SESSION AT THE ANNEX.
Clubs to Present Real Strength, Slagle and Davis Being Only Doubtful Players.
At 11 o’clock this morning the members of the national baseball commission, the Chicago National and American league players, the umpires, and others directly concerned in the world’s championship games, will meet at the Auditorium Annex.
President Hermann of the commission will deliver his instructions to the quartet of umpires—Messrs. Johnstone and another official whose name has not yet been announced of the National league, and O’Loughlin and Sheridan of the American league—and the rules governing the series will be discussed thoroughly with the players. The importance of preserving decorum on the field, provision for ground rules, and other details will be gone over thoroughly.
Aside form this conference the only thing the members of the two teams will do is practice. The Nationals get in this morning from St. Louis, and with their arrival all the players eligible for both teams will be in the city.
Teams in Remarkably Good Shape.
Both teams approach the crucial contests with forces in remarkably good condition. Outfielder Slagle of the Nationals and Shortstop Davis of the White Sox are the only notable exceptions. The former will not be able to play during the series, in all probability, the injury to his breast keeping him idle. As their leadoff batter and most experienced outfielder, Slagle’s absence cannot be considered in fairness as cutting no figure in the result. At the same time it is conceded the Spuds have a splendid substitute in Hofman, who has been filling Slagle’s shoes so well for the last week, batting hard and fielding finely. Chance has declared Hofman one of the finest outfielders in the country.
The rest of the Spuds appear to be in tip top shape. Mordecai Brown, whose Giant killer arm was out of commission for a while, was reported yesterday to be in as good condition as ever, Dr. Harley Parker declaring him to be fit and ready.
Davis Almost Sure to Play.
George Davis is not nearly so bad off as is Slagle, and he undoubtedly will appear at shortstop for the Sox in the opening game. Davis’ physician has diagnosed the player’s lame back to be due not to a sprain but to a cold. Electrical treatment is being applied and the advent of warmer weather, which is the promise, is likely to whip the veteran into fairly good shape.
Talk as to the probably opening pitchers is all speculation, that being a point in the attack which the wise manager invariably keeps to himself until the last minute. Kling undoubtedly will catch for the Nationals and Sullivan for the Sox. The remainder of the Spuds’ lineup will be familiar, with the exception of Hofman in Slagle’s place in center. For the Sox, Isbell will be at second, Tannehill at third, and Dougherty, Jones, and Hahn will make up the outfield.
The prospect of good weather is cheering to the thousands who have taken the precaution to secure in advance seats for tomorrow’s opening game. The preliminary touch of winter failed to hurt the advance sale, apparently, but nobody except the overcoat dealer will object to a return to summer. Higher temperature also has a bearing on the possible work of the teams, affecting some of the pitchers more or less.
Not Enough Seats for Fans.
The entire city is talking of the series and the one common plaint is, “How will I be able to get a seat?” The advance sale of reserved seats for tomorrow’s game at the west side was exhausted on Friday, the first day of the sale, and tomorrow there will be a rush to be first in line for seats sold at the park.
At the White Sox park the $12,000 worth of reserved box seats for the first two games at that park—that is, the second and fourth games—has been sold out. Much grumbling among the fans has been heard because the American league club has refused to sell reserved seats for more than two games at that park. President Comiskey claims that the action is taken because of the complications that would result in returning reserved seat money for additional games if they were sold and the games not played. As it is, reserved seats are being sold for five games—the first, third, and fifth on the west side grounds and the second and fourth at the south side.
Little Betting Locally.
Considering the remarkable local interest in the games, it is strange that there is so little betting locally. Many inquiries from newspapers and others elsewhere are arriving as to the betting. As a matter of fact, it may be said there is no betting in Chicago. Even on the board of trade there is comparatively none. There is a lot of talk of wagering, but practically none is being done. This is due partly to the advance talk about big odds on the Spuds and also partly to the fact that spirit of partisanship, strange to relate, is not so keen as it was last fall. There seems to be such a general feeling of satisfaction at the victory of both teams in their league races that there is a disposition on the part of fans to be more or less impartial and to stand back and say, “Let the best team win.”
Among the pronounced partisans there is a lot of Spuds money offered at 2 to 1, but the followers of the Sox are holding out for better odds. In one place there is $1,000 up to back the Sox at 3 to 1, and in many places there are sums offered on Comiskey’s men at even 5 to 2, the general tendency of the bet “talk” in the last few days apparently being to make the odds between the teams less. It is thought many are holding off until after the first game, looking for a better price.
