Chesbro Dominates Western Circuit, Flick, Carlson Top Men in Los Angeles
A successful league out west runs its long course in year-round pleasant weather and plays its baseball in fast company. The California League, a four-team circuit consisting of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Oakland, is a growing source of talent that any fan of the national game should take notice. Currently, an exciting race exists between the ‘Frisco and Capital City clubs. Both clubs are stacked with former major league players. Sacramento features an all-pro rotation with
Jack Chesbro, lefties Cristall and Wiley Piatt and Ted Lewis. The former Pirate
Chesbro is dominating the western circuit, leading with an 11-3 record, 1.99 ERA and 54 strikeouts. Ex-Giant Danny Murphy paces the club’s batsmen with a .361 average, 20 doubles and 41 runs batted in. Bad Bill Dahlen, formely of Brooklyn, after sitting out 1901, has found a home in California hitting .329 with 7 triples and leading all shortstops in defense. San Francisco matches the Senators on the mound with former 20-game winners, ex-Pirate Deacon Phillippe (9-5, 2.08 ERA, 3 shutouts), ex-Cardinal Mike O’Neill (8-6, winner of 5 straight) and the old “Hoosier Thunderbolt” Amos Rusie (10-4, ERA 2.51). Ex-Card Patsy Donovan (.339) and Athletic top-hitter Lave Cross (.341) lead the offense. Elmer Flick in Los Angeles paces the third-place Angels with a .319 average, 30 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases but is lead by shortstop Will Carlson (lead-leaguing .428 average, 99 hits and 26 thefts). Oakland is the whipping post of the league, not yet managing 20-wins in a 200 game schedule that stretches to November. Ex-Pirate Tommy Leach, stranded in dire last place, may do well to convince former buccaneers
Chesbro and Phillippe to head back east.
California Club Standing as of May 31
Code:
Club. Won. Lost. P.C.
Sacramento 35 22 .614
SanFrancisco 35 22 .614
Los Angeles 29 28 .509
Oakland 15 42 .263