Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-08-21
SPORT DYNAST|ES
HAVE SHORT BUT
MERRY RULE

New York, Aug. 2O-(AP)-Dy-
nastles in the world of sports-the
ruling individual of clan-have no
more firm foundation than many
royal house. The march of compe-
tition sets up and. cheers its idols
just about sas enthusiastically as it
knocks them over. .
While the monarchs Of athletics
come and go, however, records seem
to show a guiding influence that
goes beyond the bounds of coinci-
dence. Certain limits to the cham
pionship span may be noted in most
every branch of competition, though
the search for them also reveals
many startling exception such as
the long reigns of Willie Hoppe in
billiards or Jay Gould in court ten
mis- and the marvellous endurance
of such baseball stars as Ty Cobb
and Walter Johnson, maintaining
the peaks for around score of
years.
Perhaps the most astonishing ex-
ception of all to the theory of cham
pionship limitation Is the case of
John Ball, Jr, who in period of a
quarter OF century, 1888 to 1912,
captured the British amateur golf
title eight times. This display of
prowess is particularly noteworthy
because it occurred in a sport where
the crown awarding hand of fate is
more tickle than in any other.
Baseball, for all it's exceptions,
provides a bundle of evidence for
the belief that the average champi
ons rule is a short and merry one.
1t has come to be something of a
tradition in the national game that
no club can win more than four
major league pennants in a row.
The Giants. setting a modern rec
ord and duplicating feat perform
ed twice in the old days, did it last
season. They still have fighting
chance to break the old jinX and
establish a new standard tjffs year
but the odds right now are against
them. There is no doubt that Nc
Graw's outfit has slipped a bit 1t
will belong among the games mi
racle teams if it pulls through to
the top again.
The disintesration of the Yankees
is further proof that the champion
ship pace has its limits. From
pennant winning combination in
1921, 1922 and 1923. the Higgins
clan slid back to second place last
year and this season is in seventh
place, close to the cellar with club
thoroughly broken up.
There is a striking parallel in
this. incidentally, to the demise of
the Giants and Athletics of other
days McGraws champions of 1913
fell back to second place in 1914
and to last place in 1918. Connie
Mack's title winning outht OF 1914
was broken up and dropped to the
cellar in one season. The old Bal
timore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Pitts
burgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers
also found it impossible TO win more
than three times in row.
1t may be that the present Athlet-
les and Pirates, setting most of the
pace in this years pennant battles,
ere about to create new dynasties.
They have the quality of youth which
is lacking in their main rivals, the
Senators and Giants.
Another turn of the pages of sport
seems to show a mystic quality in the
number "seven." jim Jeffries and
Jack johnson held the heavyweight
boxing crown for seven years, while
Jack Dempsey is now in his seventh
Year at the TOP. Benny Leonard re-
tired after seven seasons at light
weight king. r. d. Sears. the first rec
ognized American tennis champion,
won the title seven years in a row.
William A. Larned captured the same
crown seven times. The seven-year
span of 1907 to 1914 saw Australia
mainly at the top of the tennis heap
in Davis cup play.
The same influence or COINCIDENCE
has been at work in womens tennis
where Suzanne Lenglen, barring an ex-
-
temperament than any lapse in play
ing supremacy, has been at the top
through seven seasons, while Mrs.
Molla Bjurstedt Mallory was queen OF
American courts seven times.
Helen Wills with two titles to her
credit since dethroning Mrs. Mallory,
faces a stern test this week in an ell
fort TO keep UP her streak. William
r. Tilden, supreme for FIVE years IN
mems tennis. seems good for at least
two more campaigns if he holds to his
preSent form.
Tennis. on the whole, has had per-
hans more outstanding dynasties than
any other sport. Great Britain, from
1897 to 1906, had her famous Doherty
brothers: Australia followed with the
noted combination of Brookes and
Wilding, while the United States has
held the top with Tilden and johnston
France, with Borotra and Lacoste, now
is dominating the European field ana
threatening this country's hold on the
sceptre.
Golf has known so such stretches
of supremacy. 1t is a startling 1eat
here for a champion TO win twice IN
succession. Proof of this is IN the
fact that no competitor has repeated
in the American open since 1912 or
the amateur since 1918, though Bobby
Jones. the present amateur king. may