The Alaska daily empire., 1914-09-28
American League Leads.

American League Leads.
 Those who pick the Americans to win base their opinion more on the showing that has been made by the American League in the past than to the showing that has been made this year by the teams that will partlcl- pate in the worlds series. The Ameri. can League has won the championship for the last four years, beginning with the victory of Philadelphia over Chi. cago in 1910.
 Philadelphia, again winning the American League pennant, defeated New York in 1911.
 In 1912, by display of speed toward the end of the season only surpassed in recent years by the performance of the Boston National League team this year, the Red Sox, of Boston, beat Philadelphia for the American League pennant, and then defeated the New York Giants, who again won the Ma tional League pennant, in sensation al worlds series.
 Last year, Philadelphia won the American League pennant and New York won out in the National League for the third time in succession. the Philadelphia Athletics were easy vic tors over the New York Giants in the worlds sories that followed, winning four out o. five games.
 For the 4th time since their victory of 1910, the great Philadelphia base ball machine has demonstrated its su- periority in the American League, and those who have witnessed its success. sive victories are betting that they will continue them when they mee; the Boston Braves.
 coombs Reappearance Helps.
 The reappearance of Iron Man" Coombs as a pitcher in the latter end of the series with Philadelphia, and the demonstration that he st,ll pos. sesses his old form, after more than a years retirement, is encouraging to those who have picked Philadelphia to win. Coombs was the main perfor- mer in the first worlds series that Philadelphia participated in-the con. test with Chicago in 1910. He was all so an important factor in the 1911 con. test. He was III in bed during the contest last year, when Bender and Plank bore the brunt of the work in the box for Comic Mack's machine-like players. But Coombs is back this year, and it is said that he will be started in at least one game in the series. This will give Philadelphia ;nree first.line pitchers-Bender, the Minnesota Indian who will probably start the series for Philadelphia again, Plank. the reliable Gettysburg farmer who has never failed, and Coombs.
 Boston Has Three Good Ones.
 But Boston. too, has three great pitchers. They are all young-all in the first season among the big ones of the first division-but they have shown their ability and mettle splen- dldly in the great pennant race which they have just won. They are James, who leads all National League pitch CTS this year in the percentage table, and Rudolph and Tyler These three will likely be sent against Bender, Plank and Coombs, probably each team playing their men in the order named.
 Philadelphia Relles on s1oo,ooo In.
 field and Hitting.
 Fowevr, those who have picked tie Athletics to defeat Boston rely mora on Connie Macks "1OO,OOO.iufield" than they do on the superiority of hia pitchers. This infield has not only won renown for stonewall defense, but for it's hitting, speed and aggres- sive attacking ability.