Imperial Valley press., 1913-10-07
Giants and Athletics
Today Open Worlds
Series Before $4,000


answer is coming soon.
The first syllable of the last word
in baseball for 1918 will be spoken to-
day. Only an act of congress is lack
ing to make it a national holiday It's
the start of the big conflict between
the New York Giants and the Phila-
delphia Athletics for the worlds title
on the diamond. With it comes the
final blow-off of baseball enthusiasm
the country over. From dawn until
2 o'clock when the teams were called
to the field at the Polo Grounds
countless thousands poured through
the turnstiles. Thousands had stood
in line for hours waiting for their
turn at the ticket office. Hotels were
jammed and subway, elevated and
surface cars driven to their limit to
carry the throngs to the scene Of
battle. That presents the local stu
alton briefly. In the grand stand ~
the Polo Grounds an army of news
paper men and telegraph operators
were on duty. AS much attention to
detail has been given to this blue
ribbon sporting event of the season
as the newspapers and press associa-
tions would give to the inauguration
of a president. And that tells how
the rest of the country looks upon this
annual baseball party. 1t may differ
from time to time as to the contest
ants involved, but it always carries the
same argument; the same young fo"-
tune to be dumped into the laps of
the players, club owners and the Ma
tional Commission, and the same op-
portunity for the opening of the
throttle and the humping off of the
baseball season with a grand upheaval
of American ability to whoop 'er up.
The series started today is the
rubber" between Manager John Nc
Graw, of the Giants, and Connie Mack.
Of the Athletics. Twice before these
rivals have met and each has won a
worlds championship from the other.
In 1905 McGraw won with the Giants.
In 1911 Mack's Athletics came out
victorious. Both managers led their
respective leagues in the number of
pennants they won with five each.
More than $4,000 persons stormed
the Polo Grounds to witness the game
today and as the players share in the
proceeds of the first four games they
will reap harvest as a result Of the
flip of the coin which sends the first
tussle to the Polo Grounds instead of
Shibe Park, Philadelphia The Polo
Grounds has greater seating ca
pacity than Shibe Park and with the
first game here, as we'll as the Satur-
day game, it is estimated that the
players Share in the proceeds was
increased $4,000 thereby.
Before dawn today the first fans
determined to see the opening game
of the series appeared outside the
Polo Grounds. The lower stands and
bleachers were not reserved and a
band was on hand to entertain the
vast throngs which poured through
the gates Immediately they were
opened. They brought their lunches
and were able to eat to the strains of
music, the band beginning its concert
about noon. The band kept up its pro-
gram until even greater crowds ar
rived along about 1870 and until play
began.
With the conclusion of today'5
game, both teams will prepare for
the trip to Philadelphia, where the
second game will be played tomorrow.
According to the rules the games will
be played alternately in New York
and Philadelphia, except in the case Of
a tie, when the play-off which is
played next day will be in the city
where the tie occurs.