The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-30

AAI1A manly SAOoN bOSN NAASA IA OAi
games. One example will sery
Chicago has scored this season an
average of ass runs per game for 1913
games and did this with an expendi-
ture of 2.01 hits per run.
Cincinnati has scored 4.2S runs per
game in 125 games and has used 2.96
hits to produce each run.
Now. on these figures Chicago hasn't
much superiority to speak of. But the
similarity OF the Sox and Reds IN this
matter and other Departments of the
game is more apparent than real.
One must remember the Reos made
their record in the National league ana
the White Sox made theirs in the
American. And you can get no ors to
say the two leagues are equal.
American league fans insist the
younger circuit is stronger; National
league fans are equally positive II is
the other way around.
EIGHT AGAINST TWO
In the last 10 years the National
league has won two world series
championships and the American
league has won eight. The older
league won in 1909 and 1914. Prior 10
10 years ago honors were more even.
The National league champions won
three times, 1905. 1907 and 1908. and
the American league champions won
twice, 1903 and 1906. and in 1904 tnere
was no series because the National
league pennant winners refused to
play the Boston Red Sox.
These records of the world series
give color to the belief that the Amer
lean league really is superior to the
National league.
Results of other post-season games
strengthen this belief. American league
teams have won a large majority of
these contests.
Another bit of evidence is found In
the annual custom of picking all-star
teams Most of these teams have con-
tanned more American leaguers than
National Ieaguers in the last decade.
TRADING PLAYERS
Still another test rs provided by the
case of players who have been in both
leagues A considerable number of
players in the last 10 years have had
trial. in the American league and have
been turned back to the minors as not
quite up to standard, as lacking speed
or batting power or some other quail
ification. Manv of these men, after
brief sojourn in the minors. have tried
their luck in the National league and
made good.
and Roush. has three conspicuous ex-
amples.
The Reds also have another kind of
discard-the competent or even star
player who after years of service Is
believed to have passed his days of
highest efficiency. Usually waivers
are sought and the player Is sent to
the minors. but occasionally National
league club takes a chance on an
American veteran and he makes good.
Ray Fisher is a good example OF this.
Fisher was traded w the New YORK
Yankees for Pete Schneider. it being
considered by everybody one of those
nothing for nothing exchanges.
Schneider was of no value to New
York and was released. while Fisher
has had a far better year than he ever
enjoyed in his 10 years service in the
American league.
These cases of American to National
are so much more numerous than Tie
cases of National to American that 1t
is hard to escape the belief that the
American league is the harder circuit
to play in.
All these Illustrations have a bear
ing on the Chicago and Cincinnati rec
ords and on the forthcoming pennant
race. They help to confirm the belief
that the White Sox are heavier ait
ting and a better run-n1aking ma
chine than the Reds. They also force
one to think that the Reds apparent
superiority in defense is not so real
after all when matched against Chi
cage 1t must be considered that the
comparative weakness of opposing
teams In the National league has
something to do with the Reds, show
ing defensively. This applies to all
departments of deferse - pitching,
catching and fielding.
There. is evidence to show there are
six teams in the American league this
season who can show more pennant-
winning class than any National
league team except Cincinnati, New
York and Pittsburg. The Cubs ought
to be the fourth team in this list, but
the offense collapsed. Thew have al
mosx exactly the same qualification
as Washington, and Washington fin
ished seventh in the American league.
SOX BEAT OUT FIVE TEAMS
If the White Sox had to fight five
strong teams to win the flag while
the Reds had only two strong teams
to beat, it is apparent why Chicago's
winning percentage will be lower than
their rivals in the National league.
This makes their uniform superiority
over their American league rivals thu
more remarkable and the relative