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RDL Sporting Gazette

EVENING EDITION
Vol. IX — No. 3
The Official Sporting Journal of the Random Debut League — Base Ball, Athletics and All Outdoor Sports
Vol. IX, No. 3SUNDAY EVENING, JUNE 9, 1907Price ONE CENT
SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

GIANTS BLANK CARDINALS IN FOURTEEN

Giants Outlast St. Louis in Epic DuelHardin Fans Thirteen and Yields Three Hits Over Eight Scoreless InningsGiants Win Sixth Straight and Tighten Grip on LeadFinal Score, 3 to 0
Budd Wiser, Our St. Louis Correspondent
Jim Hardin, Cardinals twirler, fanned thirteen but saw his gallant effort undone in extra innings.

ST. LOUIS, June 9.— On a broiling Sunday at the St. Louis grounds, it was Jim Hardin who held the multitude spellbound, the Cardinals’ right-hander weaving a masterpiece of pitching through eight scoreless frames and fanning thirteen batsmen, yet departing without reward as the Giants, unbowed and unbroken, wrested victory in the fourteenth, 3 to 0, to claim their sixth straight and reinforce their National League supremacy. The match, a true test of courage and stamina, remained without a tally until that decisive frame, both nines trading goose eggs inning after inning in a contest that seemed it might never end.

The deadlock finally shattered in the top of the fourteenth, when Khalil Greene, the Giants’ shortstop, strode forth and launched a mighty drive over the fence for his second circuit clout of the campaign, breaking the spell at last. With one away, Mark McLemore lashed a double, then crossed the plate on Chris Davis’s timely single. Matt Diaz, summoned as pinch-hitter and left gardener, capped the uprising with a two-bagger of his own, sending Davis across for the third and final tally. Stricken by this sudden assault, the Cardinals could muster no reply as the Giants’ parade of twirlers nailed down the result.

Pitching was the story of the day, and none shone brighter than Hardin, though the laurels fled from his grasp. In his eight full innings, the local ace conceded but three safeties and not a single free ticket, striking out batsmen in droves and keeping the visiting willow-wielders in check at every turn, aided by four subsequent innings of unyielding relief from Antonelli. For San Francisco, Bryce Miller matched him inning for inning, scattering seven hits over eight scoreless stanzas, while Almonte, Machado, Feliciano and Marrow each took their turn to preserve the whitewash; Feliciano, in particular, steadied the ship in the late going and was justly credited the victory, with Marrow closing the door for his inaugural rescue of the season.

The Cardinals’ fortunes ebbed not for lack of base-hits, for Singleton gathered three safeties, and both Cuyler and Driessen chipped in with a pair, yet the home club floundered upon the rocks of opportunity lost—caught stealing four times and failing to string together their hits for a single run. The Giants, for their part, turned two clever double plays in the field, while Greene not only cracked the crucial homer but pilfered a sack as well (though he was also cut down trying to swipe another). The St. Louis crowd, growing restless with every mounting zero, erupted in admiration at Hardin’s wizardry, only to be brought to stunned silence by the visitors’ sudden onslaught.

By prevailing in this marathon, the Giants stand tall atop the league at thirty-four victories to fifteen reverses, their grip on the pennant chase tightening as the Pirates remain two games astern. The Cardinals, now losers of two in succession, slip further behind, seven games off the pace and ruing a game so finely contested but, in the end, so bitterly lost.

“Hardin was never finer, yet the laurels fled from his grasp as the Giants struck in the fourteenth.”

WHITE SOX DROP TWELFTH STRAIGHT

Chicago's Misfortunes Mount in Home DefeatFans Restless as Losing Skid Reaches New DepthClub Now Anchored at Bottom of League
Windy McLoop, Our Chicago Correspondent

CHICAGO, June 9.— It was a grim afternoon at the local grounds, as the White Sox found themselves once more on the wrong end of the tally, succumbing 4 to 2 before the visiting Twins and thus recording a twelfth consecutive reverse. With this newest disappointment, Chicago’s aggregation, already mired in the depths, has sunk yet further in the estimation of its loyal but increasingly restive supporters, who watched in stony silence as hope evaporated inning by inning.

The contest followed a drearily familiar pattern for the home nine: a sputtering attack, sporadic as the June breeze off the lake, managed but two runs against the visitors’ steady pitching. Madlock, always a threat with the stick, tried to rally his mates, but with so many willow-wielders—Herrera, Choi, and Dukes prominent among them—trapped in deep slumps, the Chicago cause seemed fatally undermined from the outset. The few safeties that found green were scattered and unproductive, while in the field, the home club’s stabs at redemption were no match for Minnesota’s timely drives.

On the mound, Harris drew the assignment, but he, like so many of the White Sox’s hard-used twirlers, found little fortune waiting for him in the box. With Trout and Haddix both reported arm weary and Clark still searching for his first victory, the staff’s continued travails have left the club exposed day after day, and even the smallest deficits seem unscalable. The crowd’s forbearance grew thin as errors mounted and outs dwindled, with more than one cold glance cast toward the manager’s place along the bench.

There is little comfort to be found in the table: with just fourteen victories against thirty-five defeats, the White Sox are anchored at the foot of the league, now trailing the leaders by an almost unthinkable twenty-four and one-half games. As the losing streak stretches ever longer and the bats remain silent, the question in every heart is whether this proud club can find a spark before the summer is wholly lost.

TWINS SHUT OUT YANKEES IN MINNEAPOLIS

Dean Fans Twelve as Bell Hits Two HomersMinnesota Keeps Hold on Second PlaceYankees' Attack Silenced in Five to Nil Contest
Ole Millstone, Our Minneapolis Correspondent

MINNEAPOLIS, June 6.— Minnesota's faithful were rewarded with a masterful display yesterday as the Twins blanked the Yankees, 5 to 0, on the home lot, the contest owned from start to finish by the formidable arm of Dizzy Dean and the thunderous willow of Gus Bell. The Yankees, seeking to close ground in the pennant chase, found themselves stymied at every turn, their efforts stilled by Dean’s artful work upon the slab and undone by the home run outbursts of the local left gardener.

The scoring began in the third, when Bell sent a mighty drive over the fence, giving the crowd its first taste of jubilation. Again in the fifth, with two retired, Bell electrified the assembly by circling the bases with an inside-the-park circuit smash, scoring himself and cementing the Twins' advantage. Any flicker of Yankee hope was extinguished in the seventh, when Betancourt lofted a long two-run drive, carrying Courtney home ahead and driving the final nail into New York’s coffin.

Dean was the unquestioned master, scattering five safeties in eight innings and fanning a dozen Yankees while never allowing a man from New York to cross the plate. Hrabosky finished proceedings quietly in the ninth, seeing the visitors away without incident. Raschi, for the Manhattanites, was valiant in defeat, striking out eight but surrendering all three circuit clouts. Bell’s twin four-base blows and Betancourt’s own mighty wallop were the talk of Minneapolis as the grandstand emptied, for seldom have the Yankees looked so thoroughly tamed.

The win preserves Minnesota’s hold on second position, 8½ games behind the rampaging Red Sox, while the Yankees, checked in their stride, find the race for the bunting growing ever more desperate by the day.

Pages of this number: 5. Entered as second-class matter at the post-office.
The RDL Sporting GazetteTHE GAMES IN DETAILSUNDAY, JUNE 9, 1907 — Page 2

TRUCKS DOMINATES DODGERS IN LOS ANGELES

Pirates' Hurler Fans Thirteen in Two-Hit GemPittsburgh Hands Dodgers Rare Home Loss
Sonny Orangegrove, Our Los Angeles Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, June 5.— Virgil Trucks held the Dodgers at his mercy on their own Los Angeles grounds, fanning thirteen in a masterly two-hit performance, as the Pirates secured a 3 to 0 victory and kept their pennant ambitions burning bright. Only Hank Leiber's bat shone brighter than the southern California sun, his mighty circuit clout in the fourth putting the visitors ahead to stay and leaving the home congregation in a somber mood.

The affair turned in the fourth when Bonds laced a two-bagger with two gone, and Leiber, stepping in with a purpose, drove a Dravecky offering over the fences for a two-run tally. The Bucs pressed their advantage the next frame, as Johnny Pesky's well-struck fly to left permitted the runner from second to dash for third on the throw, scoring under the tag for the Pirates' third and final run. The Dodgers never recovered, stifled by Trucks's speed and guile.

Trucks was relentless, permitting but a triple by Gill in the second and one other lonely safety, while walking four. Not until the ninth did he yield, and then only after recording his thirteenth victim on strikes. Mark Clear finished matters without blemish, ensuring Pittsburgh's fourth consecutive victory. Dravecky, sturdy but outmatched, struck out nine and scattered six hits, yet bore a hard-luck defeat.

Fielding was crisp on both sides, with a double play from the Dodger infield standing out amid otherwise meager home fortunes. The crowd, expecting a contest befitting two rivals in the pennant chase, found themselves subdued by the visitor's mastery.

This result leaves the Pirates two games shy of the towering Giants in the National, their cause undiminished as the days lengthen. The Dodgers, stymied at home, fall five games adrift, their challenge momentarily checked.

BLEFARY'S THREE HOMERS LIFT BREWERS

Milwaukee Outslugs Cleveland in See-Saw AffairBlefary Drives in Five Runs on Perfect Day at Plate
Otto Hopsenbrau, Our Milwaukee Correspondent

MILWAUKEE, June 9.— A mighty exhibition of willow-wielding by Curt Blefary, Milwaukee's redoubtable receiver, lifted the Brewers to a stirring 7 to 6 triumph over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday at the Milwaukee grounds. Blefary, unchallenged hero of the afternoon, smote three circuit clouts and drove in five tallies, his final mighty blow in the eighth inning sealing a fifth consecutive triumph for the home talent.

The affair was a true slugfest, with the two clubs trading heavy artillery from the outset. Cleveland struck swiftly in the first frame as Delahanty blasted a solo four-base hit, but the Brewers answered in their half of the second, Blefary launching the first of his trio of homers. Neto followed with a two-run drive after a missed bunt, pushing Milwaukee ahead. The Indians knotted matters behind Conroy’s two-run blast in the fifth, and after Blefary’s second solo round-tripper reclaimed the lead for the locals, the visitors surged ahead in the seventh with three runs, Delahanty doubling and Murphy tripling in succession. Yet Blefary would have the last word, his third homer—a thunderous three-run shot in the eighth—wresting victory from Cleveland’s grasp.

On the mound, Hod Eller went seven frames for the Brewers, whiffing ten but surrendering all six Cleveland tallies, before Delcarmen collected his third victory with a spotless eighth. Jimenez calmly finished matters in the ninth. Vuckovich toiled gamely for the visitors but was undone by the Milwaukee catcher's heroics. Both nines performed crisply afield, neither committing a miscue.

Milwaukee’s faithful roared with delight at Blefary’s perfect day, while Cleveland’s gallant bid fell just short. The result strengthens the Brewers’ hold on fourth, as the men of Joseph Long—who declared, "You can't hate how you win if you win,"—ride high, winners of five in succession. Cleveland, meanwhile, languishes at the foot of the table, their tribulations deepening.

RED SOX TAME ROYALS IN KANSAS CITY

Sale Strikes Out Thirteen as Boston Marches OnLeaders Allow Just One Run to Locals
Casey Stockyards, Our Kansas City Correspondent
C. Sale

KANSAS CITY, June 9.— The Boston Red Sox continued their imperious march atop the American League, subduing the Royals in Kansas City by a count of 4 to 1 behind another stirring performance from their ace left-hander, Sale. Mowing down the Kansas City batsmen with surgical precision, Sale allowed but three hits, struck out thirteen, and went the route to collect his ninth victory without defeat on the campaign.

The visitors set the tone early, pouncing in the second when Furcal rapped a safety to drive home both Avila and Johnson, sending a hush over the local partisans. Then, in the fifth, the Boston left gardener, Bodie, electrified the assembly with a mighty four-base drive, his ninth of the year, scoring himself and stretching the margin to four. The Royals at last stirred in their half of the sixth, as Fletcher doubled home Coghlan, but could draw no nearer.

Bennett, toiling for Kansas City, fanned ten in six innings’ work, but was undone by the timely blows of the Boston nine. The fielding was crisp on both sides, with not a miscue on the score sheet and a clever double-play turned by Perez, Furcal, and Hernández to stymie a local rally. The crowd, searching for a pick-me-upper, found little relief in the late innings as Sale finished strong, never letting the hosts back in the contest.

With their fourth consecutive triumph, the Red Sox now stand nine games to the good, their cause as bright as ever. The Royals, meanwhile, tumble further from the flag, dropping their fourth straight, and must find new spark if they are to revive their fortunes.

MARTINEZ FANS SEVENTEEN PHILLIES

Dodgers' Ace Overpowers Home ClubPhillies Suffer Sixth Consecutive Defeat
Liberty Bellweather, Our Philadelphia Correspondent
Pedro Martinez, the Dodgers' ace, whose seventeen strikeouts silenced Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, June 9.— Pedro Martinez stood alone atop the mound at Philadelphia yesterday, fanning seventeen Phillies as the Dodgers ran roughshod over the home club, 8 to 1. The Los Angeles ace was nigh untouchable, scattering but two meagre safeties and permitting only a single tally, while his willow-wielding companions laid waste to the fortunes of Cuellar and the Philadelphia nine.

The rout commenced in the opening frame, where Rader, recalling his early-season ferocity, deposited a mighty circuit clout with a mate aboard, giving the visitors a swift two-run advantage. Though the Phillies scratched back a run in the second on Browne’s timely single, their fight was brief. Barfield struck next, socking his tenth four-base drive in the third, and Flynn followed suit in the fifth with his own mighty blow, each time driving home a companion. Two more tallies crossed in the sixth, aided by a passed ball and Amoros’s grounder, securing the rout beyond all question.

Martinez was the true marvel of the afternoon, his delivery a puzzle the home batsmen could not unravel. Time and again, Philadelphia’s willow-men returned to the bench, victims of his cunning and fire. Only two reached him for hits, and not a single man troubled the scorer after the second inning. The fielding behind him was crisp, the only blemish a lone miscue by Werber.

The dismal showing marks the Phillies’ sixth consecutive defeat and leaves them mired in the lower reaches of the table, while the Dodgers, on the strength of Martinez’s right arm and timely thunder at the bat, remain in the thick of the National chase.

How the Clubs Fared

THE WEEK'S PLAY, CLUB BY CLUB

Every Game of the Round, Filed Under Both Nines — Touch a Score for the Full Box
American League
Boston Red Sox5–1
  • at New YorkJune 3–4
  • v. ChicagoJune 5–7
  • at Kansas CityJune 9
Minnesota Twins4–2
  • v. ClevelandJune 3–4
  • v. New YorkJune 5–7
  • at ChicagoJune 9
New York Yankees4–2
  • v. BostonJune 3–4
  • at MinnesotaJune 5–7
  • at TorontoJune 9
Milwaukee Brewers5–1
  • at TorontoJune 3–4
  • v. Kansas CityJune 5–7
  • v. ClevelandJune 9
Kansas City Royals2–4
  • v. ChicagoJune 3–4
  • at MilwaukeeJune 5–7
  • v. BostonJune 9
Toronto Blue Jays3–3
  • v. MilwaukeeJune 3–4
  • at ClevelandJune 5–7
  • v. New YorkJune 9
Cleveland Indians1–5
  • at MinnesotaJune 3–4
  • v. TorontoJune 5–7
  • at MilwaukeeJune 9
Chicago White Sox0–6
  • at Kansas CityJune 3–4
  • at BostonJune 5–7
  • v. MinnesotaJune 9
National League
San Francisco Giants6–0
  • v. HoustonJune 3–4
  • v. AtlantaJune 5–7
  • at St. LouisJune 9
Pittsburgh Pirates5–1
  • v. ChicagoJune 3–4
  • at Los AngelesJune 5–7
  • at AtlantaJune 9
Los Angeles Dodgers4–2
  • at AtlantaJune 3–4
  • v. PittsburghJune 5–7
  • at PhiladelphiaJune 9
St. Louis Cardinals4–2
  • v. PhiladelphiaJune 3–4
  • at HoustonJune 5–7
  • v. San FranciscoJune 9
Chicago Cubs4–2
  • at PittsburghJune 3–4
  • v. PhiladelphiaJune 5–7
  • v. HoustonJune 9
Philadelphia Phillies0–6
  • at St. LouisJune 3–4
  • at ChicagoJune 5–7
  • v. Los AngelesJune 9
Houston Astros1–5
  • at San FranciscoJune 3–4
  • v. St. LouisJune 5–7
  • at ChicagoJune 9
Atlanta Braves0–6
  • v. Los AngelesJune 3–4
  • at San FranciscoJune 5–7
  • v. PittsburghJune 9

DIAMOND DUST

Brief Mention of the Week's Other Doings

Toronto outlasted Milwaukee at home in ten innings, 5 to 4.

New York outlasted Boston at home in eleven innings, 3 to 1.

Milwaukee outlasted Kansas City at home in ten innings, 5 to 2.

Houston outlasted St. Louis at home in fourteen innings, 3 to 2.

Hughes whitewashed Philadelphia at home, 5 to 0.

Hardin whitewashed Philadelphia at home, 7 to 0.

Person whitewashed Philadelphia at home, 6 to 0.

Braxton allowed Atlanta but two hits at home, winning 4 to 0.

Minnesota beat Cleveland at home with the winning run in the last half-inning, 2 to 1.

St. Louis outlasted Houston at Houston in fourteen innings, 2 to 1.

Milwaukee beat Kansas City at home with the winning run in the last half-inning, 2 to 1.

Tom Hughes of St. Louis was in rare form against Philadelphia June 3: 9.0 innings, HA 3, runs, earned runs, three passes, eighteen strike-outs.

Touch an item for the box score of that game.

HARDEN BLANKS PHILLIES WITH DOZEN STRIKEOUTS

Cubs' Hurler Allows Just Two Hits in Chicago
Gus T. O'Leary, Our Chicago Correspondent

CHICAGO, June 6.— Rich Harden's masterful pitching silenced the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday at the Chicago grounds, the southpaw sending down a dozen batters on strikes and permitting but two safeties in an eight-inning stint as the Cubs triumphed, 5 to 0. The home nine leapt to early leads on the circuit clouts of Fred Beck and Daulton Varsho, with timely sacrifices and passes adding to the tally in comfortable fashion.

TWINS ROUT INDIANS ELEVEN TO NIL

Magee Leads the Barrage With Four Safeties
Ole Millstone, Our Minneapolis Correspondent

MINNESOTA, June 4.— The Twins overwhelmed the Indians at the home lot, pounding out eleven runs on a dozen blows, with Sherry Magee leading the charge by garnering four safeties, including two doubles, and crossing the plate twice while driving in three. Bob Meusel’s mighty two-run circuit clout in the fourth set the tone, and Bob Grim’s six and one-third scoreless innings dazzled the crowd as Minnesota’s bats showed no mercy. The visitors could muster but five safeties and failed to score, despite their efforts at the plate.

The RDL Sporting GazetteFEATURES AND OPINIONSUNDAY, JUNE 9, 1907 — Page 3
THE GAZETTE'S OPINION

THE WHITE SOX MUST NOT DELAY

Twelve Defeats Sound the AlarmThe Race Will Not WaitBold Measures Now or Never
The Gazette

To hesitate now is to perish by inches. The Gazette holds that the hour for decisive action has come and gone for the Chicago White Sox; what remains is only to acknowledge necessity and act swiftly, lest the whole campaign be consigned to the dustbin before the summer is halfway spent. Twelve defeats in succession, a tally that chills the marrow, have left the White Sox a staggering twenty-four and a half games out of the lead, with not a single triumph to brighten their record these last ten contests. Such a course cannot continue without inviting calamity and ridicule in equal measure.

The standing of the club is nothing short of dire. While the Bostoners soar aloft on the wings of victory and even the lowliest of rivals find occasion for hope, the White Sox linger at the league’s foot, battered by fate and misfortune. Explanations and excuses matter little; what is wanted, and demanded by the faithful of Chicago, is resolute change. The club is battered, its staff depleted—yet in adversity lies opportunity. The Gazette has seen, in other cities and other years, that boldness in such moments is the only tonic for malaise.

This journal urges the club’s directors and the man in the manager’s chair: Do not wait for fortune to turn of its own accord. Reconstitute your order of battle; give the young hopefuls their chance, or summon seasoned hands to steady the nine. It matters not by whose bat or whose arm the spell is broken, so long as the spell is broken at once. Chicago expects it, the league demands it, and the season’s soul depends upon it.

To delay is to drift into irrelevance, and the Gazette will not be alone in lamenting such a fate for a club of Chicago’s proud tradition. Let the White Sox act—today, and with the urgency the hour commands.

BRAVES' NIGHTMARE RUN CONTINUES

Nine Straight Defeats Sink Atlanta DeeperLocal Faithful Await Answers as Skid Shows No EndManager Under Fire Amid Persistent Woes
Cole Peachtree, Our Atlanta Correspondent

ATLANTA, June 9.— The Braves' ordeal drags on and shows no sign of relief for the suffering base ball faithful of Atlanta. With yesterday’s narrow 5 to 4 defeat at the hands of Pittsburgh, the locals have now dropped nine straight, a stretch that has left their fortunes at the foot of the National League and the patience of the supporters worn as thin as the club’s sliver of hope in the race for the pennant. From the echoing stands at the Atlanta lot to the smoke-filled parlours of Marietta Street, the talk is of little else but the club’s extraordinary reversal, and the mood has curdled from anxious hope to open agitation against the management.

The manner of these defeats has only added salt to the wound. In the current week, the Braves fell twice at home to the Dodgers before journeying west, where San Francisco’s arms and bats sent them to a trio of dispiriting reverses; the club managed but three runs in each contest before being blanked entirely in the final affair. A return home brought no reprieve, as even a late rally could not prevent the Pirates from snatching victory away. Runs have proven elusive—only one hundred sixty have crossed for the home club this season, as against a punishing two hundred seventy-two allowed, a disparity that tells the whole wretched story.

Neither the batsmen nor the boxmen show signs of arresting the slide. Lyman Bostock and Olaf Henriksen, so often counted upon for steady willow work, have fallen into deep slumps, each barely managing a scratch hit per week. George Hamner leads the club in four-base drives but cannot alone bear the burden. On the mound, Hooks Dauss and Danny Salazar have taken their regular turns, but both are arm weary from ceaseless toil, and Zack Godley bears the ignominy of eleven defeats without a single triumph to his name. Attempts at late-game rescue from Stewart have foundered, his recent results catching the mood of the club as a whole—game, but not good enough.

The mood in Atlanta, once buoyed by early spring promise, has turned unseasonably chill. The supporters, loyal though they remain, look to the manager for new ideas and new blood, yet with each mounting defeat, the call grows louder for a reckoning. The Gazette is left to wonder: how much longer can the Braves endure this nightmare, and who among them will rouse the club from its lamentable slumber? The season is not yet lost to time, but the hour grows late and the Braves’ predicament is desperate indeed.

AROUND THE CIRCUIT

News of All Sixteen Clubs by Telegraph
By Telegraph to the Gazette

MINNESOTA—The Twins have played six, taking four wins and dropping two to New York and Chicago. Walter Johnson remains a pillar on the mound though signs of wear show; Bob Grim has thrown with fine effect. Yuniesky Betancourt's bat blazes hot, while Magee and Bell lead the charge at the willow. The locals keep pressing in second place with steady work and relentless spirit.

NEW YORK—The Yankees split six contests, besting the Twins thrice but falling twice to Boston. Wally Pipp's bat has gleamed, and Ollie Brown's slugging lifts the spirits. Tim Lincecum twirled masterfully, winning five and striking terror into batsmen. Ad Liska, however, looks weary, hinting at the toll the race exacts. The aggregation fights hard for third-place standing.

KANSAS CITY—The Royals found mixed fortune in six games, prevailing twice over Chicago but succumbing to Milwaukee and Boston thereafter. Hal Smith's hitting brightened the gloomy stretch, though the outfielders Bellinger and Browne have struck out cold. On the mound, Dennis Bennett’s arm shows signs of fatigue. The club remains mired in fifth, yearning for a turn of luck.

BOSTON—The Red Sox continue their masterful march atop the standings, taking five of six encounters against New York, Chicago, and Kansas City. Babe Ruth’s bat blazes with power and precision, while Chris Sale’s pitching has been formidable, though his arm is feeling the strain of constant toil. Collins’s men prove difficult to dislodge from their lofty perch.

TORONTO—The Blue Jays split six games with Milwaukee, Cleveland, and New York, their showing neither bright nor dim. The bats have cooled somewhat, with pitchers Root and Villarreal struggling to find form. Frank Viola’s arm shows wear, tempering hopes for a sustained run. Kiermaier retains his steady hand at the plate, but the locals must sharpen their efforts to climb from the cellar.

CLEVELAND—The Indians continue to falter, taking but one win in six against Minnesota, Toronto, and Milwaukee. The staff has worn thin, with Vuckovich and comrades laboring mightily but seldom prevailing. Hitting has been erratic, aside from Pepitone’s commendable showing at the plate. The locals languish near the bottom, seeking to regain a foothold in the race.

MILWAUKEE—The Brewers have bested Kansas City, Toronto, and Cleveland five times out of six, climbing steadily in the standings. Curt Blefary’s bat has been a potent weapon, while Chris Paddack’s mound work shines bright. Roger Repoz remains silent at the plate, a rarity in the strong Milwaukee attack. Hod Eller’s arm shows signs of fatigue after frequent use.

CHICAGO—The White Sox face a dismal run, losing all six contests to Kansas City, Boston, and Minnesota. The bats have gone cold, with several regulars laboring fruitlessly at the plate. Watty Clark’s pitching has faltered, and Steve Trout’s arm shows wear from repeated contests. The locals find themselves adrift at the base of the American League.

PHILADELPHIA—The Phillies have suffered a brutal week, being blanked in five straight and losing six in a row to St. Louis, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Todd Worrell’s steady work on the mound offers a rare bright spot, but many bats lie dormant, including those of Soriano and Gentile. The locals must rally to avoid slipping further into the mire.

PITTSBURGH—The Pirates have taken five of six, besting Chicago and Los Angeles while fending off Atlanta. The bats have been reliable save for a quiet stretch by first sacker Ruiz. Cristian Javier’s arm shows signs of wear after repeated outings. The aggregation stands firm in second place, pressing the leaders with unyielding resolve.

ST. LOUIS—The Cardinals have played six, winning four before dropping two late to San Francisco. The pitching of Hughes and Hardin has been sterling, although Hardin’s arm feels the strain. Ken Singleton’s bat blazes brightly, but weaknesses linger among the catching and center field positions. The locals occupy fourth, striving for steadiness in the fray.

SAN FRANCISCO—The Giants have swept six contests over Houston and St. Louis, their pitching staff led by Miller and Braxton proving stout. The bats have followed suit, with Davis leading in power and runs batted in. The wear on Miller’s arm is noted but not yet a hindrance. The Giants maintain their place atop the National League with steady hand and keen eye.

LOS ANGELES—The Dodgers have split six with Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, their mound work bolstered by Pedro Martinez’s recent masteries. The bats have been lively, especially that of Rader, who leads the team in average and runs batted in. Martinez’s arm shows signs of fatigue, which may cause concern if the pace quickens. The Dodgers linger in third, ready to strike.

HOUSTON—The Astros have struggled mightily, dropping five of six to San Francisco and St. Louis before a lone victory. Bob Blaylock’s steady pitching provides hope amid the gloom. The bats have been cold, particularly Belle in left. Pomeranz and Warthen have labored on the mound with scant success. The locals remain near the foot of the National circuit.

ATLANTA—The Braves’ woes deepen as they drop six in succession against Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh. The bats have been nearly silent, and the staff, including Salazar and Godley, displays signs of exhaustion. The locals cling to last place, searching for respite amid relentless defeat. The situation demands swift and thorough remedy.

CHICAGO—The Cubs have fought back with four straight wins over Philadelphia and Houston after early losses. The bats have awakened, especially that of Klein, who leads with twenty circuit clouts and forty runs driven in. Tom Oliver remains cold at the plate. Scott Sanderson’s arm has shown wear but remains serviceable. The locals hold a middling place, hopeful for brighter days.

THE HOT STOVE

THE HOT STOVE GLOWS IN JUNE

Braves' Management in the Cross-HairsBrewers' Bats Coveted Around the LeagueDodgers' Arms Inspire Envy
The Man in the Grand Stand

There is much talk along the rails that White Sox management, reeling from a disastrous start and beset by ill fortune on the field, is prepared at last to take the axe to established custom. With injuries mounting and the club entrenched firmly in the cellar, the hour for audacious change would seem indeed at hand, as remarked elsewhere in this number.

Not to be outdone in disquiet, Atlanta's nine find their skipper the centre of an ever-thickening haze of speculation. The Braves, whose campaign thus far has been a litany of woe, are said by the talkers at Peachtree Street and beyond to be weighing a new hand on the tiller. It is whispered that the owners have little appetite for further drift, and the Gazette hears that more than one local worthy with experience at the helm has been invited quietly to test the waters. Whether the Braves will indeed part company with their current chief, or merely clamor for sterner methods, remains to be seen.

Yet if talk of change fills the air among the tail-enders, envy is the word in Milwaukee. The Brewers, whose place among the first division has surprised many, are the subject of desire from clubs in dire need of power. A well-placed observer in Philadelphia swears the Phillies' men have cast covetous glances at the Brewers' heavy willow-wielders, wondering aloud what price would prise a fence-buster from the Cream City. As the race grows tighter by the week, it would surprise no one if bold overtures are soon made.

But it is in Los Angeles that rumour gathers a different scent. The Dodgers' remarkable pitching, exemplified by the recent exploits of Martinez and Trucks, has drawn the admiration—and, it must be confessed, the jealousy—of nearly every club's manager in the land. Reports abound that the Dodgers have not one, but several, able hands ready to take the slab on short notice. In a season where so many clubs groan under tired arms, this abundance is a rare and precious thing. Should Los Angeles choose to trade, a handsome consideration would surely be demanded. For now, the rest can only sigh and wish.

LETTERS TO THE SPORTING EDITOR

The Sporting Editor

To the Sporting Editor: Is it true that Chris Sale's astounding 0.98 mark for earned runs is the best ever seen in the American League? Such a spectacle this season! Does this marvel not make the Red Sox mound corps the envy of the circuit? — VERITAS, Boston.

[Indeed, Sale's earned run average stands peerless this season, a sterling testament to his mastery of the pan. His performances have surely fortified the Red Sox's commanding hold atop the league.]

To the Sporting Editor: The White Sox have been beleaguered by a most distressing string of losses, twelve consecutively no less. Might the powers that be consider a shake-up in the ranks, or does hope linger for an end to this black spell? — AN OLD CRANK, Chicago.

[The Gazette acknowledges the White Sox's grim sequence of reverses; yet history teaches that persistence may yet break such chains. Rest and renewed vigour, rather than rash changes, may serve them better in coming contests.]

To the Sporting Editor: There remains much debate among the supporters here regarding the legality of sliding into bases. Might the Sporting Editor clarify whether a baserunner may obstruct the fielder's attempt without penalty? — FAIR PLAY, Philadelphia.

[The league rules hold firm that while a runner may strive for base, any deliberate obstruction of a fielder's play constitutes an infringement, to be met with appropriate sanction at the umpire's discretion.]

To the Sporting Editor: The Brewers' recent five-game winning streak has brought joy to our lot. To what do you attribute this sudden change in fortune that places Milwaukee in such hopeful standing? — A LADY READER, Milwaukee.

[Certainly, the Brewers' current prosperity arises from stout pitching and improved hitting at opportune moments. Such combined effort has propelled them upward, granting hope for further gains.]

The RDL Sporting GazetteRECORDS AND FIGURESSUNDAY, JUNE 9, 1907 — Page 4
Leading Batsmen
PlayerClubPct.
1Joe PepitoneCLE.360
2Babe RuthBOS.338
3Wally PippNYY.337
4Sherry MageeMIN.322
5Doug RaderLAD.317
Circuit Clouts
PlayerClubNo.
1Chuck KleinCHC20
2Fred BeckCHC16
3Curt BlefaryMIL14
3Chris DavisSF14
3Mark McGwireCHC14
Runs Driven Home
PlayerClubNo.
1Chuck KleinCHC40
1Babe RuthBOS40
3Chris DavisSF35
Winning Twirlers
PlayerClubNo.
1Cristian JavierPIT9
1Chris SaleBOS9
3Clay CarrollBOS8
3Walter JohnsonMIN8
Stingiest Twirlers
PlayerClubAv.
1Chris SaleBOS0.98
2Tom HughesSTL1.45
3Tim LincecumNYY1.61
4Bob GrimMIN1.82
5Walter JohnsonMIN1.88
Strike-Out Kings
PlayerClubNo.
1Tom HughesSTL173
2Walter JohnsonMIN144
3Danny SalazarATL133
4Pedro MartinezLAD131
5Schoolboy RowePIT130

THE TIPSTERS' LINE

What the Sporting Men Are Laying on the Flags
Old Doc Odds

American League pennant, as quoted by Old Doc Odds: Boston Red Sox, even money; Minnesota Twins, 15 to 1; New York Yankees, 15 to 1; Milwaukee Brewers, 15 to 1; Kansas City Royals, 15 to 1. The field, 40 to 1.

National League pennant, as quoted by Old Doc Odds: San Francisco Giants, 2 to 1; Pittsburgh Pirates, 6 to 1; Los Angeles Dodgers, 6 to 1; St. Louis Cardinals, 10 to 1; Chicago Cubs, 12 to 1. The field, 40 to 1.

Prices are those obtainable from the sporting men of the Gazette's acquaintance and are printed for information only; this journal neither makes nor takes wagers.

THE HOSPITAL LIST

Players Laid Up and the Nature of Their Hurts

JUNE 5.—Chicago White Sox: first baseman Casey Kotchman was hurt. The club's physician finds a lacerated finger. he will be lost for some 2 weeks.

JUNE 4.—San Francisco Giants: pitcher Bryce Miller is suffering from a sore wrist, will be out 3 days.

JUNE 3.—San Francisco Giants: pitcher Bryce Miller was hurt while pitching. The club's physician has not yet pronounced.

CHANGES IN THE CLUBS

JUNE 3.—Houston Astros: Placed batsman Doc Crandall on the hospital list for a fortnight.

THE SPORTING ALMANAC

EARLIER THIS SEASON.—May 28, Cleveland 4, Chicago 0; May 29, Minnesota 7, Toronto 0; May 30, New York 9, Chicago 1; May 31, New York 12, Chicago 2; June 1, Houston 10, Atlanta 0; June 2, Los Angeles 11, Atlanta 1.

The RDL Sporting GazetteADVERTISEMENTS AND NOTICESSUNDAY, JUNE 9, 1907 — Page 5
Small Advertisements — One Cent a Word
TO LET—A seat in the sun-field bleachers, with an uninterrupted view of the visiting outfielders misjudging fly balls. Cheap by the season.
LOST—One pennant, blue, slightly used. Last seen in the vicinity of the Red Sox grounds. Reward for its return to any club in the second division.
PERSONAL—The gentleman who shouted 'Kill the umpire' at the grounds Thursday is informed that the umpire is well and will be at the same post to-morrow. — THE UMPIRE.
NOTICE—The Gazette's Pennant Contest: name both flag winners and the dates on which the flags are clinched. First prize a season pass; second prize two season passes to the White Sox. Coupons in every issue.

PRINTER'S NOTICE

Readers who find the rustle of the sheets a distraction may request the plain reading edition, set in a single column without ornament, by applying at the counter below.

The Gazette is published on the evening of the last day of play in each week's round and is sold at one cent the copy. Back numbers may be had of the publisher at the same price.

At the Counter

Back numbers of the Gazette may be had from the file of back numbers.

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