Evening journal., 1914-04-22
BIC LEAGUE CLUBS
Spring Surprises
Showing Of Giants and Ath-
leticS a DiSappOint-
ment
PHILLIES ARE GOING
AT A RAPID PACE

The close of the first week IN the 1914
season Of major league baseball finds
the PhilIies and Brooklyn sharing the
coveted berth in the National, and Chi
esgO alone holding that position in the
American. Seventeen games were played
in President Teper's organization, while
Ban Johnson's proteges managed 20 pull
OFT total Of 20 contests during the
week. Rain prevented several scheduled
games, which means that the fans Will
see double headers as a result.
The showing of the Phillies, looked
upon when the season opened az a
crippled club and not dangerous, was
surprise. Boss Dooin's men won each
one Of the three contests played during
the week, the work Of Alexander and
the youngsters whom Doom has signed
10 take the places of Knabe and Doolan,
who detected 20 the Federals, being
sensational. Byrno and Murphy, the new
inhelders. have already won a place IN
the hearts Of the fans and the two
veterans, gone and forgotten, are nc
longer missed.
Brooklyn. too. sprang q surprise by
winning an three Of the games played.
Everything considered, Pittsburgh made
the best showing The Pirates won five
games and lost one out Of six played
min hurting the Smoky City nine less
than other clubs, except st. Louis. One
of the big surprises, however was the
utter lack of form shown by John Nc.
Graw's New York Giants, the team that
wins pennants and loses worlds cham
pionships. The Giants lost every last
one Of It's games, three in number, feat
eualIed only by Boston. The Gotham.
ties and Bcaneaters occupy the tail end
berth together. This condition Is not
likely to continue long, however, as Nc
Graw's pitchers will get into form very
soon and then Matthewson and Mar
ouard will probably make the sparks
av In getting back to where the Giants
now think they belong, in first place.
The American League clubs are
hunched a little closer than those 10
the older organization. No American
IeaRue teams managed 20 win all their
games. Chicago performing best with
FIVE wins and one defeat. This gives
the sox the lead in the race, Will
Washington second and New Hort
third. The Philadelphia Athletics
champions of the world and the mos
talked OF team 10 baseball, went dowI
70 ignominious defeat three times II
as many games played, until yester
day when they came back strong and
trounced Boston twice.
Mack's men have not struck theii
stride. OF that there Is no question
but already many fans are declaring
the reign of the mighty is at an end
some even predicting that the Ath
letics viii not finish even one, twg
three this season. Such predictions
are rather far-fetched, however
clancing back over past perform
ances Il viii be remembered that Cap
tain Thomas men seldom start OF
fast.
The Federal League got into actioI
last week also. Gilmore's crew par
ticipated In 10 games and wound vi
the week with the Ward contingent
OF Brooklyn, In first place, because o
it's two Victories and no defeats. 81
Louis Is second. having won fou
games and lost but one. The open
ings of these three leagues wer
auspicious and the contests we'll at
tended, especially for this early in th
season, when most of the clubs ar
trying out youngsters and have NO
gotten down to their very best forn