The San Francisco call., 1913-10-24

HAPPY MUST
HUS Tie to
KEEP Up
Seals Are Liable to Crush His
Team Out of Second
Place
BY JOE MURPHY

BY JOE MURPHY
The Seals are putting up hard
fight to get into the first division by
the end OF the season. and though
they may fail In their efforts, they
may be responsible for beating the
Tigers out of second place. For the
second time this week the locals took
the measure of the Tigers yesterday,
and the southern clubs hold on Sec
ond place is less than half a game.
The race for second honors is prov
ing interesting. as the game stand
of the Wolves is being admired by
the fans. Hogan realizes that he has
a fight on his hands to hold secohd
place, and he is mastering up all his
strength to retain his present posi-
ton.
1t will be necessary for the Seals to
win four straight to enter the first
division. They are going along at a
nice pace and might surprise the fans
by turning the trick.
1t is reported that the western
clubs of the National league had a
poor year financially and none of
them made much money. with the
possible exception of Pittsburg. The
St. Louis Cardinals had a particu-
larly disastrous year. Cincinnati has
always been a good baseball town,
1,.,< ID ~
dent Hermann of the Reds has al
ways boasted that his club was a
money getter. but Hermann is said
to be carrying a long face this year.
The Cubs have always made money.
but this year most OF the business
was enjoyed at the Comiskey park by
the White Sox The trouble in Chi
cago is charged to the magnates. On
one hand is Charley Comiskey. pop
other is Charley Murphy, who has
been in dutch since he allowed
Chance to get away from him.
The eastern clubs of the National
league drew we'll The Boston
Braves had, an exceptionally good
year. even though they finished in the
second division. 1t is said that if it
were not for New York and Boston
some of the western clubs would
have suffered big losses.
X
Bill James, with a pair of swollen
hands as testimonials of his encoun-
ter with Harry Wolverton, the Sacra-
mentO leader, arrived in town and Is
likely to remain here until the end
of the season. He will not be able
to pitch any more ball this time.
James joins the Browns next season.
X
Skeeter Tanning is making a great
effort to land on top in the pitchers
race. He annexed another victory
yesterday, and he is close on the heels
of Jack Williams of the Sacs, who
leads the race. If Skeeter can win
another game and Williams drop one,
flaming VIII be on top when the
final figures are computed.
Jimmy Johnston was back in har-
ness yesterday. and he boosted his
base stealing a notch. In the eighth
Koestner gave Johnston walk, and
he lost no time in stealing second.
which made the one hundred and
nineteenth bag that he has pilfered
during the season. A moment later
Jimmy scored from second on an
CAAOL DS OlcEIell.
A trade in which Bill Leard of Oak
land and Bill Page of Los Angeles
will figure is being talked of In Los
Angeles. 1t is said that both play
ers. who are second basemen, are
dissatisfied with their jobs and well
come a change. A switch might bene-
fit both men as well as the clubs.
Leard has not been playing the ball
that he is capable of. There is some
difference in the ball he played this
year against the game he played last.
n
Ruegg, who played third for Port
land yesterday is said to be a for
mer Wilmerding high school boy. He
played with Oscar Witt and Billy
Orr when they were at high school.
Ruegg's work yesterday was very
encouraging. He smashed out three
hits in four trips to the bat and per-
formed like a regular.
X X y
That the old National league IS
tottering a bit is evidenced by the
fact that the American league has
beaten them for the worlds cham
pionship during the last four years.
They have won 16 games against
seven for the Nationals during that
time. This gives the Johnson organ
izatfon a percentage of .696.
The White Sox have put it over on
the Cubs three straight The Ath-
letics have beaten the Phillies in the
games they have played. Last fall.
when these clubs met. the Athletics
won four out of five. So 1t looks like
the old league needs some bracing. as
ft is slipping