ATHLETICS AND CUBS CLAIM PENNANTS; WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP AWAITS
By Samuel T. Kingsley & Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times
October 11, 1904
Philadelphia and Chicago faithful prepare for historic clash
The long grind of the regular season has at last reached its end, and the two pennant winners have emerged from the fray.
In the American League, the Philadelphia Athletics proved the steadier hand in the final fortnight, pulling clear of the Boston Americans to capture their first league crown by three full games. It marks a glorious moment for the Philadelphia faithful, who have waited eagerly for their club to assert itself atop the new circuit.
Meanwhile, in the National League, the Chicago Cubs secured the single victory they required early in October and never looked back, keeping their margin over the New York Giants intact at six games. For the Cubs, it is a triumph of consistency and resolve, and the promise of a greater test yet to come.
The base ball public now turns its eyes to the forthcoming World’s Championship Series, a fresh chapter in the sport’s history. It will pit two new claimants to the crown against one another, promising intrigue and excitement in equal measure.
Philadelphia will depend heavily upon the brilliance of Nap Lajoie, who struck for a .347 average this year, and upon the power of Harry Davis, whose .348 mark made him one of the league’s most feared hitters. On the mound, the Athletics will look to Eddie Plank, Harry Howell, and Wiley Piatt to deliver when it matters most.
The Cubs, for their part, boast a formidable arsenal. The veteran arm of Kid Nichols and the promising rookie Frank Smith are expected to shoulder the bulk of the pitching duties, while the bats of Grant Johnson and Frank Chance will be leaned upon to supply the runs.
Managers Speak
Athletics skipper Chris Smith, in his first season at the helm, could scarcely hide his pride:
“To guide this club to its first pennant is a privilege beyond words. These men have played with heart and purpose all summer. Boston pressed us hard, but our lads never faltered. Now we must carry that same spirit into the Championship, for we know Chicago will give us no quarter.”
For the Cubs, seasoned manager Tom Loftus, now in his fifth year directing the Chicago nine, spoke with equal confidence:
“This pennant is the fruit of steady labor and stout character. Our fellows earned every victory, and I could not be prouder. The Athletics are a worthy adversary, but I believe our blend of pitching and timely hitting can carry us through. Chicago is ready for the challenge.”
With both clubs primed for the grandest stage, the World’s Championship Series promises to be a spectacle fitting the stature of the game itself. Fans in Philadelphia and Chicago—and indeed across the nation—await the first pitch with eager hearts, for history is soon to be written.
