The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-07
Viewed From Any
( Angle, Series Prom
ises Sensations.
WAGERS REFLECT
FEELING OF DOUBT
Managers and Players Venture
No Predictions as to Outcome
of Initial Game for Worlds
Ch a m pi o n S hip Honors,
Which Will Be Staged in
New York To-Day.

-'0" 'oih' OctoDer 6.-The stage is
set, and tomorrow the curtain will
rise on the final act of the 1913 baseball
drama Behind the scenes. the Phila-
/ deiphia Athletics and the New York
/ Giants are at their stations ready Tor
the cue that will send them into tho
| lmelight of the worlds series
t Spectators from all parts of the
| United States are ready for the rush
On the Polo Grounds. and only the
menace of the weather man stands be-
tween thousands of fans and the full
hlment of their expectations.
Unsettled conditions" was the du-
bious forecast for tomorrow. I'm
settled conditions" likewise is the key
note to the situation OH the eve OF
rlnying the initial contest PLAYERS,
Ians and prophets are all in the same
boat. Viewed from any angle. the Sc
lies appears to promise sensational
baseball. with the luck and breaks OF
the game playing part of more than
usual Importance.
No Straight Predictions.
| Neither managers nor players will
venture straight prediction as to the
result OF either the first game or the
series. and their doubt as to the out
come is reflected By the wagering The
Athletics supporters in Philadelphia
are Offering 10 to on Connie Mack's
| team. while the New York club sup
porters are willing to lay similar odds.
professional bookmakers offer Q TO 10,
I with the better making his own choice
as to the probable winner.
| So far actual wagering is con-
cerned, there has been less betting
than usual The amounts range from
50 to $50 and many are of the freak
rariety-concerning the pitchers for
the opening game; total number of
Iames in the series. and similar propo-
! sitions.
The uncertainty of the outcome and
the apparent evenness I'm playing
strength OF the clubs furnished un-
limited material for argument Sup
porters of Mathewson and Marouard
advanced score of reasons why Man
ager McGraw should start their fa-
vorites against the Athletics. and the
! fans from Philadelphia smiled. and
gently inserted into the argument a
mention of j. Franklin Baker.
| In the midst of the turmoil OF fan
ming on the eve of battle. the PLAYERS
of the two clubs slipped away early
and tried 10 calm frayed nerves with
sleep The members of the New York
/ club retired to their homes several
hours before midnight, and even the
I literary characters among them dropped
pens and pencils. in order that the bat
might prove effective OH the morrow
Play Waiting Game.
The entire Philadelphia club. accom-
| panied by number of ''rooters," ar
rived in the city shortly after 10 r. NJ
and retired at once TO an uptown ho-
! tel. Little information regarding the
plan of campaign was forthcoming
Apparently both Connie Mack and John
N1cGraw were playing a waiting game
so far rs final plans and linc-u were
concerned.
| While principal actors were wooing
sleep ticket spectators and the base
ball public were far more active. De-
spite the plans and protestations of the
New York National Leagues officials
! the New York ticket speculator proved
his right TO the title OF King OF His
Craft" Although there were but S.
GOO reserved seats sold by the club TO
selected list of patrons. a certain
perez cPntaEe of the coupons quickly
found their way into the hands of
the ticket vendors. who offered them
ut prices many times over their face
value.
! There was the usual cry OF 'scandal"
and investigations" but ld-timers
smiled and spoke of similar previous
| experiences, which resulted in much
talk. but no action. Because of the
fact that but 5000 Of the $4,000 seats
were disposed of in the advance sale.
| the opportunities for spectators to
secure tickets were not as great as in
the past. Consequently, those that
were available commanded almost fab
ulous prices. Seats for three New York
| games were offered at from $40 TO
| 500. Single seats for tho opening
game were quoted at $50 each and
found ready purchasers even ut ten
times their original price.
| James r.. Gaffncy, president and
owner of the Boston National League
club. was one of the first To interview
the spectators. Gaffney applied to
the New York club for forty six seats,
as was his privilege as club owner
and member of the select list. He
stated that the local club officials told
/ hin; that none was available.
Buys Them on street.
| The Boston club executive thereupon
went on the street and purchased six
/ teen tickets for $500. With these as
evidence, he went before the National
| Commission and explained the situa-
tion. In a statement given out later,
the commission said the New York club
officers knew the original holders of
the seats, but were not ready to mako
| the names public.
| Blocks of seats were sold to city Of
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