Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1887 — THE NATIONAL GAME. [ARTICLE]

THE NATIONAL GAME.

Detroit Still Leads in the Race for the League Base-Bail Championship. Interesting News and Gossip About the Game—The Record of the Various Clubs. [CHICAGO COEEEBPONDENCE.] Two weeks ago Detroit had the call as a permanent winning club so completely that many predicted a clear walk-away for the Wolverines, and a consequently flat and uninteresting race for the League pennant. This opinion was entertained by Detroiters not only, but by admirers of the game everywhere, and perhaps Such an opinion was warranted to a considerable extent. Detroit has played a magnificent game from the outset, and if heavy batting will win, which is not improbable under the new rules, the belief that the Wolverines will fly the flag over their own beautifully located park next season may not be far out of the way. But the season is still young. There is a dark-horse element in the ranks which renders almost any condition of things Eossible before the League clubs shall ave made their last spurt in the race. Bqston, New York and Philadelphia are following Detroit’s lead determinedly, and a little streak of bad luck upon the part of the Wolverines would be apt to give Mike Kelly’s men a lead that would change the complexion of things materially. Reports of the two Decoration Day games show two splendidly contested games at Boston between these two leaders, and' Detroit won one by a score of 2to 1, while Boston captured the other by 4to 3. The character of the games indicates the strength of the Boston Club to be dangerously near that of Detroit, notwithstanding the great hitting power of the latter organization. Pittsburg and Chicago are neither of them out of the race as yet, while the Indianapolis club, with Jack Glasscock at its head and Denny as its lieutenant, may prove a stumbling block in the way of some ambitious would-be pennant winner that will ruin its chances in the end. During the past week Detroit fell back a trifle in its lead, having dropped a game to Washington and one to New lork, but it still has an advance of three games won and four less lost than Boston, its nearest competitor. New York managed to win a couple of games, but nearly offset its gain by dropping a game to both Detroit and Pittsburgh, while the only stump the Phillies have run against has been Anson’s men. With its winnings during the past seven days, Chicago has crowded ahead, until now it stands tied with the Smoky City lads for fifth place, both of these clubs being but three games each behind Philadelphia. The following table will show the work of the League clubs up to Monday, May 30: THE LEAGUE.

4 • aa d 1 S. § Clubs. J g ® o S &fl g « ® 045 ® S X! 5 h * Detroit 5 1 5 2 2 6 21 Boston,. 3 1 4 2 5 318 Philadelphia 3.. 3.. 2 2 212 New York 1 1 3.. 3.. 3 4 15 Pittsburgh 1 1.. 1.. 3 1 2 2 Chicago 1 1 2 1 4 9 Washington 1.... 3 13.... 8 Indianapolis 1.. 1.. 1.. .. 3 Games lost 4 7 13|io|13'13il4|21 .. The Association race still shows St. Louis to be at the front with an increase of one game over its lead of last week. Following is the statement of the work of the clubs up to Decoration Day. ASSOCIATION. HJ • •J § Clubs. • <2 M .9 .a « ■g o o ® ®wlo ffl >3 •< o So St. Louis— 224644 325 Brooklynl - 2 3 1 1 3 4 15 Cincinnati 22- 1 1 73 16 Baltimore 1 2 2‘6 1 416 Louisville 1142- 3 3 1 15 Athletic 1 2 3 1 1— 3 415 Cleveland 1 1., j 2' 5 Metropolitan 11" 2.. 1 5 Games lost 510 15 1114 14 22 21 .

THE CHICAGO CLUB.

As to the strength of the Chicago Club your correspondent has little if anything to say more than was said in his last letter. If only those new pitchers would come. That is what we want more than anything else, and until we secure a couple of good men to share the burden with Clarkson I, with many others in Chicago, shall not hope for anything remarkable from our team. Ido not wish to overlook Baldwin by any means, but Baldwin as yet seems to have much to learn, and just at this stage of the game we want men who have learned it all. A LAWN TENNIS CRAZE. The meeting of the Western Lawn Tennis Association, held at the Tremont House in this city, was one of the most largely attended and enthusiastically conducted meetings ever held in the interests of this rapidly growing and popular outdoor sport. The special object of the meeting Was the arrangement of an annual tournament that will give Western tennis players a chance to meet in friendly contest, similar to that enjoyed by Eastern players, who meet annually at Newport. The 1 oilowing clubs were represented by delegates or by proxy: Knickerbocker, St. Louis; Kenwood, Chicago; Chicago Club, Chicago; North End, Chicago; Riverside, Biverside, Ill.; Missouri Bicycle Club, St. Louis; Old Friends’, St. Louis; Minnesota, St. Paul; Louisville, Louisville, Ky.; Toledo Outing Club, Toledo; Peoria’ Peoria, Ill.; Park, Cedar Eapids, Iowa; Des Moines, Des Moines, Iowa; Cheyenne, Cheyenne, W. T.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Detroit, Detroit, Mich.; Dixon. Dixon, 111. It was decided to hold the first annual tournament in the grounds of the Kenwood Lawn Tennis grounds at Chicago, August 10, 11, 12 and 13, under the auspices of the Western Lawn Tennis Association. The tournament will be open to all comers. There will be three prizes—first, second and third—in the singles and doubles. The first prizes in the singles and doubles will be diamond medals. The second prizes will be gold medals, and the. third prizes will be fancy inlaid tennis rackets.