The Washington herald., 1913-09-28
One Good Moundsman
Can Cop Big Series
Records of Worlds Championship Battles Show that
Result Often Hangs on Single Fingers Work.
Curvers Prove Best
by z. A. BACHELOR

In discussing the coming worlds series.
critics generally take the position that
the victor will be the club which gets the
strongest pitching, and upon these prem
ises there is a tendency to concede the
Giants the best chance that they have
had for three seasons.
There is abundant evidence in baseball
history that the mound department is a
mighty factor in the post-season battles;
yet the records indicate that one excep-
tionaliy good pitcher is needed rather
than a flock OF stars. One man practical
ly has won i've of the nine interleague
series between American and National
champions. while In several series a SIN
gle hurIer has been the principal factor
either in winning or prolonging the bat
tie.
Win Three Apiece.
In 1sOe two men. Dlneen and Philippe,
won three games each, this being Sc
ries which five victories were neces-
sary to land the decision Young won
two games for Boston. which. added to
Dineen's three, gave the title to the Red
sox. Philippe won all three Of the
games capt-red by the Pirates.
In 1906 Mathewson was the man who
took the series for New York, winning
three games by shut-out scores. McGin-
nifty took the other. In the next three
series. pitching honors were more evenly
divided; but in 1903 Babe" Adams came
through as a lone star. winning three
games for the Pirates. Maddox took the
other one. thanks to some very hard hit
ting behind him.
Coombs Takes Three.
Coombs was the man to distinguish
himself in 1910, taking three victories to
one for Bender In 1911 honors were
split UP a little more but last year it
was the same old story, Wood being
credited with three wins. One OF these
was the last game, in which he relieved
Bedient in the seventh inning
Pitchers who have won two games
are Young. in IJO3; Walsh, in 1896; Over
all, in 1905: MuIlin, in 1903; Bender, in
1911, and Marquard. in 1872
The fact that Connie Mack has only
two hurlers who are known to possess
the caliber necessary to insure success
in worlds series contest. and that
only one of these men appears to be in
nrst-class shape, would not necessarily
Indicate that Philadelphia is beaten be-
fore the battles start. Bender undenla-
bly, is ready to pitch good ball, and
1t would not be the mos tsurprising thing
in the world to see him win three games
in the series. Then. between Plank and
one Of the youngsters, the Macks, IL they
are hitting, ought to get good enough
mound work to grab decision
Bender Can Work, Too.
Bender has the reputation of needing
a lot OF rest between games. yet in 1911
he beat the Giants on successive days
end gave a splendid exhibition both
times The Indian may be inclined to-
ward laziness, but with a chance TO
gave the difference between the win
enr's and the losers share in the series.
he can forget his desire TO take pro-
tracted recuperation periods and perform
every other day, at least.
The following figures. which include
a record of all the worlds series games
played between American and National
League clubs give some interesting in
formation on the work of the pitchers
II will be noted that for sheer endurance
Philippe in 1903 hung UP a record that
stands in modern baseball He pitched
FIVE games in the series of eight and won
three OF them.