.. AMERICAN LEAGUE'S "DARK HORSES" CLEVELAND-ST. LOUIS SERIES MOST IMPORTANT OF SEASON IN EITHER MAJOR LEAGUE Both Teams Are "Dark Horses," Who Are Being Underrated by Rivals, and Winner Is Certain to Be Contender for Flag TUB most Important scries of tho season In either major league starts today, when Cleveland and St. Louis, of the American League, meet In tlio latter city. A great 'dent of fuss Is being made about the lied Sox and "White Sox, and columns have been used to compare tho two teams which eventually must battlo for tho American League. At least that Is the way the critics dope It out, but wo havo an Idea that the decisive winner of the scries between the Indians and Browns, If there Is a decisive victory, will bear watching more than cither the Red Sox or Whlta Sox. No one took tho Browns' spurt seriously until Jones's team started a second Winning streak Immediately after tho Bed Sox left St. Louis. Tho ability of the Browns to take the series from tho world's champions and then wade through Washington convinced tho fans that the first winning streak was duo to tho furious pace set by Jones's team and not to tho crippled condition of the Yankees find the weakness of tho Athletics. Tho fans and rival players now admit that tho Browns are dangerous, but they seem to think that Jones Is too far back to overhaul tho leaders. Everybody seems to overlook'tho Indians, and perhaps we have overrntcd them, but if wo were managing an American Ivaguo team our wish at this time would bo for several defeats nt tho hands of tho Browns, or any other team, re gardless of Its position In tho race. Tho critics admit that Cleveland "has a chance," but contend that tho Indians aro not strong enough In pitching toMcfcat tho Bed Sox. On paper tho Indians have not a staff strong enough to compete with tho Bed Box, but any team that can hang within a gamo of tho leaders with a star of Morton's caliber out of tho game, and can do this with a pitching staff composed entirely of minor leaguers, Is ono which will hear watching. Either tho Indians outclass tho field ns a well-balanced team or tho minor league pitching staff Is very underrated. What other American Lcagtio team could do so well with tho eamo pitching? Winning With Minor League Pitching FOB two months Kohl has depended upon Covnlcsklc, Klcpfer, Bnghy, Ucebe and Gould, five hurlers who wcro in tho minor league ranks Inst year. That they aro better than the ctttlcs believe Is a certainty, unless tho American League teams are weaker offensively thnn wo havo been led to believe, ns the runs tallied against the Cleveland defenso havo beoti few and far between. Many managers, havo been hailed as wbards because of the way they handle pitchers, but If any of them surpass Leo Kohl It cannot bo proved by results. Tho reader might recall that earlier In the season wo stated that If tho Indians cracked It would not bo the fault of tho pitching. The accident to Morton threatened to wreck tho' Cleveland staff, but Kohl's masterful coaching nnd handling of un known recruits carried tho team over tho rough spots, and the Indians aro now ready for the llnal spurt. It is up to the. Browns to stop tho Indians and vice versa. The managers of other pennant-contending teams hardly know which team they want to win tho aeries between tho Indians and Browns. They flguro that tho Browns must bo stopped, but also fear that Cleveland will bo mighty hard to dlsplnce onco It gets Into first place now that tho team Is Intact and Morton Is back In form. The fact that Jones has three great southpaws In wonderful shapo makes the Browns a favorite In the present series, as left-handers bother Speaker and Graney, who havo been Cleveland's offensive mainstays. Plank, Wellman and Koob havo been winning steadily, and havo allowed few runs and hits since tho Browns struck their stride. It Is likely that Jones will depend entirely upon southpaws in the series, as Hamilton, tho fourth left-handed star of Jones's staff, also Is In splendid form. Any way ono looks nt It, tho scries Is tho most Important so far this season, but tho "crucial-series" expression will bo worked to death from now on until the curtain drops. Phils May Gain Within n Week TOMORROW tho Dodgers nnd Braves will clash In tho first contest of a four gamo series, tho result of which will havo an Important bearing on tho final outcomo of tho National League race. It Is- up to Stalllngs's team to stop tho Dodgers. If the Braves cannot turn tho trick It will look very much as. If Brooklyn Is not going to bo pulled out of first place, barring accidents. Stalltngs has Dick Rudolph primed for to worlt his little wonder on Saturday relief work, on Tuesday, If necessary. Rudolph, llko the Bender of old, Is a marvel , In an Important series, nnd Stalllngs Is staking everything on his nblllty to stop the Dodgers. Tho Boston leader recently declared that It was useless to hope for tho western teams to stop the Dodgers, and that ho was going to point his team for tho coming scries ns though It was for tho championship of tho world. It remains to be seen whether ho Is successful. If Boston takes three out of four from the Dodgers, and the Phils can do as well or better with tho Giants, the National League race will be tightened up, with tho final outcomo depending entirely upon the nblllty of tho star hurlers of the three teams to stand the grind. Alexander and Budolph havo gone through this stage and finished strong, whereas Pfeffer cracked In 1915 and may do so again. If he docs, Brooklyn will not hold Its lead. It Is an excellent opportunity for tho Phillies, but tho champions will have a hard battlo on their hands with the Giants, Judging by the way McCraw's team has been playing. Moran's pitching staff Is now in splendid shape, however, and If the rest of the men can hold up their end as well as they have In tho last two weeks, the series with the Giants should be won. Local Clubs Exercise Options THE official list of players of National and American League clubs subject to re call under tho optional agreement has been published and shows that tho Ath letics havo ten players out who are still the property of tho club, while tho Phillies have six. Manager Moran has decided to exercise his option on tho six players ;who aro Baumgartner, Tlncup, Rhodes, Wclaer, Klsh and Fortune, while It Is likely that Mack will recall only three. Mack haa Crowell, Malone, Stellbnuer, Thompson, Bressler and Healey out under an agreement which calls for them to bo returned to tho Athletics unless they are drafted. In other words. Mack did not think that he would havo much use for them and would willingly give somo other club a chance to take up their contracts. All of these players hold contracts which carry over anothor year. Since making this agreement Mack has decided that he can uso Crowell. who has been pitching fine ball in Baltimore, and tho Brunonhm will be given a chance to come back. Mack has four recruits out under optional agreement, two of whom surely will bo recalled. The four are Anker, who was sent to Ashevllle; Yeabsley, tho Atlantic Refining outfielder at Raleigh; Crews, of Greensboro, and Anderson, of Charlotte. Crews and' Anderson nre showing wonderful minor league form und will report to the Mackmen In the early part of September. Mayer's Great Pitching Encourages Phils MAYER'S great pitching and the breaks of the game enabled the Phillies to make it three out of four from the Beds, which is as1 much as anybody could ask. Mayer was really outpltched by Fred Toney, so far aa hits were concerned, but as tho side-arm artist never allowed the Reds to get In position to score his Victory was deser,yea. It was particularly pleasing after the poor form Mayer haa shown throughout the season. Mayer was fiafed as ono of "the best pitchers In the National League last season, and his wdrk was largely responsible for the pennant winning by the Thlls, but ho was a bitter disappointment this season. It Is possible that the victory will start Mayer on a wlntIngTjtreak, If he can show the same form ho. displayed in the early part of the 1915 race for the rest of the season, tha five-game lead of the Dodgers will not seem so large. With Mayer right, the Phillies would have an Ideal pitching staff for a grueling finish. Manager Fohl's ability to uncover unknown pitchers who are able to baffla American League batsmen was demonstrated again yesterday, when Otis Lambeth had tho Yankees completely at his mercy and won a pitching duel from Russell. Lambeth. waa purchased three weeks ago from the Topeka club of the Western League, and Fohl predicted two weeks ago that he would ba pitching regularly twjthln a short time. Fohl can tell a pltchpr a mile away, - Now that tha articles have been signed for the KUbane-Chaney fight, it looks aa-lf the battle might take place, but there are some people who will not be convinced until the men have entered tha ring. The wrangling between tho managers of the two boxers and the club staging the bout has accomplished Its point. It Is one of the best press-agented bouts In years. evening ledger this Berlcs, and It Is said that he plans and Monday, and also will uso him for MOVIES-IT'S ' ux,u UjbuJiibLAJLiHJA, 1IU1)AV, ALlxUfcT lir iUA& JLi xj. DATE FOR SWEDE MEET CHANGED TO SUIT AMERICANS Ted Meredith and Two Others Will Compete Abroad in October IJy TED MEREDITH At the Imitation of the Swedish Athletic Committed to Frederick W. Itublen, secre tary and treasurer of tho A. A. U. of the United States, to send myself nnd two other American track men over to com pete In the Swedish national champion ships, Mr. Kubicn Immediately got in touch with the men whom ho thought would be uhle to take the trip, and tried to get a three-man team which could measure up ns a trio that would cover the program of events. That Is. ho wanted men who could compcto In two or three events. There way another hitch to tho arrange ments, too. The Swedish meet was too closo to our national championships, Ours come on September 9 and tho week follow ing tho relay racs aro to bo held. Mr. Rublcn objected to tho men leaving this country until all of this country a pro gram was oer, so on cabling tho Swedish authorities the date was changed until October. This proved satisfactory to sev eral of tha men here, bo I think It will bo arranged. Make-up Not Decided Tho make-up of the team has not yet licon decided, but I liac telegraphed Mr. Ilublen that I could go under any arrange ments which ho would mnke. Tho other men will probably bo Joe I.oomls, of Chi cago, and a dlstnnco runner. I do not know who tho distance man will be, ,but I imagine he will be a Westerner, and that means Jole Bay to me. Kay can run a mite and two-mllo and seems to bo the best man out of college at these distances. This would make a very good all-round team. Loomls Is good for four events 100 and 220 yards, hurdles and high Jump. I do not think Sweden could put out a man who could beat the tall Westerner In any of these events. I could run the quarter and half mile races, whllo tho distance man could take earn of all over this. Should wo bo nlilo to get enough rest be tween races this team could coino near winning any dual meet with the Swedish clubs. I am anxious to take this trip because of the present conditions in Europe. We would be able to see how tho war had affected that part of the world and could help keep up the good feeling of sports manship which existed to such a high de gree four years ago. I also shall try to work In some business on this trip by looking over the dyestuffs situation for a house with which I am con nected. Swedish Athletes a Mystery I do not know how good tho Swedish ath letes are. We have not seen any of their men since the games In Stockholm, but I think we shall find them a good bunch. Ernie Hertberg, the Swedish trainer, Is a good man In the track game, and It would not surprise me to find the hardest kind of competition. They were a fine lot of ath letes In 1912 and gave the Amorlcan team a hard battle. At this time they were Just starting to get on to the American ways as were taught them by Hertberg, so after four years they should be much Improved. We will be gone four weeks at the very least, and even then will only be In Sweden for ten days. The championships will be held about October IB, and after that I Imagine the Swedish authorities will plan a meet for us In other cities, the champion, ships being In Stockholm. I am very anxious to see Stockholm again and see what It looks like when not on dress parade, as It was In 1912 during the Olympic games. I have not kept In touch with the per formances made by the Swedes In their championship meets In the last few years, so do not know Just who they have to put against us, but we will not go there feeling that wo will have no competition. On the other hand, we will be fully prepared to do our very best. The Nationals will find us all up In our best condition and not needing a rest This will bo furnished by the sea trip, which will be ten days. The exercise which we will be able to get on the ship will be enough to keep our weight down and when we land we will have two or three days to put on the finishing touches. This Is the best kind of rest, too. I find, although you are very liable to put on too much weight. This would be the danger for us, especially after working so hard all summer In the pre paratory meets for the championships. i ream stuff . r? ' rrn fjft i i w i i hh isb ..-, crtry- -w s. "tr." -y - -? ypjIflg.TOvirBH, CRoouax , " 1 s3. finrrw PllHH I wfu. haws t1 ? " s" ' .. rZfi'k'( L','1' "" ',., Packing A QUEER COINCIDENCE, NORMIE, HE CAN sis f t . BATTLE IN MOVIE Of a business SPEAKER MENACE NOW PLACES TY COBB IN PERIL OF LOSING OUT IN LEAGUE BATTING RACE Texan Has Big Lead and Georgian Must Show Wonderful Form to Top Batters for Tenth Consecutive Time By GltANTLAND RICE Wfl COMI3 onco more to the case of Ty vs. Trls, or Trls vs. Ty, ns you may care to put It. For August Is waning and the pungent odor of burning leaves is only a drift or two ahead when the full count will bo In, nnd when, for the first time In 10 years, Cobb looks to be In dnnger of running down with the pack. Ten Years Ago Cobb hnd his soul set on leading the lenguo 10 yenrs In succcsslbn when tho 1910 campaign opened. He began his first great drive In 1907, with a mark of .350. and never has been headed since at tho finish. Ho has had his shnro of close calls, for In 1910 he beat I.ajolo by only a single point nnd In 1911 he had to beat a mark of .408 to finish first. But close calls are soon forgotten, and for nine years Cobb not only has led his league, but his margin above the next regular has been, on an nverogo, nt least 20 points. In tho last four years, for example, Cobb has averaged 23 points a season beyond Jackson nnd Collins, who have been In sec ond place. The New Danger The two White Sox sluggers have given Tyrus Raymond the greatest battle. Joe Jackson ran second to the Georgian In 1911. 1912 and 1913. When Joo had exhausted most of his ammunition, Eddie Collns took up the .charge, running second In 19H nnd 191G. But now comes a new danger, nnd the greatest danger of them all. For August is moving along, nnd the wide gap between Trls Speaker and Ty Cobb remains un changed. In 1910 Speaker was 40 points back of Cobb. In 1911 he was over SO points away. In 1912 Trls finished 27 points to the rear. In 1913 he was 24 points behind. In 1914 Tris lagged 30 points, and In 191,5 the mar gin was 48 points. So in six j ears Ty has averaged 42 points a season beyond the Texan the range being from 82 points In 1911 to 27 points In 1912. But No Longer Hut Trls no longer Is lagging. He started beyond Ty tho first week of the campaign and he never has dropped back since. At tho end of four weeks ho was 40 points out beyond the eminent Georgian. Week by week tho fanatical bystander has waited to see Cobb cloje In tho gap or for Trls to slip and drift down hill. But weeks have passed alone Into months and there Is otlll no change. At the end of 17 weeks' play Speaker Is still over 40 points beyond Cobb. And there are now tnly seven weeks left. A number of thlngB can happen In seven weeks, But unless Speaker slips badly Cobb Is up against the toughest proposition of his career. For If Speaker Insists on sticking around .890, as he has done nearly all year, Cobb to beat h'm out must bat at least .420 for tho rest of the season must average around two hits a game for about SO games. Against Joe Jackson In 1911 or 1912 Cobb caught up 30 points and added a good many more from late Augiis; to the finish. That rally was almost superhuman. It may be that T can rise to such abnormal heights again. No other man would have a chance. But Ty Is a tremendous fighter against rugged competition, and you can gamble that he will be working his soul out, even though In vain, to the end of the scrap. 'AnJ ilfht now the odds against him are at le.ist 2 to 1. Speaker Must Slump For Cobb to round out his 10-year lead ership Speaker must come upon a slump of at least a fair proportion. Late In August last seaeon and through early September Cobb slipped badly. He moved on through 24 times at bat without NATION AT, LEAGUE1 fABK PHILLIES vs. CINCINNATI GAME STARTS 5:80 P. M. Seats on Hula at tilmbele' and Bpaldiaca' fl A VTCTY 8T,r BKLOW VINE ST. llA-Ei.I HOX1NO HUKLKSQUK TONIGHT TONiaUT Joe Mace vs. Joe Quigley xmiui, MOST IMPORTANT SERIES man enjoying a rest. a baso hit. Fortunately for him, there was no rival icry close. Speaker today, with hi 45-polnt lead .390 to .345 must fall h;lr to a bad spell boforo Ty has a chance. For hero Is the situation: Cobb, to beat .370 for the season, must bat .405 for the next seven wicks. Speaker, to bat .370 for tho season, needs to bat only .345 for the rest of tho year. As long as Speaker can hold his mark above .375 ho lb almost sure to finish In front. Cobb Pays Tris Tribute The last tlmo we saw Cobb he had this to say of Speaker's batting: "I never have seen any ono hitting the ball better than Speaker Is hitting It this ear. His bnmslies In nearly eery case aro clean, ringing wallops. Ho Is batting with fine confidence, is hitting to nil three fields nnd Is hitting all horts of pitching. From tho way he stands at the plate and tho confidence with Which he steps Into a ball you figure that no Is almost suro to get a hit each time up. There Is a feeling of surprise when ho doesn't. "In my own enne," continued Ty "there has been a lack of consistency. I will get two hits ono day, three hits tho next and flguro that I am under way at last. Then I fall awny for a day or two, drop back what I have gained, and have to start all over again. 1 have bad no slump of anj moment, but I haven't been able to develop any batting such as I have had In tho past. I haven't been nblo to develop a batting streak long enough to last out any ono series, much less a week or two. "Why Is this? well. If any one can explain a batting streak or a batting slump he has something on tho rest of the world There isn't nny answer. You nro either hitting or you nre not, and that seems to end it." Past YcarH It has been seven years now since Cobb dropped below .308, nnd In five of tho seven years he has been above .375. On the other side, Speaker has batted over .340 only twice In the last seven vfurs; but 1916 is another dynasty. The Texan has played far greater bail for Cleveland than he ever played for Boston, nnd this campaign so far has been easily the banner season of his fine career. Whether he will slip as Cobb shoots forward. Just as Jack son slipped and Ty slipped forward In 1913, when Greenville Joe had a big lead. Is something for Destiny to grapple with, not the dope of the day. Strawbridge and Clothier vs. Chinese The Chinese team of tho Unherstty 0f Hawaii will be tha attraction at the Strawbrlilae Clothier Meld. Btxty-third and IValnut atTeeta tomorrow afternoon. The Celestials aro rlaylne a areat irame at present. haWne defeated Cam den. IloxborouKh. Mlllvllle. U a. lludd ami Woodbury durlnf the last eek. Ako wilt ba In thn box for the Chinese and Osden or Cornoir for Strawbrldso ,t Clothier. i-ornok ftM from the gapitiMy Huroklor by &11 dealers drnuh Bros., HaQufocturers $ 11 ANY SUIT In the House TO OBDEU .30 Reduced front o, 2j and 120. See Uur 7 Big Window PETER MORAN & CO, 8. t. Cor. 8tu and Arch Sts. iMiriM iSi vA dhfi liiBsWa sstf!VrBHi '3 tTTOnTmir NEITHER KNOCK NOR Runs Scored in a Week by Major League Clubs RUNS scored by all teams in American and Nntional Leagues from Friday, August 4, to Thurs day, August 10, inclusive. Only runs that figure in official averages arc included. Scores of incomplete games aro not counted, but the scores of games of fivo innings or more are included in tho table: AMKIUC'AN MJAflUK. T. r. S. H. .11. T. W.T'l. Cleirlnnil fl IS fi 8 0 r, 3 II St. I.nuls fl 7 O S 11 4 13.1 Ilptrolt : 2 4 0 1 10 3t chimco n 7 t 7 4 i n at llonton I 7 1 1 (1 3 1130 Athletlrn 2 8 2 (I 7 420 New Vnrk 3 2 4 3 4 3 220 Witftlilnctnn 10 0 3 2 1 1 010 NATIONAL l.KAOUK. T. I S. .30 . r. 2 3 H. .11. T. W.T'l. riiltllrx , lloHtnn ClnclminU ... s(. LohIa llrnoklMi Nrtv York f'lilraro ., I'lttxtmrKli Did not plnr. 122 18 O It 13 IS 13 10 7 MilKk tHHKHp HiHf .HUH hHsKHH I iW laBBH flH JHI M assssssssssssssssssssssssssB' iKt I laaKlaaW LBaaW tH fllssasH Bal9 j lBaCOl aOHll OxfoT Pr!CC3' Ihe SPEC,ALS1 I Hf .wlllA M .ailvfliiRlllH EaUsEnS. theiTitin Tl.prp 'a '" 'I'9r' H HkaSa"BsH Hni Mopnnu' hiciiio ic w S731 derma ntown Atlantla Cltr Store. ' m Are., between L.e- 1822 A 1 1 n tin m hlxtt Ave. and Ave.. Dear Tea- f M tiomereet St. J naase. ) Open evenings to accommodate our 1 m customers. When ordering by mall In- M l'.ude J0q Parcel Post charges. "20? 4 Stores In 97 Cities." BOOST THE BALL OYER ' OF CAMPAlfil SEVEN RACES ON DULUTH BEGAM PROGRAM TODAi Crowd of 25,000 LjJ Course as National Ro.'-j ing fyleet Gets Started j 168 OARSMEN ARE LISTED! DULUTH, Minn., Aug. 11. Thafc-1' fourth annual rowing regatta of ths tlonal Amateur Association opened hrll day with 168 oarsmen In attendance, nl represented the class of rowing taleni t '! the North, East, Middle West ana j?1 South. The weather Is fair, with & 2$ breeze, nnd the temperature is around t?1 More than 25,000 persons nre llnln. ,cl course. - " nnces today aro: Quarter-mils t.n Junior eights. Intermediate singles '.SI doubles, senior fours, association' iiT-I and Intermediate eight. """i Saturday's program follows: Senior lit 4 national four, championship singles. t.i -i mcdlato uouuies, intcrmcdlata fours. iF qundruplc sculls, senior eight. -- lUf i ina jL'niiuueiiJiuu. oarsmen linn ,.... nght's sleep nnd wero out early yestenS' for a long row. They took thlnm , 3 however, and were back for a hearty hnl'4 fast at training quarters at tho DuIuUiBm Kelly's shell has been repaired anat'l used It Wcdnesdny, Schmldhelser and iffll tlmo rteelnff their shells nt an accnSll fnt n almrt trtti In Hia nffennoA. " Tigers Sign Catcher Koehlcr OKTTrtSHUna, IM.. Aur. ll. ArtleK.M.il tho star Xalcher of the lllua nidge fiB?'te1 ono of the conslitent players of the ui,2 I team, was aom yeiorna- to tha Detroit !?' Icnn League team. Sinrden. tha Detroit cotLiS been following tho local team for Mveril wa? watchlnu Koehler. and cloacd tha deal with 5?' aBcr Hank iuet after today's game with VSS". vlllc. Koonler'i noma la at Sibley, 1IL Jl DRAYTON an Arrow COLLAli THIN. LIGHT YET STARCHED AND SIGHTLY ISceach 6 for IX CLorrr, rsnoor co., inc., mini pLW " "Y" Q " w B THE FENCE -i HE knocks YovJ), "rHE KNOCKS IAE. WJH6" KNOCKS TH(6 ONLY re HE esVfcK-T-tJOEnr Hfc ibtS DOESN'T DO ANV r wiTM wioye muztaqz r KNOCKING THE PAU,-PLAYR. 4 A T V- Aff WE SHOULU BEKrKCTrWTO H i rAu. nepoes is KNOCK, KNOCK, J-J ) V l out- rs. iiij if")W A j$& JmfW i .. . i m mm iiBSiBMWssssg i? 1 1 1 i n J iiiTiiwnsyieW" '"' F w MIM " ,m 7 IWM''