The 1917 Presidents Cup Series Preview: New York Gothams

NEW YORK, NY. September 26, 1917 - New York will host the first of nine possible games today, as the 6th Presidents Cup Series begins today. It will pit the United League's New York Gothams against the Columbia League's Brooklyn Titans.

The Gothams have struggled in recent years, but made the most of their financial advantage last off-season. They added pitcher Floyd Bennett (25-12, 2.08), second baseman Boots Groat (.294, 58 RBI), and Freeman Willis (.292, 59 RBI) and others, who really helped them reach 100 wins this season. In addition, they added veteran pitcher Whiter Upchurch through a trade in the middle of the season, and he helped out by going 10-5 with a 1.97 ERA in New York.

The New York club is owned by 57-year-old Charles White, founder of White Shipbuilders, Inc., and managed by baseball veteran Eli Gallaher, a 60-year-old who started his UBA career as the skipper of the Class B Grays of Washington. He's been with New York since the 1914 campaign.

Gallaher's lineup will look something like this:

1. 3B Jeremiah Mooney (.246, 8 Doubles, 5 Triples, 20 RBI, 41 SB)
2. C Tug Edward (.274, 25 Doubles, 59 RBI)
3. 2B Boots Groat (.294, 10 Doubles, 9 Triples, 58 RBI, 36 SB)
4. CF Max Clark (.266, 19 Doubles, 7 Triples, 60 RBI)
5. Hermann Howland (.246, 23 Doubles, 12 Home Runs, 69 RBI)
6. Olaf Newman (.243, 23 Doubles, 4 Home Runs, 59 RBI)
7. Freeman Willis (.292, 19 Doubles, 5 Home Runs, 59 RBI)
8. Alonzo Bird (.255, 7 Doubles)

The pitchers who will head out to the mound for the Gothams are:

1. LHP Ed Gale (23-11, .167 ERA, 262 K)
2. RHP Floyd Bennett (25-12, 2.08 ERA, 223 K)
3. RHP Perry Birch (24-13, 2.69 ERA, 151 K)
4. RHP Whitey Upchurch (17-16, 2.43 ERA, 207 K)

The first, second, fifth, six, and ninth games will be played in the Gothams home park, the Bronx Oval Grounds. The park will seat 12,300, but many thousands more are expected to arrive.

The Gothams will be wearing gray knickers and shirts with black sleeves and black socks. The socks have two orange stripes going around the calf, and an interlocking orange "N" and "Y" adorn the left side of the shirt. The same "NY" is on their cap.