-
tive Of any great results. The Athletics
kept them off the bases in the last worlds
series, but their improved batting ought
to land them on the bags oftener in the
coming contest. The Red So1 are not
very SNOWY on the bases, but they have
habit of batting each other around the
circuit.
As the pitchers always carry the heavi-
est burden, interest naturally centres
around the boxmen of both teams.
Mathewson, Tesreau and Marquard will
carry the hopes of Giant rooters, while
Wood, O'Brien and Bedient are looked
to by the Red SoI admirers to bring the
flag to Boston. All great pitchers, every
one Of them. So far as pilots go, no one
will deny that John ]. McGraw, the Giant
leader, has little bit on Jake" Stahl,
boss Of the Boston outfit Stahl is
brainy diamond general, but McGraw is
recognized as one of the most resourcefui
leaders the game has produced. He had
more to fear from the veteran Mack
than he has from the youthful Stahl
The Giants will have the advantage Of
having played in worlds series, an ad-
vantage which will help to steady the
team in tight places. And ]. Franklin
Baker and his wicked bat will not be
among those present. That's another
thing that will encourage the Giants.
1t ought to be a great series.