Evening star., 1914-10-09

SHIBE PARK, Philadelphia,
October o.-The Boston Braves,
penpant winners of the, National
League, and the Philadelphia
Athletics. champions of the
American League, clashed today
in the first battle for the world S
base ball championship of 1914.
Some $4,000 persons saw the
opening engagement of the seven
game series. Hundreds were
turned away at the gates, unable
to obtain admission to the crowd
ed stands. ,,~~-s'
The. Bostons prepared to send
their slow ball boxman, Dick
Rudolph, to the pitching emplace-
ment to shell the Athletics out of
their home defenses. The Ameri-
can Leaguers groomed the Indian
Bender to pick off the Boston in
vaders with his fast ball.
""Slow-ball pitching is not rel
ished by the Mack artillery Of
batters, and I guess it will be
Rudolph for the fray today" re-
marked Manager George Stalliags
before the game. "Still, l may
switch to James or Tyler. They
are all good, you know"
The vast reaches of Shibe Park
were choked to capacity long be-
fore game time. Three and four
times the regular seat prices were
offered for tickets, and demand at
these figures exceeded the supply.
Wait More Than Forty Hours.
The outfield stand, seating 1000 per-
sons, was thrown open at 1880 o'clock.
It was filled within a short time and
gates were closed. The first in line
for seats in this unreserved section had
waited mort than forty hours for the
gate to open. Several women stood
in line since daybreak. The crowd
holding reserved tickets in the COW
cred and double-decked stands came
to the park later. Hundreds viewed
the contest from temporary stands
erected on the roofs of houses that
overlook the backfeld walls.
The day was warm and humid and
one suited for fast base ball. An in
sistent sun burned through the mem
acing clouds. and there yHs only a
slight threat Of showers from the
southwest. The infield and outer gar
Betting favored the Athletics at 2
to and 9 to when the two teams came
upon the field for batting and field
practice. Preliminary field play was
the Boston player Deal, who substi-
tuted at third base for Smith, who
broke his leg this week, was keenly
watched. He displayed no fielding
faults in warming up.
Deal at Third Base.
Both teams had their final practice
yesterday and all the players were said
| to be in the best of condition. Charley
Deal, who will play third base for Bos-
ton in place Of Smith, who has a broken
ankle. was put through a long drill in
batting and fielding bunts. "Stuffy'
McInnis, who had been nursing a
bruised hand for more than a week,
was out with his teammates and han
| died both the bat and ball as though
| he had never been injured.
There was no lack Of confidence on
| either side as to the ultimate result of
| the series. I'VE will win sure,'' de-
| clared Manager Stallings. MY team is
| as good as the Athletics any way you
| look at it, and we are going to hand
| a lot Of people big surprise" Man.
| ager Mack was as reticent as usual
| All he would say was, Well be in
| there to win and I hope We will have
good weather for the SERIES"
| The Athletic players, however, were
more outspoken, and all of them felt
| sure of victory.
| Base ball enthusiasts from all Sec
| tions of this country and from other
| lands where the national game is play
| ed are in the city anxious to see the
| opening contest. Among the visitors
are men of great wealth and pronf-
| nence in many walks of life. Other
| fans beat their way here on freight
cars or trudged many miles on foot in
order to be here when the series
| opened.
Rich and Poor on Hand.
The wealthy lovers Of the sport ar
rived in hish-powered automobiles or