existed in the fact that they had but
few opportunities, comparatively speaking, to watch the New York players
and found it difficult to grasp the true import of that one great factor
of speed, which had been so insistently demanded by the New York manager
of the men who were under his guidance.

Pittsburgh had an excellent pitching staff. Even better results would
have been obtained from it if Adams had been in better physical
condition. An ailing arm bothered him. While he fell below the standard
of other years, one splendid young pitcher rapidly developed in Hendrix,
and Robinson, a left-hander, with practically no major league
experience, pushed his way to a commanding position in the work which he
did.

Until the Giants made their last visit to Pittsburgh in the month of
August the western team threatened to come through with a finish, which
would give them a chance to swing into first place during the month of
September, but the series between New York and Pittsburgh turned the
scale against the latter.

Fired with the knowledge that they were at the turning point in the race
the New York players battled desperately with their rivals on
Pittsburgh's home field and won. Even the Pittsburgh players were filled
with admiration for the foe whom they had met, and while they were not
in the mood to accept defeat with equanimity, they did accept it
graciously and congratulated the victors as they left Pittsburgh after
playing the last game of the season which had been scheduled between
them on Forbes Field.

First base had long bothered Clarke. Frequent experiments had been made
to obtain a first baseman, who could play with accuracy on the field and
bat to the standard of the team generally. Clarke transferred Miller
from second base to first and the change worked well. More graceful and
more accurate first basemen have been developed than Miller, but in his
first year of play at the bag he steadied the team perceptibly and
unquestionably gave confidence to the other men.

But making a first baseman out of Miller took away a second baseman and
second base gave Clarke more or less concern all of the season. At that,
Pittsburgh was not so poorly off in second base play as some other of
the teams of the senior circuit.

* * * * *

Two important factors contributed to the success of the Chicagos in
1912. For a few days they threatened to assume the leadership of the
National League.