Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 162, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1915 — CLOSE RACE CERTAIN [ARTICLE]

CLOSE RACE CERTAIN

Season in Major Leagues Promises to Be Successful dne. Boaton Brava* Ara Sure to Put ’ftp Bold Front In National Leagu®Boston Red Sox Touted a* Winner* In American. Contrary to winter expectation the baseball season in the major leagues now promises to be a very successful one. A great many critics during the off season were full of fearful predictions that baseball was going into a state of desuetude and that public interest was rapidly waning. It is now believed this may have been a wrong diagnosis, for there is more than the average enthusiasm shown, and the sport is evidently in for a big year. The Feds have made practically no inroads on the clubs of organized ball and the strong teams are intact and capable of putting up a hard battle for the flags in the two big leagues. The race in each of the majors promises to be exceptionally close, which will add to the interest The fight for the pennant in the National league should be a good one, with the Boston Braves, present world’s champions, as the natural favorites. The Braves have been slightly strengthened by the addition of Sherwood Magee in the outfield and are very sure to put up a bold frtmt in their effort to make it two straight championships. They do not, however, appear to outclass the field to any great extent. The Giants seem to be the next best, with the St. Louis Cardinals having quite a chance to come through. These three clubs look to be the best in the league at the getaway. But baseball is full of surprises, as the Braves conclusively proved in 1914, and some dark horse is likely to crop up and set the dope all awry. The American league is likely to have a much closer race than usual, owing to the break-up of the Athletics, who are no longer considered to have a walk-over, though Connie Mack is pretty sure to have his club right In the fight all the way. The Boston Red Sox are touted as the most likely winners of the flag. They look very good and should have a fine chance. Most of the strength of the American league seems to lie In the East this season, with the Athletics, Boston and Washington as the best-appearing outfits. Detroit is too weak in the box to make much of a showing, and it is hardly likely that the Chicago White Sox will develop the steadiness to cut in strongly for the highest honors, while both Cleveland and the Browns lack the class. Conditions in the minor leagues are improving very rapidly. The minors were badly injured by the Feds last year, but that' stage is about over, and there is sure to be a big revival of interest in the smaller leagues before long. All leagues are cutting down on the number of players to be carried, which works hardships on many performers, but which was only a natural result of the activities of the Feds. During the year it is expected that the conditions will settle down to their former substantial basis, and the season is bound to be a great improvement on that of 1914.