The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-08-09
IN THE WORLD Of SPORT

American league, and Chicago wa,
ieadlng Pittsburgh by just nine point,
IN the National. But fifty points sep.
arated the first four clubs in the semi
or association, while the New Yorl
team holding fourth place In the
american league was 1876 points in the
rear of the Athletics, with Detroit and
Boston between 1t and the leaders. The
races OF 1910 as viewed at this date
showed conditions more closely resem
ping the present situation. The Ath-
letlcs were travelling at top speed with
clear lead of eighty points over Bos-
ton. The Detroit Tigers were third
thirty points in the rear of Boston. and
New York was fourth but nine points
peioW the Tigers. In the National
league Chicago was seventy points
| ahead of Pittsburgh, with the New
York Giants third, ten points separat-
ing them from the Pirates. Philadel-
phla was a poor fourth.
Pittsburgh and Detroit were the
pa acemakers> in 1909, but neither team
had anything like the margin Of safe
~ that the present leaders possess.
The Pirates had won sixty-eight and
lost tWenty-seven games for per-
centage of .715. The Chicago Cubs
We're right at their heels, less than
th1rty points separating leader and
runner-up. The New York and Gin
SAhiaIl clups were third and fourth
respectively, but far below the per-
centage standing of the first and sec
,ohd CLUBS. The American league race
was even closer. Detroit with sixty
TWO games won and thirty eight lost
mad just twenty points over PhiladeI-
ph1a, which club had won sixty and
lost forty games for a percentage of
500. Boston and Cleveland were both
within seriking distance of the lead
ers, for there were buts seventy-five
points between the Tigers in first
place and the Cleveland club in fourth.
Despite the dire predictions made for
the present year, 1913 has proved to
cate far from being an unlucky period
SO Tar as American athletics are con-
cerned. In three International con-
tests the United States has success
fully defended both the polo and the
canoe cups and regained possession of
the Davis cup in tennis. Three other
international cup contests remain to
be decided in the Harnsworth motor
boat race the Palma rifle shooting
contest and the Sender yatch compe-
tit1ons. Should triple defeat be the
portion of the United States in these
remaining matches-Which is unlike
ly-the recollection of the sterling
victories in polo and tennis will 60 far
to compensate for the loss of trophies
duililS the autumn months,
The return of the Davis cup is par
tlcularly gratifying to American lawn
tennis followers and the prediction is
freely made that the bowl is not like
~ to be won away again within the
the next few years. The faith in the
future of the court game in this coun-
try is not without foundation. With
the possible exception Of baseball, |
there are more tennis players WELD
ing racquets than followers of any
one other sport in this country. Grass, |
clay and asphalt courts are increas-
ing in all parts of the states and the |
number of players doubling lamost |
yearly. One Of the most encouraging !
signs Is the fact that the youngsters |
Are taking to the game and learning |
early the technique, skill and stamina |
hat go to make ranking contenders |
1t the leading tournaments. .''''
No other. nation where tennis is |
played can show a number of young |
players of prominence and promise
equal to the United States. No ten
lis authority here or abroad will admit
hat either Mclaughlin, Williams or
Wallace Johnson has reached his limit
Is racquet expert. Yet this trio
vas pitted against England's best I
players, whose ages ranged between
70 and 40, while Mclaughlin at .23 is
ne oIdeSt or the trio which leads in
lational ranking. They are not, how
ever, the only youngsters who are
laying brilliant tennis. In Clarence
friff1n, John Strachan and William
ohnson the Pacific coast has sent
ast another trio Of players, still in
heir teens, who have proved their
bility to hold their own and, win
tiles in the biggest tournaments,
side from Newport. Ranked but a
ew strokes below these embryonic
'onders are a host Of scholastic, COL
egiate and state champions, who are
onstantly improving both the speed ,
nd form Of their play. From this
outhful tennis talent there will be
eveloped during the next few years
rorthy successors to Larned, Whit
ian, Wright and Wrenn.