The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-16
LAJOIt'S MAPLE LEAFS
ARE LOGICAL CHAMPIONS
Stride Until Late In Season but
Looked Best All Along.

La4oie's Toronto Maple Leafs took
botfr< ends of the double header from
Rochester yesterday, thereby ending
all argument as tos who would be the
International league 1917 champions.
The double victory should also fur
nish a wee hit of comfort to Baltt-
more fans who, II the Hustlers had
trimmed the Leafs in both games,
would naturally have developed an
ail-winter crouch Not one of the
four games scheduled with Richmond
could be played, rain preventing the
contests on both Friday and Saturday.
The outlook was so gloomy yesterday
at O'Clock that both games were
called at the same time and the Birds
took the 1850 for Baltimore, slight,
chilling drizzie precluded all posi-
hility of starting the first game and
the condition OF the grounds WAS so
bad that both managers agreed that
il would be a waste of time to wait
until o'clock.
Although the finish was the closest
in the history OF the lea que, IL is fair
is certain that the best team won.
NDssr led the league longer than
any other club, but the Bears never
looked good enough 10 he flag win
ners, The Providence Grays are
probably the closest approach To Lar
rvs perfected machine With I'M
doubtedly the greatest pitcher in the
league and a splendid fielding club,
the Gyays were better fitted to chal-
ienge the Leafs than any other rival
outfit Although Baltimore Is lead
ing in team batting. the Leafs are
! more formida BILE offensive club La
inia-tha aHatsp4.ea King af ha Bar
row sluegsrs. with Nhitemsn and
schultz. forms the most feared trio
in this league Tommy Thompson and
Bunny Hearne are real hurlers and,
altogether. atoie's larrupers deserve
first place honors
Hack EiheI and Everett Bankston
were tha only two Virglnians 70 I'm
ish the season within the charmed
circle. Hack sticking 800 and Ever
EFT sos Knaha was third with ?aT
The Nirrinisas lost the chance Of
climbing oHt of the cellar when both
~ The double headers with Baltimore
finished the season with the small
lead NJ A game and e half over the
NirginiAns
Losses Are Heavy.
The club owners viii probably meet
some time next week to go over the
affairs II the club When asked last
week for an. estimate ~ the clubs
losses, one Of the directors and largest
1 stockholders said Were afraid TO
figure 81" II ia understood. however
that the total VIII be in the neigh
I horhocd cf $4,000. Whatever the
amount, II will occasion no surprise
i The attendance this year has fallen
many thousands below LAST wears
mark and the owners are fully pre-
pared for the worst.
! The lack OF attendance IL sxtreme.
! ~ regretta BILE and the owners DESERVE
honorable mention FOR their effort
/ % provide Richmond with A hirh
grade Of baseball. A sense ~ civic
pride and the desire TO see Richmond
assume its proper niche amonx other
cities Of tie country prompted the
owners 10 secure Class IA ball for
Richmond None of them expected
any material returns and they are
accepting their losses ph!iosophica,lv
But, barring the effect that a con
'inuance OF the war Will hava An
organized baseball an effort should
he made next year to provide Rich
mond not only with a hall climb hu.
with a paying bali club There r.
only one way 10 do this. and that In
/ to provide winning ball club. The
/ fact that this years attendance hss
/ been mtsera bile does no, mean TIA.
Richmond is not "a good a bali town
as any city IF the same siza Thar
are thousands Of dyed lin .tha.waal
FANS mere who follow sports religious
" from season to season. hut a blv
majority Of them seldom. or never
attend the local games Cnauestion
a OILY poor baseball and a seeming lark
I or Improvement Disguised MANY ~
| them In the first days of the season
ana many have made II rule never
70 go near the park. These same men
would night for Il place in line ~ a
/ nFst division bail team could be gath
cred Whether Richmond viii ha
represented in the InternationaJ
league next year is still a matter NJ
conjecture, but if a determined 81.
Tort Is not made to gather nron,is,ng
material before the season opens ths
pfo1eet would better be ahandnned