The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-19
CLOSEST RACE IN YEARS
IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES
The Virginia League Sics with the
Major mud Glass and ID
Leagues I'm Intercst.

New York, July ls.-With the close
or the professional baseball season
less than two months away. the pen
nant races in both major and minor
leagues are tightening up in re-
markable manner. when the scores of
associations are considered as a whole.
With few exceptions here and there.
the struggles for first places are far
closer than has been the rule for sew
cral years. II the claim that this Is
a poor financial season In baseball is
correct, II is certain that the charge
cannot be laid TO one-sided flag races.
In the major leagues at least Six clubs
have pennant chances. Philadelphia
American League race, and the first
four clubs In the National organization
all figure possible winners. The
same situation exists in the Federal
and International Leagues.
The race in the Glass A organizations
is also close. The Southern Associa-
ton pennant struggle is one of the
most interesting In years, less than 100
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 September 81, any one OF
these clubs may prove the flag winner.
Among the Glass B leagues the aver
age Is not so close. New London has
n good lead in the Eastern Association;
Dayton In the Central League; Wilkes
Barre IN the New York State League,
and Davenport in the Three I League.
In the Texas League Beaumont. Hous-
ton and Waco are all in the race, while
Worcester. Portland, Lawrence and
Lynn have pennant chance In the
New England League.
The Glass races are also proving of
much interest TO the baseball fans of
the respective league territories
h a r - CT dc ttn Al l.
race. with Albany having fair chance
If the leaders slow up for any reason.
The Virginia contest is far closer, for
Norfolk. Newport News and Richmond
the Wisconsin-Illi League, five
clubs are In the flag race, there being
hardly 100 points between the first and
ffth teams. Bay City appears to have
n safe lead in the South Michigan
League. while Winnipeg, Grand Fork
and Virginia all have chance to win
out before the season closes on Labor
Day. The same can be said of Fall
River, New Bedford and Pawtucket, in
the Colonial League, while London and
Ottawa are leaders in the Canadian
League.
The international challenge cup ca
noe races. being sailed to-day in
Gravesend Bay. New York. while OF
much interest to canoeists. have been
rather overshadowed this year because
of the moro famous trophies figuring
in the international schedule for 1914.
This cup. however, has n history fully
as interesting as either the polo. yacht
or tennis trophi IS although not so
widely heralded. 1t began with the
formation OF the New York Canoe Club
in 1871. Some fourteen years later
:he club received an intimation that
the champions Of England would be
glad to enter a contest for sailing ca
noes. In answer to this suggestion
the club offered an international chal-
lenEe cup as perpetual challenge
sailing trophy, the conditions of which
were drawn in substantial accordance
with that established for the Amer
clean club for larger yachts.
The first challcngcrs wero Messrs.
BadenPowell (brothor OF the distin-
gu.hed general OF that name), and
Walter Stuart, cf the Royal Canoe
Club, Of London, and the English ca
noeists were defeated during the sea-
son Of 1886. Two years later the cnal-
lenge was repeated without success.
and since that date the competition
has been between American and Ca
madam canoe racing experts. Begin
ming In 1890. In five attempts have been
made by Northern canoeists to lift the
cup. but In each attempt tho chal-
lengers have been defeated by the
trophy defenders.
Tho sailing canoes used in these
Continued on Third Page.)