The Washington herald., 1906-10-16
Cubs Had Weaker Opponents
Than the White SOx.
NATIONALS RUDELY SHOCKED
Failure OF the Pitching stan of
Chances Club Was a Surprise to
Those Who Had Seen Them Go
Successfully Through the Season.
Unexpected strength of Youngsters.

ThTee-fourths of The critics and players
picked the Chicago Nationals to win the
worlds championship. and before half
the games were played they discovered
they had not appraised the White Sox At
their true value.
The result of the series leads 10 the
conclusion that the teams in the National
League were not as strong as those In
the American From the very start the
Cubs showed high quality. and as the sea-
son progressed. maintained their excel
lence. They were superior, apparently. in
every position TO any other club In their
league and their climb TO the top was
steady. and indicated ultimate success.
Perhaps they had task too easy to
try their mettle, and there never was
time when they really had to extend
themselves.
They simply outclassed every club in
their league.
SOx sluggish in Spring.
But what of the White sox2 When
they played their first series in Wash
ington last June they were sluggish and
Indifferent They were low IN the ranks
OF their Fellows, and nothing better than
a second division position seemed in sight
On their next pilgrimage to the East,
Jones team seemed something like its
former self but did not look like PEN
nant possibilities. There was some dis
content among the players. and grum-
bling was frequently heard. The team
lacked something perhaps a tonic Any
way when they took their second stand
on the home grounds the White Sox all
took a sudden brace. and the pace they
set the remainder of the season was re-
markable.
Team after team was toppled over. and
when they came TO the East on their last
trip it was said that they would fall
into another slump. But they didn't. All
clubs looked alike 10 them. The long run
to the finish was a most trying one, and.
remembering what happened 10 the Ath-
letics after their campaign last season.
it was said In all quarters that the
White Sox would collapse before they en-
tered the worlds series.
Champions Not Tired Out.
Instead of being down and out. the
White Sox seemed to be in the finest fet-
tie. Their courage and tenacity was mar
velous Men who were looked upon as
mere sticks on the team developed un-
usual ability. and this was most as
tonishing feature OF the series. George
Davis. the hub in the infeld wheel. was
incaPacitated FOR the arst two games, and
it was thought the hole could not be filled;
but a substitute player Of whom little
was expected won the first and second
games for the victors.
No one classes Jiggs Domaine IN Capt.
han &c H~-s-H
and yet DOnahUe was the wedge 10 the
Americans inneld. Isbell. who has passed
through many baseball battles. hardly
looked TO be an Evers. either IN the field
or at bat. He was worth his weight IN
gold to his team, and was a power be-
hind the cudgel Although he led his
club az bat during the season, e was not
expected that he would fiatten out any
Of the Cubs pitchers. But he did.
King and Sullivan were an evenly bal
aneed pair of backstops Both were
handicapped BY cold fingers IN the early
games but when the conditions changed
they showed the kind of stuff they were
made OF and their playing was superb.
Collapse of Cubs Pitchers.
An astonishing feature Of the series
was the inability of Jimmy Sbeckard to
hit safely. and the ability of both Hahn
ana Hoffman, youngsters in the major
leagues. TO slap the bali to all cor
ners.
National Leaguers were rudely shocked
at the failure of the Cubs pitchers to
hold their own against tie White Sox.
On their seasons performances they rank
ed foremost in their league. and Brown
and Ruelbach figured as strong as White
or any OF the other Comiskey pitchers
Here again the dope went wrong. White
would have won all his games had the
weather been warm Walsh. whose mid
season work was the talk Of landom.
proved the most stable of the White Sox
pitchers, and yet he was considered I'm
reliable because Of his lack Of control
He Overcame this fault, however, and
earned the reward that comes to a really
great box man. During the long sprint
or the White Sox pennantward Altrock
was seen but little in harness. He and
Smith adorned the bench, while White
Walsh, and Owen were performing the
twirling stunts. They had been worked
earlier in the season and were held in
reserve. Jones had a winning eombina-
ton. and as long as there was no weak
ness in it. he ordained that these three
should do the work When one faltered
ne had fresh pitcher TO throw into the
breach. Jones judgment in handling his
pitchers was great factor in winning
the pennant. ana at the end he had no
sale boXman on his staff
The triumph Of the White Sox was re-
garded in Washington as a great achieve
ment Local fans realized the stiff promo
sition they had to confront. and although
they wished the Sox WELL they were d.
vided in their judgment rs to which team
would win That the best club won they
now all agree. And it surely looks that
way.
"NEXT SEASON"
Tho hasa ban rlarars hnn,arrard hound