The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-08-25

LNG-S $500 80 .
chance remained for a shift in the
prospect that New York Nationals and
the Philadelphia Americans would
once more face each other as worlds
series contenders failed almost to the
vanishing point in the cleaning or
Saturday eve.
Twelve full games now separate
New York and Philadelphia in the
National league with the Quakers
wobbly and the Giants again in the
full stride of their fast 1913 gait. In
the other division Of major league
baseball the Athletics, although shot
to pieces with injuries and going none
too well on that account, have been
able not only to hold their own. but to
Increase their lead. Just when they
should have shown quality and agrees
siveness if they hoped to win, the
Clevelands failed badly and with a
string of defeats broken but once dur
ing last week found themselves trail
ing the leaders by nine games as the
new playing week opened. -
With the close of the regular sea-
son and the call of play in the worlds
series hardly more than six weeks
away, it takes little figuring to show
how small likelihood there is of an
overturn in either league. From pres
ent appearances Manager McGraW
soon can begin to groom MatheWson,
Vanguard, Tesreau n Demaree Tor
the past season fray, while Connie
Mack will have to tackle before long
the problem of picking the youngster
to cooperate with Bender and Plank
In efforts to puzzle the Giant batsmaf
unless Jack Coombs shall have re-
c%uperated sufficiently by October 70
take a stand on the firing line.
The break in the Philadelphia squirt,
which practically put Dooin's men out
Of the running in the National league
race, began with the appearance OF
Chicago on the Quaker field. -Four
straight was the Cubs record in thar
series up to mid-week when the Pnll-
lies finally rallied against Evers team
and won their single victory OF the
last games. Pittsburgh, however,
fresh from a triumph over New YORK
in three out Of five games at the polo
| grounds, at this juncture resumed
Phi1adelphia's humiliation, cleaning UP
a three game series that nded Satur-
day. Philadelphia's best was to tie
the Pirates Friday. !
Meanwhile Chicago, moving over &c
New York. fell victim to the renewed
vim Of the Giants and dropped thf
entire series, enabling the McGraw1tes
to round UP their week successfully
and with their lead strengthened al
most to the point Of impregnability
! Their reverses at Pittsburgh's hands
were largely charged to the great
| game put up at bat and in the field
by Honus Wagner. The veteran play
| ed up to the best standards Of his
prime.
Pittsburgh, it may be, said. with its
twirling staff in shape again, is dis
| playing as good a brand of ball as any
team in the league and will be q con-
testant for second place if the Phila-
delphia slump keeps up. Chicago too
has been doing good work. Its mi
setback was in New York. 49,
The second division teams also hat
a tight little time of it among them
selves, Cincinnati gaining ground rap
idly, st. Louis falling off precipitateE
and Brooklyn and Boston about hold
ing their own. The cardinals seem an.
chored at the foot of the ladder ane
rumors Of radical. changes not only al
regards the players and management
but the ownership of the team itself
are flying thick. Mrs. Britton is re
ported weary of running a big League
| club. particularly one going no better
than Higgins aggregation, and to be
willing to sell if she can get her price
Should a change lin this respect not
| develop reports have it that Ed
Konetchy is to succeed Higgins as di-
recting head of the team.
The poor showing of Cleveland, the
game struggle Of the Athletics to hold
their lead with no less than eleven
men on the hospital list, were the
| striking features in the American
league. The Philadelphia catching
problem became so serious with Lapp
Thomas and Schang all laid up, that
Harry Davis had to go behind the bat
for a time on Saturday. Oldring has
| tried his hand at shortstopping with
considerable success. but Mack now
has Levan, the new man obtained from
the Browns in the emergency. to fill
in until Barry RECEIVERS. Houck Brown
and Shawkey. the teams young pitch
| ers, have stood up nobly and between
them are accountable for the Athletics
four victories, while two games were
| dropped by Bender and Plank.
Part Of the Cleveland lapses have
been due to failure of the box men to
pitch up to their previous standard
| and lack of pinch hitting power among
the batsmen. Even Jackson, while still
hitting well, did not bat up to his