The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-07-19
RACE
TIGHTENING Up
IN GOOD SHAPE
WITH CLOSE OF PROFESSIONAL
BASEBALL SEASON LESS THAN
TWO MONTHS AWAY, BOTH MA
JoR AND MINOR LEAGUES ARE
DOING REMARKABLY WELL.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

New York, July 1S.--With the close
of the professional baseball season less
than two months away the pennant
race in both major and minor leagues
are Tightening up in remarkable
manner when the scores of aSSocia-
tons are considered as a whole With
a few exceptions here and there the
struggles for first places are far closer
than has been the rule for several
years. If the claim that this is a poor
financial season in baseball is correct
1t is certain that the charge cannot be
laid to one-sideed flag raises. In the
major leagues at least SIN clubs have
pennant chances, Philadelphia, Detroit
and Washington are all in the Ameri-
can league race and the first four
clubs in the National organization all
figure as possible winners. The same
situation exists in the Federal and
International leagues.
The race in the Glass A organiza-
tions is also close, The Southern AS
ISOLATION pennant struggle Is one of
the most Interesting in years, less
than one hundred points separating
the first six clubs. In the Western
league. Denver, st. Joseph, Lincoln
and Sioux City are all punched and
as the season does not close until Sep
TENDER ~ any ore of these clubs may
prove the flag winner. Among the
Class 3 leagues the average is not
so close, New London has a good lead
the Central league; Wilkes-Bar in
the New York State league and Dav
export in the Three-I league In the
Texas league Beaumont. Houston and
Waco are all IN the race while Wor-
cester, Portland, Lawrence and Lynn
Rave a pennant chance in the New
England league.
The class c races are also proving
of much interest to the baseball fans
of the respective league territories.
Nha 1- No NJ 10
race with Albany having a fair chance
If the lea ders slow up for any reason.
The Virginia contest IS far closer for
Norfolk, Newport News and Richmond
are closely grouped. Further north i'll
the Wisconsin, Illinois league five
clubs are in the flag race, there be-
ing hardly a hundred points between
teh first and fifth teams. Bay City
appears to have a safe lead in the
South Michigan league while Winni
peg, Grand Forks and Virginia all
have a chance to win out before the
season closes on Labor Day. The same
can be said of Fall River New Bed
ford and Pawtucket in the Colonial
league while London and Ottawa are
leaders in the Canadian league.
Can Hold Their Own.
The showing made by the American
athletes En the English track and field
championships again demonstrates the
fact that in this particular depart
formers can hold their own against
the world. In an entry list of close to
240 there were seven American com
Eetitors, three of whom participated in
two events giving this country total
entry of ten. This little band COM
peted in nine of the nineteen events
composing the program winning two
first, two second and two third places.
ffHe of the seven entrants being placed
III the finals against a field which in
Il Fy-1Ny all wiz Tho
British Isles, South Africa, Sweden,
Australia and Canada.
These entries were either personal
or clue entries and were in no way
official United States or Amateur Ath-
letic Union entries. The expenses Of
the athletes were paid by themselves
or by thei- respective clubs >and The
conditions under which the athletes
trained and travelled abroad were far
different from those governing a rep
resentative American team competing
In either Olympic or international
track and field games. "Hobey' Baker,
the former Princeton university foot
ball and hockey captain, who went
abroad with several of the athletes
who competed at the English games.
in writing of the trip states:
1T was amusing to talk with trainer
ia tx Kelly in charge OF Homer Baker
of the New. York Athletic Club and
Harry Smith of the BronXville
Church House. the well known dis
lance men, while c ntheir way TO com
pete in the English championships.
The steamer on which we made the
voyage was poorly adapted to training
purposes. The passengers little real
ICED the Importance of practice ana
hampered the runners in their practlce
by Crowding the decks so that heIIy
was forced to get his charges up early
in the morning and give them another