As Season Winds Down, Chicago and Philadelphia Top Standings

NEW YORK, NY. September 13, 1916 -

United League Standings
		W	L	GB	G
Chicago		91	57	-	148
Washington		89	59	2	148
Reading		82	62	7	144
Cleveland		79	65	10	144
New York		78	69	12.5	147
Pittsburgh		64	80	25	144
Detroit		52	95	38.5	147
Boston		48	96	41	144
Columbia League Standings
		W	L	GB	G
Philadelphia		79	64	-	143
St. Louis		77	66	2	143
Baltimore		77	70	4	147
Indiana		73	71	6.5	144
Kansas City		72	71	7	143
Chicago		72	76	9.5	148
Brooklyn		70	78	11.5	148
Newark		62	86	19.5	148

In the United League, it's coming down to two teams. The Chicago Orphans and the Washington Grays.

The Chicago Orphans have never finished above 3rd place, which was last season. They've steadily improved over the course of the five United League seasons.

1912: 50-76 (.397)
1913: 58-68 (.460)
1914: 61-65 (.484)
1915: 79-61 (.564)
1916: 91-57 (.615)

Chicago's improved pitching has been the major key to their success. Earl Ebert, Harman Putman, and Squire Ludwig are the top three starters for the Orphans. Ebert has already set the single-season wins record with 27, and Putman isn't far behind with 25. Ludwig has been an excellent third starter, winning 17 games so far.

On offense, it's Ezekiel Peel who leads the team. A Chicago native, Peel has always stated how much he loves playing for the Orphans, and he decided to stick around by signing a two-year extension that will pay him over $100,000 per season. Peel has hit .279 so far with 11 home runs, 18 doubles, and 76 RBI.

Washington, who is two games out, also has a terrific pitching staff. Three twenty game winners and and eighteen game winner take the mound each series. But they also have a terrific offense. Guys like Orrin Seeley, Rip Boyce, Byron Ervin, and Boots Groat are always dangerous. Add to that center fielder Ambrose Dodd, a speedy 27-year-old who is hitting .291 and has stolen a whopping 89 bases so far, and the lineup is strong from top to bottom.

If Washington can overtake Chicago, it will be their second pennant in a row. Last year, they lost in the Presidents Cup Series against the Chicago Whales.

Over in the Columbia League, Philadelphia has surprised everyone. Last year, they finished in 7th place, an expected finish because of it was just their first year in the league. But apparently, all their young players developed quickly and now they sit in first.

It's all about the pitching in Philadelphia. Southpaw's Tookie Anthony and Squire Perrin each have 20-13 records. Anthony is a pure control pitcher. He only has 52 strikeouts in 282 innings. Perrin has 147.

Sitting behind them are the St. Louis Terriers. They're looking to improve over last years second-place finish but have a tough hump to get over.

The Terriers are built on offense. With no 20-game winners, they need it. Dave Mulligan is easily the team's best hitter. The first baseman was picked up by St. Louis in the 1914 expansion draft and has hit 10 home runs this year and batted .300 on the button.