Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-08
PHILADELPHIA TEAM
PLAYS BOSTONFOR
BASE BALL HONORS
Championship of the World Is
at Stake in Series Which
Opens This Afternoon.
FIRST CONTEST IS HELD
ON RAIN-SOAKED FIELD
Catcher Killefer Only Player on Ma
tional League Club Not in
b, Prime Condition.
BOTH MANAGERS CONFIDENT
Thousands of Fans Undaunted by
Raw Weather of Early Morning
Hold Places in Long Line.
Ticket Spectators Active.
LINEUP.

Philadelphia, October 8.-After
the depressing uncertainty Of last
. night and the early hours of to-
day, the announcement from the
national commission that despite
a wet and soggy field the cham
pion Phillies of the National
League and the victorious Boston
Red Sox of the American circuit
would meet this afternoon in the
first game of the world series
brought unbounded joy to the
thousands of followers of base
ball here to- witness the, opening
of the 1915 battle for the highest
honors of the game.
Rush for Phildes' Park.
The announcement came at 10:45
o'clock and there was an immediate
rush for the PhiilieS park. at Broad
and Huntingdon streets-the smallest
base ball Enclosure in either major
ieague-which early gave promise Of
close resemblance to carefully packed
sardine box when play was begun. The
bleacher gates were thrown open at II
o'clock and here 500 Of the real root
ers Of the game found accommodations
1T 81 head. The more exclusive hold
ers of reserve seat privileges were late
in reaching the grounds and noon
found only a scattering in the double
decked grandstand.
RI hA 49,
groundkeeper and his assistants were
busy on the playing field. Up to 10
o'clock it seemed game would hardly
be possible, but another half hour Of
away of the gloomy clouds Influenced
the decision of the umpires to recon-
mend that the series start on scheduled
time.
outfeld in Fair Shape.
By noon the soaked and slippery base
paths had been covered with a top coat
Of dry dirt and sand. The pitchers box
was in pretty bad shade. while the ground
on either side Of the plate was little less
than a quagmire The grassy outheld
was in fair shape.
The sun was assisting the groundkeeper
in his effort to put the diamond in safe
condition. but there was much speculation
as to the effect of the slow field upon
the game. 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 advantage
was certain to be minimized by the rain
soaked ground. The players Of both
teams. however. were just glad as the
fans that there was to be no delay in get
ting the series under way.
All in Shape Except Killefer.
While thousands Of fans would have
been sorely disappointed II there had
been a delay in starting the big series,
II would have been harder blow 10
the clans of both Moran and Carrigan.
who were on edge for the battle and
anxious to get into the fray. With the
exception Of Killefer. the--Phillies' star
catcher. who is nursing an injured
arm. all of Moran's players appeared
TO be In prime condition. After an ex-
animation Of Killefer's arm yesterday
by specialist 1t was said there was
but slight chance for his getting in the
series.
Manager Carrigan declared that his
men were as fit fiddle, and were
going to win. We've got a tough bird
In Alexander" he added, but we've
been looking over tough birds all year.
One thing that / am counting on strong
for my boys to come through is that
they have not fallen down once when
we needed series to come through"
The Phillies leader, while expressing
confidence in coming out victorious in
the series. declined to make any pre-
dfctions. Il hope we will win" Moran
said The boys put their heart and
soul into bringing the pennant to
Philadelphia and they will to win the
world title. ! know that nearly all the
experts pick the Red Sox to win. but
this does not injure I'm the least.
Has More Than One Pitcher.
A,lexander has been our mainstay
irSthe box and he has performed won-
derfully all year. but one must not
overlook the fact that Alexander has
won only about one third Of our games
Some people are inclined to the opinion
that IL the Red Sox should beat Alex
Arder we would throw up the sponge
Re wouldn't. We have Demaree, Mayer
chalmers Rixey and McQuillan. any OF
whom are good enough to beat a lot
est clubs when they are right, AID every
pitcher is In hrst-class condition"
| The disagreeabie weather apparently
,lCeatiRned On Twentieth Page.l