Evening Star Newspaper, November 28, 1924, Page 27

SPORTS ' Junior League Holds Honors HAS BIG EDGE ON RIVAL ~ IN CLOSENESS OF RACES Younger Circuit Frequently Has Had Titles Won .. With Percentage of Under .600, While National ‘ League Figures Are Much Higher. BY JOHN B. FOSTER. EW YORK, November 28—In all the years of National League his- N tory the championship never has been won but once with a per- centage lower than .600. In 1915 Philadelphia grabbed it from Bos- tan with a percentage of .592. Boston had .546. This was the year in which Pat Moran managed the Philadelphia team, and the fact that he won the first pennant for Philadelphia ex- alted him so in the opinion of Philadelphia fans that they referred to him as another miracle man in base ball. George Stallings was the first miracle human when he sent his Boston team to the front in 1914 after it had been taking the dust prior to July 4. The lowest margin actually touched in .600 was by New York and In {900 the Brooklyns won the pennant with a percentage of 603 and in 1520 they won with .604, while in 1922 the Giants finished with After that 608 is the best which fell to New York, in 1924. Tfien Brooklyn with 610, in 1916. Brooklyn. the same figure. The, American League has a record for ander .600 competition that makes that of the National League take & back seat. In 1908, u year which stirred with a lot of excitement in all major league base ball, the De- troits captured the pennant with .688. Everybody marveled about the close- ness of the competition and Hughey Jennings shed a flock of freckles try- ing to worry along with his troubles. The Clevelands were the runners up and their figures were .684. The next best was the Boston fig- ure of 591 in 1816 and after that came Boston again with .695 in 1918. Of course, the seazon terminated abrupt. 1y in 1918 because of the “work or fight” order, but the Bostons had to play ball all of the time to keep the lead they started with. The Glants in the Natlonal League, who were thought to be probable winners, lost their lead that vear after they had run like wildfire, because some of the players got so fussed up over the war, ‘Washington Figures Next Best. The next best figure in the Amer- ican League was that of Washington this year with .597. New York was second with 586, which was exhibit B in the American League, so far as closeness of competition is to be taken into consideration. There is 1o such thing in base ball as board of handicappers who sit down and attempt to distribute play- ers 5o that the race for the Pennant shall be close and exciting. The handicappers are the managers and the owners and usually they manage to handicap themselves as well as the players. When owners butt in where managers fear to tread there always is trouble. The moment a club owner feels that he knows all about his base ball club he is pretty sure to be head- ed for the tail-end of the league. The unconscious handicapping of the American League race by its managers, assisted by its owners, 18 one of the rare things of base ball that cannot be explained, but it has &lven the American League partisans a ehance to crow time and again as to the relatlve value of the two com- petitions. The American League fans not only say that they have better and groser races, but they reason from the closeness of finish that they hawe better ball players. American League Stromger. The Giants won thefr champfonship in 1924 with .608. That is one of the lfow figures of the National League's history. They played against Wash- ington, a .547 team, and lost to them In a serles of seven games. That is one of the landmarks of history now. The American League fans insist that it is only added proof to their state- ments that the American League is collectively the stronger of the two because the team which won its league champlonship Wwith the grea: er percentage was defeated by the team which won with a lesser per- centage. Offhand, there might not appear to be much to that except the fact that the American League has the better of the contention because it_captured the world series. Keen observers of base ball think the lower winning percentages in the American League are due to a better balanced array of teams. The outfields and the infields of the Amer- fcan are rather umiform on the part| of six clubs, and there is no pre- | dominance in pitchers and catchers. | In the National League the custom | has been to center strength In two or three clubs, while the other teams | are only auxillary to the race, and ihat argument is well borne out by the fact that in the National League | there have been winning percentages | repeatedly of almost .700, and some of more than .700, while the highest in the history of the American League is that of Boston, in 1912, with .681. That year the Giants won their championship with .682, and then lost to Boston in the first series of elght games ever played in a world series. (Copyrignt, 1924, HENIGAN IS HOME FIRST IN BERWICK MARATHON BERWICK, Pa, 28— James Henigan, Boston, yesterday won the fifteenth annual Berwick | marathon over a mountalnous 9% course in 49 minutes. 13 2-5 seconds. William Kyronen of Helsingfors, Finland, was second in 43:412-5, and John Bell, Syracuse University, third, in 50:38. Twenty-four runners started. November rrrcrrzrrimimrrrrsssarsisaainsssizissizisisren A Money Loaned on Automobiles A A 1685 L'Se Now: SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SALE Bicycles, Velocipedes and Scooters 15 to 20% Discount. Bicycles as low as $25.00 '$12 Fairy Velocipede, $9.95 Ball Bearing Disc Scooter, 15% off. Agents for the oslebrated Do Luze Biayole. Easy Terms If Desired! ROMM BICYCLE CO. 2018 9tk 5t. N.W. Franklin 3735 TURKEY DAY SHOOT IS WON BY STOKES Walter R. Stokes, twice all-around champion rifle shooter of the world, added additional laurels vesterday in the Turkey day shoot held under the auspices of the George Washington University Rifle Clup. He turned in 50 pluc 9 58 in the prone and registered the high aggre- gate score of 93. Lawrence Neusslein, world cham- plon in -the sitting position, and Olympic marksman, got second place with a high aggregate of 92. Other contestants who Impressed with thelr scores follow: Sergt. Dempsey of Camp Humphre: 5 Sergt. Thill of the District Guard, 89; H. Espey of George Washington, 89; Ralph C. Stokes, $9: Bernsdorff of the District Nationai Guard, 89. CHANEY REGISTERS K. 0. PHILADELPHIA, November 28.— George “K. 0.” Chaney of Baltimore knocked out Ray Mitchell of Phila- delphia_yesterday in the fifth round with a left to the jaw. Chaney's nose was broken. Surprise Value of the Unexpected— How Cobb Used It— Ty Changes Game. CHAPTER XXVII BY H. G. SALSINGER. ASE running was revolution- B ized by Ty Cobb. When he broke into the major leagues he noticed that base runners, in hit- ting the ball safely to the outfield, crossed first base, turned to the right, passed outside the foul lines and leisurely trotted back to the bag. They could not be tagged out as long as they turned outside the chalk line. Also, Cobb noticed that outfielders flelded the ball leisurely and lobbed it back to the infield. That gave him an idea. Instead of turning leisurely to the outside, Cobb touched the bag | and turned sharply, starting in the| direction of second base. Outflelders, not used to this method, were sur- | prised, and Cobb took advantage of | ;’he surprise and sprinted to second | ase. After Cobb had gotten two-bacgers | on what other men would have re- | began to | celved singles, outfielders change their methods. Instead cf| fielding the ball slowly they would do it hurriedly and throw the ball| pandled tne back to the Infleld on a line instead | partly true. of lobbing it back He Knew Distance, Cobb was a keen judge of a Datted | ball. He had a superb eye for dis-| tance and he knew his speed to the necessarlly change to meet the at- tack. Things have to equalize, o1 com® as near as possible to equal- izing. Cobb had noticed, after entering the major leagues, the base runners circled the bags, touching the outside corner or stepping on the center of the bag in passing. He decided that he could gain a great deal more by changing this system and touching the, bag on the inside corner. This would save at least three steps, and three steps mean a great deal in a stretch of 80 feet—the distance be- tween bases. Touched Imside Cormer. Cobb practiced this. Going from the plate to first he touched the in- side corner of the bag as he made a sharp turn instead of the wide, sweeping turn. He stayed near a direct line between the two bags, and when he touched the next side it was again on the inside corner, and 8o on to the next one. of waste running and actually sened the distance between bases. Later on players all adopted this style, touching the bag on the inafde. In running bases Cobb was alwa les- the manner in which the outfielder chance. That is only It Is, as a matter of fac a half truth. Cobb started his dash, depending on the situation in the outfleld; but after he .was on his way he dcpended on the infielders. And fraction of & second. He continued running fn what looked to be a wild | and crazy fashion. But It was ‘not| as wild or as crasy a&s most of his| opponents belleved. Cobb had smdm\; the matter thoroughly and planned | caretully. | He continued turning firt base | sharply on his short drirss and| watching the outflelders. Sometimes he made a half turn toward first and as the outfielder's arm was ralsed slowly and a slow throw was started Cobb reversed and streaked for sec- ond. Or he would come to a dead stop, and the outfielder, thinking Cobb would make no attempt to ad- vance, would take his time. At the proper moment Cobb sprinted. He rarely ever lost on the play. During the first few years that he ran bases in this way they sald it was the “luck of a lunatic.” And then, noticing his continued success, other players started copylng his methods. This was especally true of the younger players, because the veterans were too thoroughly drilled in the old system to change. No longer did base runners jog beyond first and turn outside the base line and jog back to the bag; they turned sharply at first and made a start for second, ready to take advantage of | any opportunity. 1 Changed Methods. | As this style became general, the outfielders to change their methods to meet the new style of attack. The outfielders used to play deep. That gave them a chance to get balls hit far out, and they could- always come in for short fiies. All outflelders find it easier to come in on & ball than to go out on one. That is logical. That is the way they played when Cobb started his new style of base running. 5 The outfielder’s now come in fnuch closer; they had to; It gave them a chance to cut off ground-hit balis and prevent the runner taking an extra | base. It gave them a shorter throw and, again, prevented the runner get- ting a one-base advantage on account of a long throw. It is so in attack change y game. When zhc' defense must Somoteling "5y Hperea Vienna Hat Co. 400 11th Street Epe Station 12:00 m. and 123 A. A. A, Service Station NEVER Cloved Always Available Sheridan Garage, Inc. the position of the infielders, but by the eves of the man covering the base toward which he was advancing: Most infielders decelve the runner by their pose. They stand In a position meant to be misleading. Often an in- flelder who is waiting to take a throw will =tand with his hands dangling at his side, or hands on his hips. Also, he will not be standing in the direct path of the ball, but turned partly sideways. The object Is to lead the runner to believe the ball has not been thrown, to slow him up. The runner slows. The in- fielder suddenly leaps into action, but then it is too late for the runner to spurt. Many runners have been caught because they were “sucked in” by the false position and attitude of the in- fielder. Cobb learned how to over- come this Tuse. Tomorrow: Chapter XXVIII: Nine Slides. (Copyrighted, 1924, in the United Stai Canada sad Great Hritaio by North Amerie Newspaper Allinnce. ALl rights teserved.) Landis, commissioner receives a salary of Kenesaw M. " RADIATORS, FENDERS —made or repaired. New ones. Also bodles repaired like uew. Freezs Proof Radiators. ATT'S R. AND F. WORKS, 319 18th__F. 6410 TROUSERS To Match Your Odd Coats EISEMAN’S,7th & § Spur s Jie all tied for you 2516 Q Street N.W. (Q Stroet Bridge) Open Evenings Until §. ‘Telephone West 3443 He eliminated yards| credited with basing his attempt on he did not judge his opportunities by | Saturday — Another Record- Breaking Sale in Our Bargain Annex, 613 E Street 1,000 MEN’S SUITS 0= Representing a wonderful special purchase from one of our regular makers. We bought them for cash, much below their actual worth. That’s why they go on sale Saturday for only $19.75. 1925 Styles, Pleasing Patterns Sizes 33 to 46 The models are right for the coming seasons, and include conservative styles, semi-fitted, or the very popular loose English coats. A great variety of pat- terns; mostly dark, with a sprinkling of lighter shades as well as solid colors, neat stripes, plaids and rich mixtures. Fabrics—Worsteds, Cassimeres Cheviots and Novelty Weaves Here are the fabrics for every man, whether you want something plain and sedate or smart and snappy. And its plain to see that there’s plenty of variety in the tremendous selection to suit every taste. No Alterations THE HECHT CO. Bargain Annex Only—613 E Stre Single-breasted, loose fitting sack coat in neat striped Cheviot — full trousers—$19.75 Where You Bought The Overcoat Two Saturday’s ago we opened the Bargain Annex with a sale of 2,000 Men’s Overcoats that broke all selling records. And here- after, we dare say, the Bargain Annex will be familiarly recalled as the place “where you bought the coat.” Wonderful as was this overcoat sale—this sale tomorrow of 1,000 suits at $19.75 is just as good, ex- cept that we only have half as many suits as we had overcoats, which means it will pay you to get here when the doors open at 9:15. L SRR b P