Evening journal., 1914-10-08
SLUMP BY PHILIIES
HIT CLUB HARD
Might Have Been Pennant
ContenderS Had Not Luck
Broken Against Them
DOOM MAY LOSE
PLACE NEXT YEAR
BY HAL SHERIDAN.

written for the United Press.)
NEW YORK, Oct. S.-With the
amazing record-breaking rush Of the
Boston Braves to the top Of the Ma
tional League after being poor last,
the first OF July, taking up all spot
lights in this world of sport some
other mighty interesting features in
connection with the annual baseball
marathons have been overlooked.
One of these features-and one
that deserves far more than ordinary
mention. is the work of Grover Cleve-
land Alexander, that pitching phenom
who wiggles for the greatest hard
luck club in the world-the Phillies.
This wear Alexander has been breez-
ing along at the fastest clip of any
pitcher In the National League loop,
literally standing the baters in that
organization on their heads
Alexander. with a patched-up very
ordinary club behind him has piled
up the best pitching percentage in
the league. His work has been mar
velous. considering the support ac-
corded him. He has been the one
and only consistent winner for the
philies He has worked too work
cd like trojan all year Doom de-
tormined to keep his warriors out Oh
the cellar, called on Alexander oithe
and the big twirler responded with a
victory almost every time.
Which causes us to pause ana
think what might have happened.
lust suppose for instance, that Tom
seaton hadn't jumped to the Brook
lvn Federals. Seaton, with his class
would have added at least twelve
more wins to the Philadelphia clubs
standings. And those same victories
marking like number of defeats
would have put the Phillies out IN
front OF the Braves, where they could
not have been headed.
Another thing that figured strong
in the slump of tho Phillies this year
was the absence Of Shortstop Micke,
Doolan. He. too fell for the big sal
arv Inducements held out by the
Feds. Baltimore got him.
Dooin was in sore straits TO plus
the gan left by Doolan's departure
Nor the first three months OF the sea
son he kept trying out different one
there and in the meantime the one
getting the trials kicked many
31ame away for him. These sam
games would have been won in al
likelihood if Doolan had been IN IN
lineup.
Reports now have it that Doom i
to be deposed this winter as manage
Of the Phillies The rumor has floate'
often before. This time IL really seem
10 be founded on fact.
Wen. maybe Doom hasn't mad'
good. He hasn't. il you simply lool
al the percentage table, showing
where the Phillies finished, but 4
you've followed the career of the red
headed scrapping leader you know
that he hasn't fallen down on the 1ol
through lack of ability
Doom takes the prize for being tn
most unlucky cuss that ever attempt
ed to drive a ball club to victory. II
knows baseball. knows II like bool
He knows how to play it and know
also how to teach others to play i
He can handle men so that he can 3,
the most out of them. But when
comes to wrestling with Fate, an
putting that old jOy-killer's shoulder
to the mat the sorrel-topped one ism
there. He admits that is out Of h
line
And Fate has sure landed some te
rifle wallops on the fighting jaw
Doom. In fact this Fate person seen
to have taken a supreme delight
just scattering its punishment aloi
so that 1t could hand the red hei
enough every season TO keep out
the running.
Ever since he has been at Philadl
phia, Doom has had a pennant wi
ming aggregation-in the spring r.
critics are all unanimous in the spri
in the verdict that ON straight fol
Dooin's club should make a parade q
Of the pennant derby. with themsely
so far out in front that there would
be anything to it. And just as regul
before the season was very old {
Man Fate would come along and so
Doom in the jaw for the count OF {,
First Fate put over his wallop
the shape of injuries 10 players.
would see that Just enough Of Dooil
stars got hurt to seriously cripple {
team When they would recover
would see that others jumped 1
keeping the regular team shot
pieces all the time Then next Ia
showed himself by getting Dooil
star outfielder, Shortstop Magee,
slam an umpire. with the result tn
the outfielder was out OF the line
for some time. And his absence hur
Fate's latest turn was to IN
Dooin's stars away via the FEEDER
League. Doom might as well give
until he finds some means of handi
TINS Fate person a knockout wallC
ne IS loser on falls as it stands.