Evening journal., 1911-10-23
TITLE SERIES
NOT DECISIVE
Luck So Great a Factor That
Result May Not Deter
mine Better Club
LUCK HAS FIGURED
In MANY SERIES

The worlds series is to decide
which club, the New York Nationals,
or the Philadelphia Athletics, will be
i called worlds champions" for the
next IL months. But it may not de-
eide which is the better club. That
is something no short series can de-
termine. 1t is something that a whole
l'eason of 154 games sometimes does
not show conclusively, even when the
clubs are in the same league and meet
each other regularly.
But 1t is particularly unreasonable
to expect series of seven games
or fewer-to demonstrate the su-
periority of one club over another.
Luck always TO be reckoned a factor,
may easily determine every game,
and all may go to one club and that
not the better club, before the
change" comes
Look at the series closed between
the Chicago Cubs and the White Sox,
Going back as they are, the Cubs were
stiff contenders for the National
League pennant this season. while the
White Sox, in a desperate fight to
get into the first division Of the Amer
ican League. just managed to gain
practically a tie for fourth place far
below the leaders. Yet Duffy's men
have whipped the Cubs four games
in a row.
Back in 1906 the Cubs set a worlds
record for games won in a year. They
were so wonderful a club that it be-
came a foregone conclusion that they
could win whenever they pleased
They shut out their opponents in 81
games. The betting was IL to ]
that they would beat the White Sox
who had barely managed to nose out
victory in the American League
There was no doubt-nor is there to.
day-that the Cubs of 1906 we're a
better club than the White Six.
But the White Sox beat them, four
i games to two.
Luck did it. Luck-and George
4 Robe, a substitute infielder, who nev.
+ er had hit before and who never has
i hit since, but who clouted terrifically
at opportune times in the crucial sc.
ries.
Twice. to be sure. class has stucl
out so conclusively in worlds series
as to render the result pretty Ger.
tain. That was in 1907 and 1908, wher
the Cubs, ranking under their defea
by the Sox, turned all their wonderful
machine loose on the luckless De
troit Tigers, beating them fou
straight games in 1907 after tieini
\ the first. and winning four out o
five in the next encounter. But fl
n that case the cubs were not nearl.
equal. Also, Pittsburgh was general
ly conceded TO outclass Detroit, bu
in the series of 1909 the Tigers mad
the Pirates go seven games to win tn
title, only Babe Adams returning tn
4 National Leaguers victorious.
Last year the Cubs, detected b.
the absence Of Evers and with NJ
i pitching to speak of, were easy vic
. Tins to the well-drilled Athletics, VIII
4 had the luck as we'll as the class
4 Coombs, who pitched three of tn
4 Philadelphians' victories, was espec
& tally lucky. His club hit behind hin
hard enough to win almost any game
4 and his wildness and numerous base
on balls were nullifed by remarkabl
fielding chances luck time and agaii
sending a hard drive straight at som
81 Athletic player for sure doubl
& play.
In the game Saturday in the pres
ent series luck broke for the Giant
and Collins kicked an easy chanc
just at the precise time when Snow
grass was pulling a great sprint 70
the plate. Then when Devore lined
long hit down the left field foul lin
& luck pulled It just inside and Meyer
N raced home with the winning tally
Home runs may not be lucky, bu
Baker was lucky to get them Mon
day and Tuesday at times when the
f counted for so much. He Nigh
& make twenty. home runs during
& season without having one of theI
win game.
In the games to be finished thl
year luck probably will decide tn
winner, for the Giants and the Att
letics are very evenly matched.
Coombs' horseshoe is working out ia
the Athletics. II Marquard chance
II to be fright" slow music in SleeT
vile. In any event the next world
champions mayor may not-be II
classiest club in baseball. This S,
ries may not decide that question.
Read THE EVENING JOURNAL.