Evening journal., 1914-12-04
WORLD Series IS
LONG ENOUGH NOW
National League Oppose
Plan to Increase II to
Eleven Games
SEVEN GAMES
SUIT BOTH CLASSES

CINCINNATI. o., Dec. 4-Chair-
man Hermann says that he has heard
nothing officially Of the alleged plan
: of the American League to advocate
an extension of the worlds series
from seven to IL games. He said
that, not having been officially in
formed as 10 any such action on the
part of the junior league. he did not
care to express an opinion on the
matter too hastily. II is known how
ever, that several National league
men are vigorously opposed to the
lengthening of the big series. and
will prevent any action of that kind
even If it is strongly urged by the
American league.
Ever since the National commission
has been in charge Of the series
which is for the past 10 years. il has
consisted Of the best four out of
seven games. This makes IL possible
for the series to extend anywhere
( from four to seven games In fact.
IN one case, IL went over eight con-
tests, on account of a tie game which
had to be played off. In 10 years.
only once has the series been deci-
ded in four straight games, and that
was this fall when the Boston Braves
/ achieved their notable victory over
/ the Athletics in consecutive contests.
| The nearest approach to this record
was made by the Cubs in 1907 When
they won four straight from the De-
/ troit Tigers, after tying the opening
game. In 1905, 1908, 1910 and 1913
! five games were required to settle
! r. hrf n Ntr j. ~ 1 4
it went six games. In 1909 il took
the Pittsburg Pirates seven games to
beat the Detroits, the Pirates takina
the first game and the teams alter
mating thereafter In 1913 the series
was forced through eight games be-
fore the Boston Red Sox secured the
victory over the New York Giants.
There has never been the slightest
complaint about the length of tn,
series. Seven games seem to be tn,
ideal number. OF course. the longe,
it goes the fairer is the decision. bu
both players and fans have beer
perfectly satisfied with the seven
game decision. So far as is know
there has never been any demand 70
a longer series.
Strenuous objection is offered Z
the extension of the series. Thi
worlds event is the great climax I
the baseball year and il is now
settled institution. In case the serie
was extended TO IL games IL woul,
take too long for a decision. In tina
case the clubs would have to go a
least six games even If one club wor
in straight contests. If played in
the east. there could be no Sunday
! game. so the series would necessarily
! extend over a full week even at the
very shortest. The chance Of any
team winning in six straight games is
extremely remote II took 10 years
before any team was able to beat its
opponent even four straight games
! in this event, and the odds against
any club ever winning six straight
would be enormous. In most years
the series would run over nine OF 10
games, With a Sunday or two in
between and the inevitable bad
weather bound to be encountered at
that season of the year. the contest
would usually require more than two
weeks for decision. II is going to
be very hard to maintain interest at
fever heat for that length of time.
Long drawn-out series are not salts
] factory to either players or fans
I Seven games suit both classes.