Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-30

Having set a new mark for complete
reversal of form, the Boston Braves are
now prepared to give battle to the Ath-
letics for the worlds baseball champion
ship. This National League club, whose
movements on the field have been directed
during the last two years by George
| Stallings, has upset precedent by making
the most remarkable pcnnant run ever
recorded in the major leagues.
Connie Mack once remarked that it took
five years TO build up a winner. Stallings
has demonstrated that If there are any
rules regarding the development of tri-
umphant club, there are exceptions. He
has made the pennant prognosticators of
the land look foolish by coming to the
fore in an almost miraculous manner,
when it was generally forecasted 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 Stallngs men had a chance
to win the pennant.
The question concerning the Boston
clubs race to the flag Is not Now you
have won it, what are you going to do
with it?" but How did you do it?' Jus.
how is indeed a matter that puzzles tho
baseball world. The simple answer, Of
course, is that the Braves played the
hest ball in the National League But
what forces combined to bring about that
condition? Briefly, there We're six rea-
sons Stallngs, Evers, Maranville, James,
Tyler and Rudolph.
Beginning with the crack of the gun
on April Is the Braves were off. But
they were not off into the lead. They
soon dropped down and remained near
the small end of the percentage column
until after July IS. on that date Stall
ings' team was being given daily
tongue lashinE by the verbose leader.
Suddenly the team awoke. on July 81
the Braves had, thanks to the close
grouping OF the other clubs, jumped into
fourth place. From then until August 8
the Braves seemed to be immovable. but
on August 10 they went into second place.
1t was Just at this period of the race
that McGraw who had been leading, hap
pened 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 considered
the Braves as q psnnant possibility ex-
cept Stallincs and the Braves themselves
Apparently they knew then their power,
and 1t was partly this confidence that
helped them to WELD H.
But to get back 10 dates. The Braves
continued in second place from August
until September > when they drew along
side the Giants, much to McGraw's sor-
row. Then IL was tnat the Giants awoks.
But Il was too late. McGraw opened
the throttle, but there was a leakage in
the power Mattv was not going well.
Mar1uard was doing porrly and the en-
tire New York club was demoralized at
the thought of having their plans for
snend.ng the worlds series so rudely
upset.
But all this time stauings' men were
not fsuriuE on the series money Thev
were on the field playing ball every ar
teTuoon except when IL rained. The hot
tight through S"g tember between the
brgEes ana tH" Giants will long be re-
menAered Confidence was on the side
OF t"e tiraFes. and overconidcnce. which
soon changed 90 desperation, ON the side
OF the Giants.
The Braves We're victorious and after
tAat date they We're never topped by New
York, though the Gothamites made de-
tcrmlned fight until tho finish Yesterday
The hSIrcs show that IT took the
Braves only a triFo over six weeks 10
90 from last To first place and only a
ilN" over TWO months. from July Is. 10
rlIneh the nag and give the fans OF Bos-
ton n peuuaat ln Tho National League
Tor the Hrst time i'm sixteen years.
The bulk of the credit for winning tbs
pennant should De given George stall
ltngs lie Is "a brainy bail player This
must be admitted hy everyone no mat
tor what their personal opinions Of tha
manager mar uo when he Is not on the
bench He has made a pennant winning
club NJ fiy" ham PLAYERS
1t is obvious o. ono who has followed
tine rising fortunes uf fHe Braves that
0taN.u-s annut a" given the entire
credit for w.a.iu-. .rHsua.h as he could
not hay" accomplished DO ua1 any one
Of the I'VE r.aE crs already named been
unable 20 perform Nartuwils. who per-
formed well .u 1913. came into his own
in startling strIe TINS year. dtuHg In
around the halfway station with Evers
better than Jo" Tinker did IN his palm-