The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-15
CIRCUIT SHIFTS MAY
MAKE A Difference
New Works and Boston, faS' >pufF
Cannot BE Maintained TinouGh-
out the season

New York, May 14-If the records
INF mast seasons can be accepted as a
criterion, the unusual performances Of
the leading clubs in the major league
pennant races today do not neoessa-
riIy indicate a runaway winning OF the
National and American league cham
-pionships this year. While II ls true
that the New York Nationals and the
boston Americans set a most remark
able pace during the FIRST two weeks
of the season there Is nothing IN inc
history OF either league TO Substant-
ate the belief that these two teams
a~will continue their extraordinary per
centage Of victories and thus cllneh
Yrhe remnants long before the sched-
sIles are completed.
Several unusual factors enter into
sThc situation this season, one or which
, AZ the fact that the major league play
Sopened later than has ben customary
in past wears. While the New York
Giants completed the month of April
with eleven Victories and but one de
feat and Boston lost but two games
out CT thirteen played such hiSh
winning percentage can hardly he
maintained with succeeding shirts OF
the circuit teams. Opposing compi-
nations arc certain 10 grow stronger
with the approach Of warm weather
increasing practice and competition.
Furthermore the initial East vs. West
clash is likely 10 develop closer strug-
Sies and broader distribution OF VIC
tories,
n such was not the case. however
statistics based upon the play of the
clubs In both leagues would appear to
bear ont the opinion that, remarka bile
and impressive as the spurts OF the
Giants and Red SoN have been. they
cannot Ice maintained at anything AXE
the speed shown during the first two
weeks of the season Although the
New York Nationals winning per
centage on Nav I was az, the high
est on record Tor the past ten years
and the Boston Americans ,SaS, the
second highest in the American league
for the same period the fact stands
out that very few OF the clubs which
have led the league on May / also
closed the season in first place.
But three such exam plies have oc-
Cured IN the National league since
1908. In that year the Chicago Cubs
ended the month OF April with eight
games won and three lost for a per-
centage Of .125 The same team also
won the pennant with $40, In 1915
Philadelphia led on May J with a
percentage of 500. and closed the
season in first place with 500. Last
season the Giants were out in front at
the close of April with a percentage
OF .s67 and finally won the pennant
with $50. In the American league
Detroit, in 1909. led on May l with
.76a and captured the pennant with
,s45. The Philadelphia Athletics also
duplicated the feat in 1918 when they
won their way into the world series
with a winning league percentage OF
.s27. after leading on May / with
.7es.
1t will be seen from the foregoing
that in the past ten years but Ave out
OF the sixteen clubs composing the
two major league combinations from
season to season, have been out in
front at the close OF the race in April
and still had the stamina and playing
balance to finish the schedule race
showing the way 10 the rival clubs
The following compilations show
the club in each league which led in
the pennant race on May since
1909;