The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-06
BY ERNEST POLLARD.

BY ERNEST POLLARD.
Now that the first half Of the In
fornational League season has about
ended. the real race for the gonfalon
wall begin In earnest.
Although a few weeks ago it looked
as IL the Providence Grays had taken
the lead in the Barrow organize
for keeps" their visions of "a PEN
nant partly disappeared here this
week when the Virginians administer
led them three consecutive defeats,
bringing them down the ladder much
closer to the other first division clubs
At the present time there are no less
THAN SIX or the clubs IN the thick Of
the fight and only a few days dura-
ton can change the standing ~ the
ciuhs considerably, Those UP IN the
running are Providence, Baltimore.
Buffalo. Richmond. Newark and Mon
treal. in the order named, and none
OF them can DO declared ont OF the
race vet.
The first half of the sea@on has been
y warm one, and several Of the clubs
! have occupied the exalted roost for
u time. at least
The club that has to be watched
| uurane July is Donovans Buffalo herd
With the Bhsons In third place, only
q few points behind the Baltimore
Orioles, and with twenty more games
on their home grounds this month. II
would be quite safe TO say that the
Risons will be on top ere many days
elapse.
other Three Away From Homo.
II will be seen that the other three
clubs in first division, Providence.
Richmond and Baltimore will be
playing on foreign territory the major
portion of this month, and this should
be big help 10 the Buffalo crowd
The big thing TO consider is whether
or not Richmond, Baltimore and
providence can make as good a show
ting on the road this time as they have
done on their home grounds during
the past few days Unless a club Is
enjoying a squirt they always play
under a handicap while abroad. The
Buffalo club has been going great
recently on the road, and Il would /
be surprising TO see the Bisons take
The lead In the league within the next
few days. Bat just how long they
gan hold II when they start out on
their long trap away from the home
grounds Ia another question.
While tho first half OF the season
has furnished no little excitement, the
last stretch promises TO be even more
Interesting. There are several clubs
In the International League that Will
have to be reckoncd with before the
pennant has been stored safely away
Last year. II will be remembered, the
bunting was not captured until the
oast three days of the season, when the
Buffafo cfuf, came from behind and
nosed out the Providence Grays. The
03teons are going to make another
strong bid for the honors this season,
and unless their huriers break under
che strain they will cause the other
teams no little worry,
Indians Got Early Lead.
The league season had progressed
only n few days this year when the
Newark Indians took the lead. AS
early as May found the New Jer-
eey aggregation at the top OF the heap,
with Providence second and the Wiz
ginians only one-half game behind,
One week later the Indians were
still in front with Providence, Rich
mond and Baltimore trailing in the
order named. At this time all of the
four clubs leading closed their initial
stay at home and started out on the
road. On May II Fred Tenney and
Ms men were still roosting on top.
but on the following day the vir
4fnians became tied with them for
arst honors and two days later found
khe Richmond boys mounted at the top
81 the ladder. They held this position
III by themselves until MAY IS, when
Newark again ascended to the top and
occupied tho place with the Richmond
club for the next few days.
II was after May rs that Providence
started its squirt and one week later.
June L. found Dave Shean and his
CLANS in first place with Richmond
second, and Newark and Baltimore
third and fourth, respectively. The
0rays have been leading the Inter-
national League ever since they
reached the top. BY June IL the Vir-
inians had gone down as far as NTH
place, but were only q few points be-
hind the Montreal Royals in frst d.
g1sion for the frst time during the
season.
Get ~ Far Third.
From June II to June IS the vir-
giniAns rot UP as far as third place.
but on the last named date they were
lawn al far as sixth place for the
lrst time during the 1915 campaign.
& was the second time the Richmond
hub had been out of first division. but
wen at this time they were still in
ne fight and were but few games
behind the clubs higher up In the
rlnning.
On June rs the virginians were In
.hird place again. Baltimore was &C.
supying second place. while Newark
was fourth. The elapse of one week
NV the Richmond club showed out of
lrst division again, the Buffalo club
aising thu virginian's place In the
eague standing. However, since that
lime the virginians have aacended into
lrsf division again, pushing the New
kyk Indians out. Tho yirginians have
een In fourth place ever since. and
the event they make formidable
moving during their three weeks
Nex Aem home, they y VIII N remain
M III st1sst crowd tor Some tinnx q