Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-23
BY j. ED GRILLo.

phia in which the Giants and the Athlet
les are involved-and note the tone Of sup
position In which this j. prefaced-botf
teams will begin on much the same
conditions as they did one week ago Sat
urday.
That statement has 10 do with then
physical fitness. 1t has nothing TO dc
with the two games which have been wof
by the Athletics and the one game whlcf
las been won by the Giants. If players
of eacn team needed opportunity 10 re-
cuperate they have had five days in
which to do so That should make the
PLAYERS of both mines equally effective
up to their physical and mental skill.
Doubtless there will be many who VII
affirm that this respite has been better
10 the Giants than to the Athletics. Fer
haps so. but who will ever know that
If il had not rained Wednesday last
Ames might not have won from Philadel-
phia and he was scheduled to pitch or
that day. a victory then would have
placed the Giants on equal terms with
their opponents and the fight would have
stood two ali until one the other
teams made the victories three.
The situation. il stands now. seems
To he that the enthusiastic QuakerS are
confident that the Athletics have played
better ball than the Giants and will con-
tinue to do so, while the more demure
enthusiasts of New York are confident
that the Giants have not played the ball
OF which they are capable. but will pro-
coed TO do so before the series Is COM
pleted.
Perhaps both sides are right in their
way and neither will be convinced until
there has been another meeting between
the teams
What is most in evidence ia the fact
that. no matter what the outcome of this
series may he. there can be none who in
Justice to the results of the games and
their incidents they have been played
to date can withdraw from the winner or
loser full need of praise.
All preliminary forecasts except the
mere one that they are the two best
matched teams which ever fought for a
worlds championship have gone by the
board.
The genial critic who sat back and said
s the Giants would win by reason of their
base-stealing ability has seen his proph-
Z eey go for naught. 1t is true their speed
has helped them. for il was Snodgrass
7 ability to get home from second which
assisted to win the first game for the
Giants.
The dogmatic individual who. in a rhap-
spdy over the Athletic batters, said they
would pound Mathewson and Marauard
To- the four corners of the diamond has
been compelled to confine his paeans of
praise to two home runs by single
batter. Great and timely home runs, 1t is
true. but home runs are not of the bat
ter's selection. They are gifts from the
Christmas tree of the national game.
The many who reckoned pro and con
upon the Individual merits of the differ
ent helders who make up the teams nave
seen all the efforts of hours of research
into records go glimmering.
Those who counted upon an average
battinS ability on the part of the Giants
of 80 are almost $50 short.
80 il goes through all of the list.
Nothing has come out of the series ex-
cept that runs have been more difficult to
get than dyspepsia or the toothache. and
that they may remain to be as difncult
of requirement until the final game is
over.
The amount of personal abuse which
has arisen from the series to- date has
accumulated like mountain its had
generally been believed there would be
none
1t is more than regrettable. 1t is I'M
fortunate. A worlds series could not
have been better staged. To date ii has
been the general policy TO attack New
York players for their shortcomings. If
any of them perform SO as to deserve
criticism let them receive their desserts.
II is possible. however. that there has
been a tendency to overlook the fact that
some members of the Athletics have not
been without desire TO make IL appear to
treated
Ii is quite unsportsmanlike to run gu,
and begin accusation to attempt 10 enlist
sympathy a. il Is 10 commit some foolish
act which brings punishment
Ii Is not an easy matter 10 inculcate In
the player who i in the heat of red
hot game the resignation of the leader ol
cotillon. The players are getting bet
ter in that respect. but there are time.
when "old satan will hop around.
If the fans in New York and Phila
delphia will he fans and not foolish
and rabid partisans, this worlds serie:
can be completed to the honor and credi
of both cities. The players in the mex
game or two likely to- he SO devoted
10 business that their principal effort will
he 10 make their best showing on tn
field
Eliminate the growing tendency To maxi
contests of importance in the larger bas'
ball leagues an adjunct TO public gam
bling, and there Will not he the annoying
war Of verbal reprisal which has beer
going for the last four or five days
about this worlds series with which III,
country is wrestling.
Publicity given to gambling on thes'
games leads TO further gambling. Ninet,
per cent of the personal abuse which Il
showered upon the ball player, upon th'
manager upon the promoters and upor
the sport itself originates with the mar
who has a wager on the outcome of 9
game or series. Ninety per cent of thu
falsehoods which are put in circulation
and the ruruors which are started in Diet
riment to fair and clean sport emanat,
from the man who has bet and who ha:
become neither fair nor an impartia
critic.
A certain man in Philadelphia who hat
wagered a few dollars on the outcom,
of the series between the Giants and tn,
Athletics and who was fearful that hi,
money might be lost. despite the fac
that the Philadelphia club had won tw,
games 70 the Giants one, ventured tn,
remark that Snodgrass should be sho
for spiking Baker. Out OF the Statement
xrew the Wild yarn THAT Snodgress hat
been shot-a story which was published
broadcast before attempt at verification.
Before a game had been played in tn,
worlds series much attention was giver
to the betting quotations. This increased
the betting. 1t became so that thu
merits of the players of the clubs wer'
almost forgotten in the argument as t
whether the odds should be D to 4. , to
or 10 10 Q. this way or the other on tn
result.
That fostered a spirit OF resire on TIL
part OF enthusiasts of both sides to Sc
victory nj any cost, and naturally ever.
Incident that was reported was magni
fed or distorted to the detriment of tn
national nastin,e as the bent of the bette
turned
Personal attacks on ball players in
famed the hoodlums OF Philadelphia I
assault The Giants in the past. II pro
voked an attack on Cobb Of the Detroits
and il has aroused rovdy animosit
against other ball players.
When this series for the worlds cham
pionship began it promised to be tn