Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-26
SERIES STARTS
AT CHICAGO
World Baseball Title Games
Not Yet Arranged, Presi-
dent Frazee Objecting

Ban Johnson. who is getting to be
about as unpopular in baseball as the
Hun autocrat is in the whole uni
verse, has given out the plans for
the worlds series. although. hereto
fore this was always done by the
National Commission. His program
calls for the first three games at Chi
cago. but President H. h. Frazee, Of
the Red Sox, said last night ne would
not agree TO this. and went on:
Such a schedule is not only very
unfair to the Boston Club. out it is an
insult to Boston fans and to the best
baseball town in the American
League.
While it has been the custom for
the contending club owners to toss
coin to decide upon the place to the
opening of the series. 1 do not mind
waving that formality and playing
the first two games in Chicago and
then coming to Boston for two games.
But am absolutely opposed to play
them as President Johnson says,
playing the remaining games if any
(whatever that means) in Boston.
The ideal arrangement would be
- . w
nesiay and Thursday in Boston and
the next two Saturday and Sunday in
Chicago. The schedule as given out
hy MIR. Johnson will necessitate the
Sunday dates which 1 think is a big
mistake. The series should so be ar
ranged that each club shall have an
equal chance to win. The expense of
an extra trip between the two cities
should not be considered at all. There
is absolutely no reason for curtailing
the SERIES"
All over the country baseball fans
who usually attend this great -nual-
contest feel grateful to the Natioi. II
League. for ii alone is responsible fer
a series this year. Ban Johnso
league took it up with Secretary
Baker and he showed his attitude by
Immediately extending the time limit
to September Is.
Responding to the War Secretary
baseLau Uen sre just as fair. uni
war charity will benefit greatly by a
wcrld series. Many changes will De
] eonditions ions TSe red9ction Hgf meft of The t5e
price of admission will probably cut
DOWN the revenue, but it will give
more persons a chance to witness the
gs mes, and the crowds this year will
lie as great as cvs1.
Last year 1s6. .654 persons attended
the SIX games played by the Chicago
White SoX and New York Giants. The
plaers' share was $i52,SsS.5S, each
player of the Chicago team receiving
SS,52S.13 and each member of the
Giants s2,54s.l4. This year the play
each member of the winning team re-
the losing team, 81 400; providing
does not the players share will be re-
duced accordingly. While the reduc-
zion of prices may cut into the play
ers' winnings, it will also elm nate
the cry about the series being held
purely as a money-making scheme.
In securing the first three games
for Chicago the Cubs appear o'have
decided advantage over either tue
ret Sox or India:s.. especially the
latter, as Cleyelani is, poor road
team. The Red Sox have suca q COM
Portable lead, however. that they are
aim. st sure TO, win and. cons! teriI'g
this. the Clubs advantage wilt be
lcssened, because Boston is a better
road club than Cleveland. Bost IN is
the strongest home club in ths Ameri-
can League and Chicago will have to
win all three games 20 obtain much
of an advantage. aa all games after
the first three are to be played in
Boston. 1t was not the advantage or
baseball men were figuring or when
thy decided u play three gaanns in
the first city. but the cost of trans
porting the teams from one city to
NlAN bLAlNA. MS " III bt a NgilSlu'sI-
able item of expense, with the in
creased railroad fares this year and
is going to take a big slice Of the
earnings of he two clubs.
Chicago yesterday clinched the Ma
tional League pennant by breaking
even with Brooklyn while New York.
the runner up. remained idle. If Chi
.cago loses all its remaining games
while New York wins all its games
left on the abbreviated schedule, they
cannot overtake the locals. who are
eleven and a half games in front
Chicago won the first game to 3.
with the aid of erratic playing by
Brooklyn, but lost the second games
l to 2. when Brooklyn punched hits
in the fourth inning.
Chicago's probable American
League opponent in the world series
will be Boston, which leads Cleve-
land by four games and Washington
The 1918 National League leaders
increased their margin over New
York last week by winning seven
games out of nine. while the Giants
won only two in six. New York won
one game out of three with Chicago
and also with Pittsburgh.
In the American League. Boston di-
vided two games with Cleveland, but
gained on the Indians by taking three
out Of four from st. Louis. while
Cleveland was held even by washing-
ton in four games. The Red Sox twice
won games from st. Louis on four