The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-07-10

Athletics.
~ Rbe constant winning OF the
Philadelphia eSam has grown monot-
onous and the authorities Of base
ball are agreed that the loss OF the
American league pennant by the
Mackmen would be the best thing
that could happen for baseball.
Baseball patrons again and again
have demonstrated that they do not
want high class baseball so badly as
they do a contest, a fight, Evenly
matched clubs with the leaders al
ways in doubt and changing frequent
ly give any league the best results
at the box Office.
This is one reason that the Federal
league has had a chance. Undoubt.
edly they could not furnish the class
of baseball that the two major
leagues in organized ball could. and
they understood that when they be
gan their league. But they counted
on having a battle for the pennant
among evenly matched clubs in order
10 create enthusiasm and bring out
the crowds.
The interest in baseball all over
the country depends 10 a surprising
extent upon. the big leagues. When
the big leagues are successful the
minors are likely 10, be. IL there is
little interest in the big show, the
side tents don't draw much.
The Athletics have had the cham.
pionship too long, Seven cities OF
the American league are growing
tired OF having constantly 10 pursue
the Macks Philadelphia itself is
bored Contrary 10 all expectations
and all the dope which says that
every city likes winner the Phila-
delphia crowd is patronizing the Phil
adelphia National league club rather
than the American.
The American league race is being
saved by the close punching of the
five clubs just under the Athletics.
They all have good mathematical
chances to take the flag away from
the Philadelphia sluggers, although
their practical chances in some cases
are far less than the mathematical
ones.
How badly topheavy percentage
column can AFFECT a league Is shown
by the international league race.
Dunn, down at Baltimore, gathered
together very high-priced gang OF
ball players for Glass IA club. He
is said TO have paid his men thus far
this season more than some of the
major league clubs are giving away
in salaries. He had a major league
club, judging from his payroll
With this high class bunch Of men
including Cree Derrick and others,
Dunn forged away 10 the head of the
International league. With the sea.
son more than half over, he is Just
five complete games ahead OF Roch-
ester in second place He has been
SO far ahead that up to the present
time the International has furnished
chase rather than a race
Dunn thought that with a great
club in Baltimore and winner he
could attract big crowds and stamp
out the Federal league club there.
But instead he has found that ne has
killed baseball not only in Baltimore,
in which city the game is not paying
at all, but In all the other Interna-
tional league cities.
Dunn recently got rid Of Cree. Der
rick and a couple of others OF his
highest-priced men, getting quite a
sum of money out OF them. The loss
of these men may bring Baltimore
down into the race where 1t belongs
and create a little more interest in
the games, This was the purpose OF
Dunn in letting his men go
IL looks as II the only way TO stop
the Macks Is TO age Plank and Ben.
der. When these two fellows grow
so old that they can't pitch any more
then the Athletics will have started
their first break downward. That
sterling infleld and that good outfield
seem TO be good for a long time yet
and Schang Is very young catcher
IL must place Mack In an embar
RAISING position to know that he cant
both be successful and keep on win
ming. 1t would be hard for him not
4 10 put every effort into building IN
his club and keep IL built up as he
has In years past. and the members
OF the club certainly won't lie down
for they have tasted the frilits nj
worlds series too often 10 miss an
other chance If il is in their power
TO get Ii.
Little Bean beat Bean at Iantonia
which gives us hopes the White So1
may defeat the Athletics