San Francisco Chronicle
October 20, 1902
Wasps Smear Gilt Edges in Four Straight, Take Lead
After missed opportunities that lead to a 6-2 loss to the Sacramento club on Wednesday, our boys stoutly rebounded to a win over the league's top pitcher Lefty Cristall (34-13), pounding him 10-6. The brilliant hitting of catcher McCain did not dim as he slapped 3 hits and drove home just as many. The next day, the old National Leaguer Amos Rusie evened his record against the Sacs with an efficient 5-hit shutout. Deacon Phillippe outlasted former Pirate teammate
Jack Chesbro 4 to 3 on account of "Happy" Jack's continued struggles in fielding the box. A costly throwing error (his 29th) in the top of the eighth gave 'Frisco a gift they'd never relinquish. A 12-inning gem by
Case Patten on Sunday lifted the Wasps 5-4 and a two game lead in the standings. For the batsmen, baby-faced and slap-happy Carroll continues to sting the Sacs, collecting 10 hits in the series, maintaining a .404 average against them. With 10 games to go in this long campaign, hopes are very high for our club.
In other notes, disappointingly, it was learned yesterday that Napoleon Lajoie and Denton "Cy" Young of the All-Americans will be leaving the tour and return east once the clubs depart Denver. At each stop the ballplayers have taken to the city's night life, and rumors speculate that gambling has entered the realm of the diamond and that Lajoie and Young want no part. What may be more to the truth is that the two fear reprimand for playing games against our clubs. Lajoie, who had enough court battles during the season, needs no more trouble. Young, on the other hand, leaves a dispirited All-American club without its star pitcher. In any event, tour organizer Win Mercer has promised a good-billing for when the teams arrive in California, scheduled in two-weeks time.
California Club Standings, October 20, 1902
Code:
Club Won Lost Pct G.B. Avg. ERA
San Francisco 113 77 .595 - .306 2.69
Sacramento 111 79 .584 2 .286 2.62
Los Angeles 95 95 .500 18 .277 2.62
Oakland 61 129 .321 52 .248 3.76