The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-08
WORLDS SERIES


|
| ton Red Sox of the American would
meet this afternoon in the first game
| of the world series brought joy to
| thousands of followers of baseball
| here to witness the start of the 1915
battle for the highest honors of the
game.
The announcement came at 10:45
O'Clock and there was an immediate
rush for the Phillies park at Broad
and Huntingdon streets-the smallest
| baseball enclosure in either major
| league.
The bleacher gates were thrown
open at IL o'clock and here 1900 of
the real rooters of the game found ac-
| comm odations at 81 a head. The
more exclusive holders of reserved
seat privileges were late in reaching
the grounds and noon found only
scattering in the double decked grand
stand.
! Work ON Grounds. l
| From early morning the Phillies's
! grounds keeper and his assistants
were busy on the playing field. Up
to 10 O'Clock it seemed a game would
| hardly be possible, but another half
breaking away of the clouds influ-i
enced the decision of the umpires tie
recommend that the Series start on
schedule time.
| By noon the soaked and slippery
| base paths had been covered with q
top coat of dry dirt and sand. The
pitchers box was in pretty bad shape,
while the ground on either side of the
| plate was little less than a quagmire.
! The grassy outfie1d was in fair shape.
The sun was assisting the grounds:
keeper in his effort to put the dia-
mond in safe condition, but there was
much speculation as to the effect of
the slow field upon the game.
Slow Down Sox.
| The Boston players have from the
first claimed a certain superiority in
the speed of their work, both in field
| ing and running bases This advan-
tage was certain to be minimized by
the rain-soaked ground. The players
of both teams, however, were just as
glad as the fans that there was to be
no delay in getting the series under
way.
At 1910 the home players made
their appearance and received a noisy
greeting from the bleachers, the grand
stands still being empty.
The Phillies made a careful znspec-
ton of the field. The ground in front
of the players benches was almost
ankle deep in mud.
''Alex'' Gets Applause.
Grover Cleveland Alexander, idol of
the Philadelphia fans and the hope of
the home team in the series, got
special greeting when he was recog-
sweater coat ALEX made his way
direct to the pitchers box and inspect
ed it infinitely Apparently satisfied,
he proceeded to the home bench.
The entire Philadelphia staff with
the exception. of Alexander soon
started to loosen up their arms. At one
time eight pitchers with as many re-
ceivers were at work. Shortly before
1 o'clock gasoline was spread along the
base paths and set on fire in a further
effort to dry out the ground. TIE
flames leaped forty feet in the air and
hugh cloud of black smoke rolled
skyward. The heat could be felt In
While the burning OUT was in
progress Alexander engaged in batting
practice down by the right f1eld toul
at 1850. There was momentary
| cheer for the visitors who struggled
in a few at time.
Batteries Announced.
Alexander and Burns We're an
nounced as the battery for Philadel-
phia. Shore and Cady were announced
! for Boston.
| The batting practice was sharp and
the Boston players tried out the range
on the short right field fence Mays
| served up the benders for Boston's
! batting practice, while AL Demaree
took the pitching mound when the
| Philadelphias took their turn at
sighting the different ranges of the
field.
Though the infield was sodden with
both the Bostons and Philadelphias
was surprisingly fast. The Boston
! outfielders gave especial attention to
trying bounding balls from the snort
| o11tfield fences. The left fielder had
the sun in his eyes and Lewis wore
smoked glasses. During the practice
| Alexander for Philadelphia and Ernest
Shore warmed up on the side lines.
The stands at 1:45 O'Clock were prac-
tically filled.
Down off third base the Royal
Rioters, with an industrious brass
band kept things lively.
KiIIifer PROBABLY Out.
After an examination of Killifer's
arm Thursday it was said there is but
slight chances for his getting in the
! series.
Manager Carrigan declared his men
are confident they are going to win
We've got tough bird in AleXan--
der" he added, "but we have been look
ing over tough birds all year. One
thing more 1 am counting on strong
| for nv boys to come through is that
they have not fallen down once when
we needed a series to come through
| The Phillies' leader, while express
ing confidence in coming out victor
ious in the series, declined to make
any predictions
| 'sThe boys put their heart and soul
into bringing the penannt to Phil
adelphia and they will strive Just as
that nearly ali the experts pick the
Red Sox to win but this does not in
lure us in the least.
alexander has been our main stay
in the box and he has improved Won
| derfully all year, but one must not
| overlook the fact that Alexander has
| won only about one-third of our games
| Some people inclined to the opin-
| ion that if the Red Sox should beat
| Alexander we would throw up the
| sDonge We would not. We have
Demaree, Mayer. Chalmers, Rixey and
| McOuflIan, any of whom good
enough to beat lot of clubs when they
are right and our pitchers are in first
class condition
Fans ArdOf Undampened.
| The disagreeable weather apparent