Evening journal., 1914-10-02

lieu WIN GlhnlS.
Since gaining the lead on Sep
tember 8, when they defeated the
.. Giants in the deciding game Of
series in Boston, the Braves have
not been headed. During the long
squirt from July IS to September
s. the Braves won "a and lost 10
games, and while at the top IN 4"
sole possession of the berth, had
gained 10 victories in is games
up to yesterday. On July 6, when
the Braves we're supposed TO he
anchored for the season In last
place, with 26 victories and 40
defeats. the upllft movement be-
gan with a double victory over
the Dodgers, and since that date .
the Braves have won 5S and lost :
16 games, a percentage Of .7S4. .
.
Having set a new mark for COM
plete reversal of form, the Boston
Braves are now prepared 70 give bat
tie 10 the Athletics for the worlds
baseball championship. This National
League club, whose movements on
the field have been directed during
the last two years by George STALL
ings, has upset precedent by making
the most remarkable pennant run
ever recorded in the major leagues.
Connie Mack once remarked that
II took five years TO build up q win
ner. Stallings has demonstrated that
If there are any rules degrading the
development of a triumphal club,
there are exceptions. He has made
the pennant prognosticators Of the
land look foolish by coming TO the
fore in an almost miraculous man
ner, when It was generally fore
casted that his club would not finish
a good eighth.
There were a few. very few, who,
prior to the opening Of the National
League, averred that Stallings' men
had q chance TO win the pennant.
The question concerning the Bos-
ton clubs race to the flag is not NOW
you have won il, what are you going
to do with it2' but How did YOU do
it% Just how is indeed a matter that
puzzles the baseball world. The sim
pie answer, of course, is that the
Braves played the best ball in the
National League. But what forces
NNAAAAAAA W VI ms nANOuA AnuN AIuul~
ton? Briefly, there were six reasons.
Stallings, Evers, Maranville, James,
Tyler and Rudolph.
Beginning with the crack OF the
gun on April IA the Braves we're or.
But they were not on into the lead.
They soon dropped down and re-
mained near the small end OF the
percentage column until after July
1S. On that date Stallings' team was
being given a daily tongue lash,ng
by the verbose leader. Sudden, the
team awOke. On July 21 the Braves
had. thanks TO the close grouping OF
the other clubs, jumped into fourth
place. From then until August Q
the Braves seemed to be immOvable,
but on August 10 they went into
second place. II was Just at this
period of the race that McGraw, who
had been leading, happened TO look
back. He had TO rub his eyes twice
before he believed he was gazing on
the Boston team.
Even then no one seriously consi-
dered the Braves as a pennant possi-
bility except Stallings and the Braves
themselves. Apparently they knew
then their power, and 10 was pa ly
this confidence that helped them to
WELD II.
But to get back 10 dates. The
Braves continued in second place
from August until September 2,
when they drew alongside the Giants,
much to McGraw's sorrow. Then II
was that the Giants awoke. But II
was too late. McGraw opened the
throttle. but there was a leakage In
the power. Matty was not going
well, Marquard was doing poorly and
the entire New York club was de-
moralized at the thought of having
their plans for spending the worlds
series so rudely upset.
But all this time Stallings' men
were not figuring on the series money.
They were on the field playing ball
every afternoon except when II
rained. The hot fight through Sep
tember between the Braves and the
Giants will long be remembered Con-
hdence was on the side OF the Braves,
and overconfdence. which soon