The Washington herald., 1914-06-21
Winning
STREAK IS BAD
Pittsburgh Pirates Get Of to
Good Lead-Drop Down
Ladder.
TIGERS NO EXCEPTION
Along with Reds. Go Out in Front in
1911. but Are Found Trailing
at End of Season.

A baseball game won in April or May
counts just as much as one that's gar
nered in September or October, but a
bunch Of games won in the early part OF
the season seem to handicap a teams
chances for the pennant.
II has been the almost invariable rule in
baseball that the teams that got big
lead at the outset hit the chutes later on
and skidded on into some remote posi-
tion in the standing of the clubs.
The Pittsburgh Pirates got away to q
fine start during the first month this
season and then they crumpled. The
pacemaking had been too hard. Later on
they may do comeback. but the law Of
basebalrs past seems to forbid II.
The Cincinnati Reds blew themselves
70 4 nice lead in the first month Of I911-
and then they cracked. The Brooklyn
Dodgers tipped along at a merry clip
through the first four weeks in 1872 and
just when the Brooklynites were dream
ing world series dreams the upset came.
and the Dodgers finished in the second
division.
Back in 1905 the Maps led by over 100
points until June time. And then the re-
versal came and they ended the season
al the tail end Of the first division.
twenty games played in 1911 and looked
powerful enough TO keep 1t UP. Then the
boomerang connected on its homeward
Journey and the Tigers were never again
in the night The Giants harpooned a
sIxteen-game lead in 1872. and then the
game-Einning machinery went out of or
der. The Cubs came laundering along
and carved down most OF the lead and
looked good to jump into first place when
aon IN elrid This the
Giants a chance TO get their sea legs
again, and they slipped under the October
wire ahead OF the field. But even with
that sixteen-gsme lead It was close
squeak
Is this early spurt stun a hoodoo?
Pitchers Don't Use Head.
There's much ado about the won pitch
ing device that was invented by Prince
ton parsonage. There's nothing new in
that. as we view the situation. Haven't
we had won mem pitchers for the past
ten years? Nor can we see anything
new in the fact that this Princeton
pitcher has no head. There are lot
Of pitchers in the big leagues today who
are similarly equipped-or, rather, non
equipped.
The reason that there is less interest
in the Federal League race than In the
American or National, according to some
folks. is this.
what are the Feds going TO do with
the pennant when it's won.
Which is a pretty good reason at that.
The interest in the American and Ma
fional Leagues always Is keen because
OF the World Series that follows the
end Of the regular season. In the case
OF the Feds they can't come into a
World series-not this year. at least
Writer After Feds.
One OF the sport writer's who is ex-
tren1ely friendly toward organized base
ball. and who has been predicting a
horrible end for the Feds. is iust now
borrowing more trouble for the Gilmore
That II the Feds sign up Walter John-I
son. the speed King at 100000 for
three-year period. they viii be taking
desperate chances"
He figures that Johnson's arm might
70 on the fritz before those three years
are over, and what good would he be
It's a cInch. however, that II there
wasn't a Federal League. and II some
organized club owner bought johnson.
paying even $l50.O0o for him, this very
same writer would be loudest in his
praise of the magnatea shrewd business
Judgment, and it's also einch that he
wouldn't be so worried about Johnson,s
arm failing.
Crowds Are Counted.
The Feds are said to be retaliatlng for
the action OF organized baseball IN send
ing nose counters into their parks. They
have hired nose counters OF their own.
ana these mathematicians are engaged
IN adding up the total Of pereons who
enter the organized parks and turning
their additions over to the Federal Lea
que onicials for comparison with ihe- at
tendance figures given out by the organ
lied people. It Is said that the reports
Hhow big discrepancies In the attendance
report OF the nose counters and those
given out by the clubs as estimates. But |
who cares?
Members OF the Giants, Athletics. and |
! few other teams that stiH nourish PEN
nant winning hopes are wondering II the |
1enerai apathy toward baseball this year |
on the part Of the fans win extend 10
the World Series. It would be cruel [
hiow for The World Series players II It |
ais. for they ussa1ly count on about
,s5oo Tor their share II they win, and 1
'zouo e 70 z they loae