The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-29
EAST FAR AHEAD
OF WEST IN WAY
OF GETTING TITLES

+, New York, Aug. 29-After seven |
years of pennant starvation the West
this season has at least, a fighting
chance to hehabilitate itself baseball
istically. Not since the famous Chi
cago Cub machine under Frank
Chance disintegrated after winning the
National League flag in 1910 has a
Western team been able to ''horn IN
to's the festive world series. The East
has had a monopoly Of the autumna1
classic But this year the Chicago
White SoH have shouldered the sec
tional burden and are putting up a
hectic fight against the ruddy-hoseo
brigade from Boston and may sue
coed in winning the American League
title. 1t has been long and rocky
lane the West has been travelling, but
perhaps the proverbial turn will be
reached before another season has
skidded off sports calendar.
The last time an American League
pennant was raised on a Western baili-
wick was in 1909, when the Detroit
Tigers, E-yahed by "Hughey Jen-
nings, captured their third successive
title. Incidentally, it was in that year
that theSWest won its last world SER
les the Pirates beating the Tigers in
q series Of games that was stretched
to the full portion of seven before
decision was reached.
The following year the Chicago
Cubs regained their winning stride.
only to be overpowered in the world
seriesSby the machine that Connie
Mack had moulded together for the
edfficatfon Of Philadelphia fandom.
That WAS the beginning Of the as
cendancy in baseball of the East, and
since that time this section in both
leagues has reigned supreme.
With the rise Of the White Sox this
year the chances of an intersectiOna1
clash in the big event are brighter
than they have been for long stretch
Of pallid moons. In the National Lea
que the Giants are everywhere regard
ed as the coming champions. And
even il the Giants should miss fire to
such an extent that their present lead
Of eight games should dwindfe into
nothingness It would seem that the
Pnlhes would be the club to sup
plant them, thus virtually assuring the
East Of its place in the National
League sun for this campaign at
least.
! But in the American League the
| battle between the Red Sox and the
White Sox promises to go merrily on
until the final stretch run is reached
any may even continue right up to the
wire. Consensus of opinion makes
the Red Sox the favorites to ultimate
ly whisker out the Chicago troupe.
But the Grandoldope has suffered
greater upsets than this would be IL
the revolt of the White Soxl should
result in their being crowned.
There is little doubt that q world
series featuring teams representing
New York and Chicago-an intersec-
tionaI debate-would do a great more
| to stimulate interest in baseball than
a clash between the Red Sox and
Giants OF Red Sox and Phillies. The
! supremacy Of the East no doubt is
| very gratifying to the more rabid of
| the baseball enthusiasts of this Sec
ton, but it is monotonous to an equal
degree to the supporters of the ma
tional pastime in the West. That Sec
ton of the baseball universe appar-
emily is in need of stimulant, judg-
ing by the attendance figures of the
current races in the rival leagues and
the greatest stims.ant that could be
administered would be to have Wes-
tern team play in the world series.
Dflving into the musty records Of
baseball some interesting facts are
disclosed in connection with the in
jtersectional side Of the game. Since
the National League was organized in
1871 forty-six championships have
been decided. OF these Eastern teams
have won thirty-one and the West
| fifteen.
The American League began opera
lions in 1900. Seventeen pennants
have been awarded in this league. The
East has won eleven of the West six.
Combining the two leagues, sixty
three CHAMPIONSHIPS have been pIay-
I ed for. The East has won forty-two
lapd the sWest fwoptv-opa