The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-01
Neither Cubs Nor Red Sox
Hold Any Tangible Advan-
tage for Coming Combats.
FORTUNE FAvoRs BOSTON
Hub Seems to Lead q Charmed
Existence in Champion
ship Competitions.
NJ sH0RTsTOP.


hardly can expect to'Nt the attention
that In former years has been showered
on the baseball classic.
Prior to Americas entry into the
world war interest In these games had
reached such . high pitch and had be-
come 90 universal that the nation prac-
ticaily shut up shop on the afternoon Of
the big contests to look on or stand
around the score boards Prominent
business men have asserted that on the
afternoon Of worlds championship games
business In America and Canada would
be SO per cent below normal
However. In these days OF relentless
strife America can give only passing at
tentton TO It's former star sporting events
The former fan. now wearing q tin derby
instead OF his summer straw hat, and
yelling defiance at the retreating Ger
mans instead Of exercising his vocal
chords In behalf Of his homo team. now
70 the national hero. Ths lad in khaki
far outshinss the former popular idols Of
the diamond-the Cobbs. Speakers and
Johnsons.
Has OAciaI disbursement.
Nevertheless the endorsement given to
the series by Secretary OF War Baker
and his declaration that tho boys ''over
there" are intensely interested In the
outcome. has raised It to . far higher
plane than lovers OF baseball had ex-
pected few weeks ago.
Interest In Chicago especially has
the series approaches. and n big turn
outs are expected at Comiskey Park as
attended the games between the White
Sox ana Giants last fall. Boston has
had % much worlds series glory in re-
can't years that no great interest has
been noted in the Hub. However, the
same state OF anairs existed in 1915.
yhsn ths Red Soy overwhelmed the
Notwithstanding the apparent letharsy
Of the Boston fans before the Brooklyn
series the spacious Braves Field was
dlled In each game at Boston, including
two crowds In excess Of $4,000. BY tho
time the series swings to Boston, espe-
cially should the 6ox Be in front, Il
likely will be discovered that Hub fans
havA warmed to the series ~ they have
In the past when . Boston team was .
participant.
Owing to the fact that the series was
In doubt until the last two weskS and
that the season will terminate 90 much
sooner than In former yearA tbs usual
player BY player comparison largely has
osen eliminated this year.
Clubs Evenly Matched.
On their form this year the Cubs and
the Red Sox seem to be pretty evenly
matched. despite the fact that Chicago
looms up stronger In the figures. In
comparing values however. one cannot
afford to overlook the impressive man
ner In which American League teams
have whipped National League entries
during the last eight years. in which
the National League has managed to
win only one series, that Of 1914 That
year the Boston Braves daxzled the
sporting world by defeating the SUD-
posedly invincibis Athletics in four
straight games,
During this eight year period the
American League has won twenty eight
worlds series games. against only fifteen
for the National League, giving the
Americans an eight year percentage of
ISL The war has hit both leagues
al.ks but on the whole, due to the
ereater number OF star players. the
American League seems to have re-
tainsd its ascendancy over the National
This further was proved last sprinr.
when the American League teams rode
roughshod over those from tho National.
Another thing which must De consid-
cred In favor Of the Boston team 10 the
uncanny 0uoceas that always has fol-
lowed Boston Mines In worlds series
oompsdtion- IN ne i've worlds series
b which . Boston team has participated,
the Bsantown fan always has been able
10 root for winner.
Red sox's Great Record.
The Red Sox have q remarkable
worlds series record to defend. They
have clean slate OF victories. In 1908,
Jimmy Coliins's team defeated the
Pirates. five games to three In 1906,
the Red Sox claimed the series by do
fault. as the Giants deemed 1t wiser
not to tackle Collinss bunch.
In 1919, the Red Sox, led by Jake
6tahl. defeated the Giants on Snod-
grass mum and Merlsle's failure to
catch Q foul in the tenth inning of the
eighth game, one game having been
tied in 1915 and 1915. Bill Carrigan's
teams simply walked over their Ma
tfonal League rivals defeating the
Phillies In i've games In 1913, and dis |
posing of the Dodgers az quickly the |
following fall.
In 1914, the Braves defeated the
Athletics In four straight games. The |
Boston soil have resulted In Beantown
Victories.
It might be argued that Boston "a
due 20 lose, aud It must be admitted
that the law of averages Is against the
Red Eox- But In the last few years It
often has been written by experts that
under the law Of averages the American
League was due for reverse, where
upon the American League has kicked
the law OF averages into smithereens.
A to Cubs' Changes.
Tho Cubs may be said to have about
the tame chance for winning the 1918 |
worlds series a. the Giants, National
League entries Of 1917, had year ago. |
The Giants could have won--they should
have won, but lot Of ifs interviewed. |
Unfortunately for the National League
these "ifs' always seem to cause its |
Standard bearers no end OF trouble.
judging from the manner In which |
the Cubs hit against National League |
pitching they have q marked superiority |
In batting over the Red Sox. Especially |
II Chicago likely to maintain this ad- |
vantage, as Ruth. Hooper and Strunk, |
the leading Red Sox hitters. will be |
Obliged to bat during considerable part |
Of the series against two crack left |
hAnders---vaughn and Tyler.
Hooper probably will hit as we'll |
against the "iefties" as he will against |
Harry won the NTH and |
aeciding game OF the 1915 series with q