The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-29
By cHRIsrY MATHEwsoN.
m A. f.;.,ks


q
worlds championship, It is the team tina
gets the breaks which usually wins
1t is impossible to figure on the ability
of great stars, for man who ha
played brilliant ball all season may fal
down in the brief battle and be a fla
failure 1t is a recognized fact among
ball players that each worlds series de
velops one hero who, heretofore, has beer
practically unknown. while some star Il
pushed off his pedestal.
In the series of 1903, Hans Wagner
probably the greatest player that evel
lived, failed to show in the games
against Boston. Wagner later redeemo
himself in 1853 in the series with Detroit
In those games Ty Cobb did not come
up to expectations. while, In the same
&c., year, Babe" Adams, Pittsburg pitcher
who had received little recognitloh'
stepped out, and was the hero OF the
games Last wear il was Frank Baker.
a player against whom none of our al
visers had issued any winnings, who De-
came the popular idol. Red MURRAY
a man who had done as much as any
enc to bring the pennant to New YORK
struck an unfortunate and untimeH
SLUMP and was severely criticised FOR
his showing in the big games, while all
his fine work throughout the season.
which went d long ways toward bringing
the worlds series to New York, was
quickly blurred on the Kaleidoscope mind
of the public.
That is why it is hard to figure re-
turns before the series is played l
hear fans talking about Speaker and
Wood and other stars of the Boston
team. and discussing their possibilities
and capabilities. but / don't fall for ;he
regulations of stars until l see them IN
he big series 1t would not surprise me at
ali if these two leading men of the Red
Sox were TO fall down badly in the Big
Argument and possibly some playeESwho
is not considered now were TO come 10
the front and shine. Personally,
would like to see John Murray the star
OF this SERIES as no one expects much
from him this year.
Headliners Under Strain
1t must be remembered that a real
headliner, the seasons big boy. is under
terrific strain in the worlds series.
Everybody expects so much of him, and
he expects so much of himself that he
lies awake nights telling himself all the
things that he has got to do. He has
made a big reputation for himself dur
ing the season. and now he must top
it off in this derby event of the year. He
tries too hard. Too much is dependent
upon him. and he fails. 1t is the way
that il has always been, and so it will
ALWAYS be- Some little unknown, with
everything to gain and nothing to lose,
steps out and just soaks up all of the
limelight and leaves the erstwhile star
completely in the shadow. That is why
it is hard to compare the two teams as
individuals before the series. 1t is diff
cult to include the psych illogical factor,
which is a big one. in the question.
But there are two men who can very
accurately be compared, and those two
are the leaders. What they have done
throughout the season they will do in
the big series Last week I discussed
John McGraw and his methods. II it is
the team which gets the breaks" that
wins a short series. then, frequently the
manager has TO make the opportunities.
McGraw is best in the pinches. and not
only members of the team. but outsiders.
declare that he is right ninety times out
OF one hundred.
Against this clever. resourceful leader
will be pitted Jake Stahl, who is
spending his first year in the big league
as manager, with the exception of
short term in Washington several sea-
sons ago. which most fans have forgot
ten. Ny knowledge of StahPs style Is
secondhand 1t comes through friends
IN the American League. the gossip that
strays around by the underground routes
IF big league baseball, and what / have
learned from reading the newspapers.
Stahl has been a good manager this year
because no leader is Successful il he is
not competent. and Stahl had good OPP
ponents in the American League in
Connie" Mack and Clark Griffith and
''Hughie" Jennings-alV of them shrewd
and resourceful leaders.
McGrnw Has Advantage.
But all other things being equal. it
strikes me that McGraw has one ad-
vantage over Stahl at the very start.
The New York leader is a bench man.
ager. The Boston leader is in the game.
1t has, long been a contention OF Nc
Grsw that a manager in the game is
necessarily so wrapped up in the duties
Of his position that he frequently over
looks opportunities that a man on The
bench, with nothing to think of but the
development of the game, will grasp. He
may not realize that his pitcher is tiring,
because he is busy watching the runner
on first. The man on the bench, with
his finger on the pitchers pulse, knows
when he is beginning to go. and has
another one warming up. The active
leader may be on the bases and so busy
trying to get himself around that he
overlooks a great chance to send up a
pinch hitter when a smash may break
up the game. An active manager has
not the same opportunity to plan and
counter-plan that the bench leader has
by the duties OF his position. There
fore, 1t would seem that McGraw has
some slight advantage over Stahl right
there, with all other things equal.
As have said, know little of Stahl's
ability, except through secondhand
sources. He seems to have been very
clever this summer in the manner in
which he has worked his pitchers He has
had a good staff, but he has displayed
keen judgment in using his twiriers |
working them around so as TO get one !
pitcher against an opponent that he |
feels he can beat-a big factor IN pitch
ing. But his leadership does not seem
to carry with It the same. dash and |
fire that McGraw shows. He has PLAYED |
a routine sort of game all summer with |
practically the same seven regular men
In the lineup. The obvious answer is |
that these were the best seven he had, |
which is undoubtedly true. But when he |
meets McGraw, he will meet a shifting |
attack He will meet a man who is |
always thinking of something new. III
one style of play is blocked. something
else will be tried. McGraw's never ceas-
ing cry Of speed makes this varied at
tack possible.
In short, McGraw will always be try
ing to cross" Stahl and throw the |
Boston club OF its balance. Once he |
gets it going, then the Giants should win |
Frequently a bunt, when the batsman