The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-12-23


year finds a whole flock of new cham
pions bowling to the populace. And at the same
time they're casting apprehensive glances over
their shoulders to see what formidable contenders
for their honors are toIling up the slope to push
them from their positions of eminence during
the next twelve months
Look over the record presented in another col
umn and you will see that in nearly every branch
of sport, the title changed hands once and in
cases more than once.
Baseball is proverbially the national game and
it saw a new champion acclaimed in of the
most thrilling World Series ever played in this
country The Pittsburgh Pirates Of the National
league, 1925 champions, lost out in the flag race
to the ST. Louis Cardinals who had never be-
fore first honors. The Washington Senators
of the American league, 1924 champions and con-
testants in 1925, lost out to the New York
Yankees who have been league champions three
times and who held the title of world champions
as lately as 1923. For that reason they went
into the seven-game series with the Cardinals
favorites But Manager Rogers Hornsby and his
men won thrilling eleventh-hour victory which
gave St Louis her first championship in many
years and chance to stage celebration by her
citizens which strongly reminiscent of the
scenes of wild joy which prevailed all over the
country on NovembeE IL, 1913
Even though Rogers Hornsby did lead his Cards
to team championship he lost individual
title He has been batting champion in the Ma
to hand over his crown to Bubbles Hargrave of
the Cincinnati Reds. In the American league a
similar change took place Harry Heilman of the
Detroit Tigers lost his title Of batting champ in
that circuit But at least he had the satisfaction
of seeing it remain in Detroit. for he de-
throned by Heinie Manush, a team mate
In boxing more than in any other sport was
the topping Of thrones and the falling Of crowns
in evidence. From early spring until late in the
fall the prize ring saw steady procession of old
champions stepping down and stepping
up It began when Harry Greb, the middeweight
champion was beaten by Tiger Flowers, de-
manded a return match got 1t and with 1t an
other defeat. In the welterweght class Mickey
Walker had held the title for three years. Dave
Shade aspired to the title but Mickey disposed
of him Then along came Pete Latzo, whom
Walker had beaten once When their second
bout ended the weIter crown on Pete's head
and not on Mickey's.
Rocky Kansas held the lightweight champion
shin which Benny Leonard had vacated the year
before but before Rocky could enjoy it long, Sam
nv Mandell took 1t away from him. The same
thing happened in the light heavyweight division
when Jack Delaney outpointed Paul Berlenbach.
In the featherweight class, 1925 saw the abdca-
ton of Kid Kaplan the champion because he
was growing too heavy to make the required
weight and Charley (PhiD Rosenberg lost his
bantamweight crown when he was suspended from
fighting in the state OF New York and his title
declared vacant In Illinois after adispute with the
boxing authorities.
SO as 1925 came to a close there was only
enc boxing title held undlsputed by champion
of 1924 That wGs In the heavyweight division
where Jack Dempsey still reigned supreme. part
ly-so those not especially friendly to him said
because he was shy about going into the ring
with contender. But finally the jingle Of Tex