made three times consecutively that they had won a total
of twenty-seven games in groups of nine, assuredly an unusual result.

Losing one game they again entered the winning class. This time they won
six games in succession. Then they lost a game. After this single defeat
they won but three games. Their charm of games in blocks of nine had
deserted them. They were beaten twice after winning three, and
Pittsburgh was the team.

Then they won another single game and immediately after that victory
lost to Brooklyn. But that was the last defeat for a long time. Well
into the race, with their condition excellent, and playing better ball
than they had played since their wonderful spurt of the month of
September in 1911, they won sixteen games in succession.

The morning of the Fourth of July dawned hot and sultry. The air was
thick and muggy and without life. The Giants were scheduled to play two
games that day with Brooklyn, the first in the morning and the second in
the afternoon. If they won both of them they would tie a former record,
which had been made by the New York team, for consecutive victories.

Perhaps it may have been reaction after the long strain of winning or it
may have been an uncommonly good streak of batting on the part of
Brooklyn. Surely Brooklyn batted well enough, as the morning game went
to the latter team by the score of 10 to 4. In the afternoon Brooklyn
again beat the Giants by the score of 5 to 2. Wiltse pitched for New
York and Stack for Brooklyn.

The New York team went to Chicago and won twice. Then it lost. The
fourth game was won from Chicago and then the Giants lost two in
succession.

They won one game and immediately after that lost four in succession.
Chicago began to have visions of winning the pennant.

From Chicago the Giants went to Pittsburgh, stood firm in a series of
three games, winning two and losing one. Their next call was at
Cincinnati and beginning with that series they got back to form a trifle
and won five games in succession.

Returning home they were beaten on the Polo Grounds three games in
succession by Chicago. After that New York settled into a winning stride
again and won six games in succession. Pittsburgh came to the Polo
Grounds and stopped the winning streak of the champions by defeating
them three times in succession. That was a hard jolt for any team to
stand. Yet the Giants rallied and won the test game of the Pittsburgh
series.

It was but a mom