OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

amead17 · 10-02-2025, 01:09 PM

PENNANT RACES TAKE SHAPE AS 1905 SEASON BEGINS

By Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times

April 13, 1905 – The long days of spring training are behind us, and now the true test begins. With the season opening across the land, every club in both leagues carries the same dream: to seize the pennant and earn a place in the grand World’s Championship Series come October. Hope is abundant, but the experts are already wagering which clubs carry real mettle and which are little more than paper pretenders.

In the American League, the New York Highlanders have caught the fancy of the bookmakers. Behind a lively attack led by outfielders Cy Seymour and Mike Donlin, the Highlanders are tabbed for 87 victories, enough to take the flag by a narrow margin. Their new manager, Ismael Garcia, is confident but measured in his remarks.

“The standings on paper don’t win you a thing,” Garcia said as he gathered his men in Baltimore. “But what I’ve seen in camp convinces me these fellows have the grit and the skill. If we keep our heads and play our game, New York will be mighty proud of its ballclub this year.”

Chicago’s White Sox and the Philadelphia Athletics lurk just two games back in the predictions, both with fine pitching staffs and sharp managers. Detroit, with the splendid right-hander Mordecai Brown, figures to push them but may fall short of the summit. The Boston Americans, still boasting the great Cy Young, and the plucky St. Louis Browns are expected to hover near the middle. Cleveland and Washington, alas, appear fated for the second division, the Senators once more burdened with weak pitching and too many strikeouts.

In the National League, the pennant chase looks even tighter. The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates are forecast to finish dead even atop the table at 93 wins apiece, a clash that may not be resolved until the final week of September. Chicago, blessed with speed aplenty and the leadership of first baseman Frank Chance, has impressed experts with its balance of pitching and base-stealing.
Manager Tom Loftus spoke with the quiet assurance of a man who believes his club is ready.

“We’ve got the horses,” Loftus remarked. “Our pitchers can keep the runs down, our batsmen can scratch out what we need, and once the fellows get on base, they’ll run you ragged. It will be a hard campaign, but this club is built for the long haul.”

The Pirates, not to be outdone, feature the great Honus Wagner at shortstop and a staff anchored by the mercurial Rube Waddell and steady Deacon Phillippe. Experts say it may be the strongest one-two punch in the league. New York’s Giants, with Christy Mathewson still the pride of the Polo Grounds, should not be overlooked either, though nine games back in the predictions suggests inconsistency may haunt them again.

Behind the leaders, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Cincinnati will provide stubborn resistance but are not tipped as true contenders. Boston is expected to stumble, and Brooklyn’s Superbas, beset by thin pitching and a weak batting order, look destined for a hard summer in the cellar.

As the bell rings on the 1905 campaign, the talk is of pennants, pitching, and penniless chances. Predictions may fill the columns today, but by October the game itself will have the last word.

10-02-2025, 01:09 PM	#168
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,275	Preseason predictions PENNANT RACES TAKE SHAPE AS 1905 SEASON BEGINS By Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times April 13, 1905 – The long days of spring training are behind us, and now the true test begins. With the season opening across the land, every club in both leagues carries the same dream: to seize the pennant and earn a place in the grand World’s Championship Series come October. Hope is abundant, but the experts are already wagering which clubs carry real mettle and which are little more than paper pretenders. In the American League, the New York Highlanders have caught the fancy of the bookmakers. Behind a lively attack led by outfielders Cy Seymour and Mike Donlin, the Highlanders are tabbed for 87 victories, enough to take the flag by a narrow margin. Their new manager, Ismael Garcia, is confident but measured in his remarks. “The standings on paper don’t win you a thing,” Garcia said as he gathered his men in Baltimore. “But what I’ve seen in camp convinces me these fellows have the grit and the skill. If we keep our heads and play our game, New York will be mighty proud of its ballclub this year.” Chicago’s White Sox and the Philadelphia Athletics lurk just two games back in the predictions, both with fine pitching staffs and sharp managers. Detroit, with the splendid right-hander Mordecai Brown, figures to push them but may fall short of the summit. The Boston Americans, still boasting the great Cy Young, and the plucky St. Louis Browns are expected to hover near the middle. Cleveland and Washington, alas, appear fated for the second division, the Senators once more burdened with weak pitching and too many strikeouts. In the National League, the pennant chase looks even tighter. The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates are forecast to finish dead even atop the table at 93 wins apiece, a clash that may not be resolved until the final week of September. Chicago, blessed with speed aplenty and the leadership of first baseman Frank Chance, has impressed experts with its balance of pitching and base-stealing. Manager Tom Loftus spoke with the quiet assurance of a man who believes his club is ready. “We’ve got the horses,” Loftus remarked. “Our pitchers can keep the runs down, our batsmen can scratch out what we need, and once the fellows get on base, they’ll run you ragged. It will be a hard campaign, but this club is built for the long haul.” The Pirates, not to be outdone, feature the great Honus Wagner at shortstop and a staff anchored by the mercurial Rube Waddell and steady Deacon Phillippe. Experts say it may be the strongest one-two punch in the league. New York’s Giants, with Christy Mathewson still the pride of the Polo Grounds, should not be overlooked either, though nine games back in the predictions suggests inconsistency may haunt them again. Behind the leaders, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Cincinnati will provide stubborn resistance but are not tipped as true contenders. Boston is expected to stumble, and Brooklyn’s Superbas, beset by thin pitching and a weak batting order, look destined for a hard summer in the cellar. As the bell rings on the 1905 campaign, the talk is of pennants, pitching, and penniless chances. Predictions may fill the columns today, but by October the game itself will have the last word.