Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-05
ENORMOUS CROWDS
EXPECTED At The
WORLDS SERIES
All Games To Be Played on the
American GroundS-Pres.
Lannin Offering Fenway
Park to the Braves
HOME RUNS IMPROBABLE

New York, Oct. "A peculiar and
interesting argyle of the Worlds Series
of 1914 is the fact that although the
American and National League pen
nant winners are the contending
teams. all the games will be played in
American League parks.
Fenway Park. scene of the final
game of the memorable world series
between the Boston Red Sox and the
New York Giants in 1912, will again
be the Boston center of the world
championship activities. Although an
American League plant. it will be used
as the home grounds of the Boston
Nationals through the courtesy of
President Joseph ]. Lannin of the local
American League club. 1t will be the
first in history of these world title
contests that all the games of series
were played on American League
grounds.
The little band box park at Walpole
street, which has been the home of
Boston Nationals for many years, with
seating arrangements stretched to the
utmost of available space. could not
possibly accommodate more than 22,-
900 persons. 1t is a relic of the base
ball of other days, when crowds were
counted great at $4,000.
The limited seating capacity was no
less an objection to the use of the old
grounds in the great series than was
the limited confines of the playing field.
Both left and right fields are much
shorter from home plate than in mod
ern parks, and short fences would be
shining marks for balls sent flying
from the hard driven bats of a Frank
Baler, an Eddie Collins, or a RUDE
Oldring. This fact did not figure in the
decision of President James Z. Gaffney
to accept the offer of President Lam
nin but it was undoubtedly a matter
of satisfaction to Boston pitchers that
the bombarding Athletic batsmen were
not thus to be assisted. Home runs in
the far reaches of Fenway Park are
rarities, and under the conditions pre-
vailing in a worlds series are improb-
able.
The same arrangements have been
made at Fenway Park for this years
games as prevailed two years ago.
Bleachers have been erected in left
field, along the embankment known to
American League admirers of Lewis.
their left fielder. as "Duffy's Cliff"
fence has been stretched along the en-
tire outfield about Is yards in front OF
the center field bleachers. Additional
boxes have been constructed in front
of the horseshoe lineup of the grand
stand front Seats will thus be pro-
vided for $4,000 spectators and there
will be standing room for from 1000
to 5000 additional the number limited
by rules against encroachment on
certain area of playing space. and
against standing room in the grand
stand.
1t is practically certain that the
game in Boston will produce new To-
cal record for world series crowds.
The present mark is 34,6S3, which was
the paid attendance at the fifth game
Of the series of two years ago. The
restrictions as to standing room and
against .encroachment on the playing
field, and the impossibility of adding
greatly to the seating arrangements
alone will prevent, it is believed, the
accommodation of crowd greater
than the 3S,2S1 which saw the first
of the games in the New York-Pn
delphia series of 1911 at the Polo
Grounds.
That greater crowds are within the
possibilities of the baseball enthusi-
asm in Boston, however, Yves amply
shown on Labor day, when 74,162 paid
admissions to two games in which the
Giants opposed the Braves The after
noon game alone drew $1,000 persons.