New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-21
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Giants Stronger than Red SOx
in NiCetieS of Baseball.
CHARLEY HERzOG THE STAR
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

and Professional.
Much could be written, even at this late
date. anent the greatest baseball series
ever played, but feel much like friend
of mine. who. remarked just after the
Giants had lost the title in the tenth
inning Of that final nerve-racking game
I'm Boston on Wednesday: Now, let's
cool off and forget It," There are two or
three things, however, which omitted IN
my comment while the series was run
ming which demand a word or two, or,
at least, about which 1 wish to say
word or two. In the first place, ! want
TO put myself on record in expressing the
opinion that the better team did not win
the worlds championship, looking at the
series. OF course, from the broad point Oh
view and considering the little mceues Vi
baseball. II is not my purpose to detrao'
from Bostons victory, or to Imply 'ia'
the Red Sox did not deserve and dld not
earn their boasted title. They scored one
mora run than the Giants In that last
and all-irnportant deciding game ana II
&C. forgotten even that they did so DS
taking advantage of an error OF commas
sion and what perhaps was an even
.s,raatar error of omission, in that hecuc
tenth inning.
This may sound paradoxical, but II Is
NV purpose to bring out that l am cast
l,,g no sIur on Boston's victory or max
Ing eny excuses for the Giants Wheh
tbe two teams fight through eight games
ono of which was an eleven inning t'e'
and settle the struggle in an extra inning
hattie. the breaks" as they are caieu
a. baseball. are bound to be magniheu'
In NV oninion the Red SoX prohted Dy
the breaks" Of the game Whiie lhe
Giants suffered in the same proper u0h,
but even these are now thrown out VI
consideration in again asserting tha' INC
Giants showed q keener ana more 0o'i
,,rehensive knowledge Of the inner po4i'S
of the game in a way that was patent "
oil critics who were not blinded by thelr
prejudice
In batting, in shifting the aiach' III
base running and in the finer arts OF run
getting. the Giants exceled the Reu SoN'
The figures Of the composite score en-
pbasize this without proving the case pe-
cause of the fact that many OF the DeS'
nlays which go 20 make up real lhslue
baseball do not and can not appear IN inc
box score. The Giants scored 81 runs u
o. for their opponents in the elght games
they made 70 hits. for total OF loI bases,
70 50 hits. for a total OF 50 bases; they hau
a team batting average Of 40 10 'Z|o lOl
BOSTON. and they stole u bases TO ohIy
r for the Red Sox. Why were the Glah'S
beaten. then, it may be asked II these
6qures are so much in their favor ana
81 they played keener, sharper ana more
finished baseball, which does not appear
On the averages? The answer has been
giveu on more than one oocaslon-the
New York team owed its defeat parity
IN the breaks" of the game, but more
"a the unevenness Of fielding and the
costliness Of the errors.
# begins TO look as though l had lot
. IN saw. instead of a few words, and post
martens are dreary and Improbable.
Was wrong in my prediction that the
Giants would win, but not so far wrong
as some OF those critics who insisted lhat
the Red Sox fairly outclassed the chain-
pions of the National League. 1 pointed
out in this column two weeks ago that
the Giants were stronger extensively, put
not so steady and reliable defenslVely' as
the Red Sox, and the series proved IL IN
the most striking way. II 1 had to make
the selection over again ] would still pick
The stronger team extensively, for in the
long run the fast, aggressive team VIII
win.
There is still something on my mind.
New York fans" have reason TO De
proud of the Giants and Of their manager,
John ]. McGraw. They were beaten but
not disgraced, shared almost equal honoTs
with their opponents, and lost none Of
their prestige with those who are dis
posed to be fair The players showed
themselves to be game fighters, They
came from behind when all seemed lost
and while two or three faltered under
the frightful strain with the champion
ship within their grasp, this should not
detract from the credit due the team
Better yet, both mines played in fair,
clean and manly way, and the huge
crowds were saved from the petty bick-
erings with the umpires which have
marred so many games in the past The
umplres, who did their work so well,
were largely responsible for this, as they
gave little or no cause for criticism or
eNnplaint; but, even considering this, 1t
was the attitude of the players and their
good sportsmanship which counted so
largely in making the games a pleasure
10 watch.
In my opinion, Charley Herzog was the
star OF the series and surely stood out
above his fellows on the New York team.
lie led both mines tn batting, excepting the
pinch hitters, with a percentage Of 400,
and he played through the eight games
without an error, fielding his position not
only with rare steadiness, but with spark
ling brilliancy at times. His hitting, too,
y as timely and consistent and opened the
way to several runs. Next 10 Herzog, so
FAR as the Giants go, would name Matty, |
Red" Murray, "Rube" Marquard and
Josh Devore as the players who did most
g., A.. tf,.I