The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-08-30

BOSTON, Mass, Aug. l29.-l nope
may be pardoned for claiming man.
that the Reds this year have not con
served their best winning streaks Tor
home consumption. I'll admit when |
was just private In the ranks OF the
Giants, l wasn't much concerned over
such things, but you know it's the home
town fans a manager must please. He
may be well thought OF elsewhere put
the performances that count most are
those he setases with his SUPPORTING
cast CARRIED in white uniforms.
know every member OF the CinGinna.
team has been animated by the winning
spirit at home, as we'll as abroad. and
we all feel the Cincinnati fans nave
somehow been unjustly deprived OF first
handed enjoyment OF much good fortune
tho Reds have experienced.
Everywhere I went on our last asleIn
trip, the same question was fired at me
"How do you account for. the fact the
Reds can win so handily away from
home and fail TO stand off the same
teams in CincinnatiT' is what they all
hand me-
. Well, to be perfectly frank. don't
know I Judge my experience IN oase
ball should qualify me to diagnose tnis
peculiar aflment' but this - one instance
where past performances do not count
remember the Giants Gan Won n,n,c. Ssnn sea.
son at the Polo Grounds They Woulo
lick the tar out Of the Cubs and Pirates
in Chicago and Pittsburgh and then when
the gang assembled at the Polo Srounas
to see them do IT again. they Wouid DC
shown UP.
II was the same way in Chicago ano
Pittsburgh when those teams we're our
best hated rivals. The Cubs and Pirates
would restore themselves In the Eooo
graces OF their rooters by winning az
the Polo Grounds and then We Woulo 30
out west and clean them up.
The tavorite expressions OF the oisap-
pointed enthusiasts in New York-Wnen
we lost-and In those other plaees-When
we won-were laughable now That vie"
them through a haze OF years
cago Cor New York or Pittsburgh as the
case might be) is more than can under-
stnnd?" was a stock criticism.
You can't make fan believe a team "
any better-or any worse-tnan ~ may
be in that particular game he Is witness.
ing. But he always goes Jul 'ne "'>-
Now against the record made by the
Giants that year-and also last season,
when they lost nearly every game at
home the early part OF the soesonEsaSSe
them this season. They have won stead
Thai and the fact that they have also
won even higher percentage OF games
away from home stamps the Giants As
really great team.
At the risk Of being disputed perhaps
Nv some Of nv own players am going
TO- disclose what. In my opinion u one
reason why the Reds have not played
their hest ball at home. II may be just
a theory, hut I believe 1t Is quite q
factor in a long run OF games oeIore a
friendly but critical audience; ,d ,ne
host bali day after day and to be dis,
annointed when they don't get II. AND
pleyere unconsciously fall back on
stereotyped forms Of play to sfave on
personal criticism. BY may chance
tha} NAV win a bali game II the gamble
is successful, but which will suoject
them TO criticism and even ridicuie II IL
fails. ..a-r
trips, were pulling a lot OF lnoi haS;nd
rood pitching and hitting. And I notice
Inc Carlnals arc credited with similar
Vow when a visiting player pulls Off
an unexpected stunt. one OF TWO {nlnEs
happens. Either he sets away WI, nad A.
event. no attention Is paid to him by
the spectators who are pussy cneerhs
tho home team for breaking up the play.
But, " the same thing happened q.
fons would be inclined to pour the Vials
Of their wrath out on the head or the
moor fellow who would have been q
hero II he had gotten away Win ME
venture. ,.
tight game at home and the attitude OF
the pIayers on taking risks:
III I don't get away with II tney
will give mo the old raspberry. and II
| don't try It and we lose' wont %
say what you please, this line OF rea !,
soning will sink In during long stay
ON the home grounds. especially ~nep
,he team Is not going very we'll.
NV boys are no different than the
average run OF ball players. I never
thought much about those things mysell
IN nv time as an active contender. but
have a different perspective now. l
can sec the natural tendency TO keep
losing and impain fans are seeking a
target II never will be any different
The tendency TO soak up all the glory
hut 10 let the other fellow shoulder the
blame Is the same on all teams. Last
week when we wore fortunate enough
IN best the Giants twice In three games
-nnre before large crowd noticed
that the spectators were fully aware OF
thc fact that the Giants were having OF
DAYS. In the first game. hey made sew.
eral costly errors. and finally the CROWD
gave up and uttered mock CHEERS every
time they registered the third out on the
Reds. A.,
Workers many thrills in the last tWelve
months. They were ten games out IN
front The Reds. at the top. or their