El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-04
Few YORK Oct IL

TEM 1OhLhr OCT IA majority
N OF the veterans OF preceding
- world series viii be found in
the infields OF the New York Nationals
and the Chicago Americans when
these two teams meet late this week
in the 1917 series. OF the eight play
ers who are expected TO defend the
inner lines four have already passed
through one or more Of these baseball
classics and OF this quartet three will
wear the uniforms OF the Giants and
one the cOlors OF the White Sox- An
other PECULIARLY is that the veteran
material viii cluster between second
and third bases the initial sack being
guarded by less experienced players.
At first manager zfcGrHW VIII
place his reliance in HoIke while
the Chicago interests VIII be de-
Tended by Gandfl. In years Of ser.
vice and the knowledge which
comes with IL. GandiI Will have
the edge over his younger oppon-
ent. Both are steady, consistent
players covering the bag and the
adjacent territory without spec
tncular effort but with a high de-
gree OF efficiency.
According to their records for the
past season in their respective leagues
there is little to choose between them
50 far as fielding OF batting is con-
cerned- Holke has a slight advantage
OF the averages in both these depart
ments as well as IN stolen bases and
double plays He Is also three years
younger than Gandil but when all is
considered II is likely that the latter's
greater experience viii slightly out
weigh HOlke's speedier footWork. The
margin OF advantage IS so small one
way or the other that so far as fore
casts are concerned the two players
may be said TO be equal in offensive
and defensive work.
Two OF the best second basemen in
their respective leagues viii be op-
posed at the midway sack and the
struggle for honors between Eddie
Collins and Charles HerZog should
be one OF the thrilling features Of the
series. World series play is no longer
a novelty 10 either as Collins has par
ticipated in four such conflicts while
a member Of the Philadelphia Athlet-
les and HerzoE has seen service in
three series with the Giants Both axe
noted for their ability TO rise to eE-
treme heights OF play at times and
from their keysone position to domi-
nate the work OF the entire infield
combinations
Herzog, owing to the injury Of his
back due 10 a fall earlier in the sea
son. has not played as regularly as
Collins, and there Is just the bare pos
sIbIlity that he may not be available
for the series, but this chance IS so
remote that he can for comparative
purposes be considered as the Giants
second baseman- II II proves TO be
otherwise the stock Of the New York
Grub viii suffer a severe slump even
before the first ball is pitched AS
their records stand for the season Col
Inns had the better Of HerzOE in bat
ting, fielding. stolen bases and double
plays. The same is true Of his aver
ages in past world series. Collins has
batted .33S and fielded -975 in four
series 70 HerzOg's PA and SIS in
three post season struggles.
# HerZoE enters the fray benefited
by the rest he insisted upon taking
after the Giants had virtually clinched
the peulanr, he may prove 20 be ca
Fable OF more efficient work than his
records would indicate. for he is one
Of the best money players in the
game today. He is q dangerous batter
at critical moments OF the play, re-
sOurceful and daring in the field and
a man who is not willing to concede I
defeat until the final putout is made
Collins, however, on such records and
form as are available must be given
the edge at second over the Giants
guardian Of the keystone base.
Injuries also complicate the situa-
ton at short and third The White
sox regular third baseman, Buck"
Weaver. broke one OF his fingers IN q
game late in the season and did not
LELAAA 70 A4AE lineup AAAA44 a 4E Nv @-eAg
before the pennant race closed In
the meantime 1Ic1Iullin had held down
this position so satisfactorily that
there is some doubt as 10 whether
Weaver Will erturn TO the bag 1t
would not be surprising If manager
Rowland sent him into the big series
as shortstop in place Of Risberg-
II this should prove to be the case |
McMullin viii have Zimmerman as
his rival at third and the advantage ]
would be decidedly with the Giants I
for the former Chicago club player /
has passed through the test OF one I
world series in 1908 when he batted I
-235 and fieided -966 for the Chicago I
Nationals Of that year. Zimmerman I.
also figures better than McMullin on I
the seasons averages Of the two I
leagues for the Giants third baseman I
has batted .296 and fielded .941 in the I
National circuit while McMullin's av- !
erages in the American league at -246 /