New-York tribune., 1917-10-21
Dope, as Usual, l,G0es AStray
In T0psy-Turvey Series
Heroes Developed in Recent
Classic Tarnished in
Public Mind
By w. |. Macbeth


The world series of 1917 between the
White Sox and Giants will 20 down
into history as one Of those provok-
ingly unsatisfactory competitions under
which lies the true charm of baseball.
If there ever was a topsy-turvy, soul
racking. nerve-splitting tussle, the same
was furnished in this years classic.
Dope wasn't simply shattered; it was
wrecked and ruined and scattered to
the four corners Of the earth 1t proved
beyond peradventure that d true
prophet created an axiom in "Take
nothing for granted in baseball"
This series, which saw the ruination
of New York hopes, not through in
ferior class, but through mistakes Of
judgment that should have made a
school team blush. will ever remain
one of the most puzzling of all time.
In a sense it was akin TO that of 1909
between the Tigers and Pirates and
the battles Of 1912 between the Giants
and Red Sox. 1t was a case of two
slugging. powerful combinations meet
ing head-on with so great mutual re-
spect that their respective attitudes at
times approached the craven.
Usually a world series develops its
hero or heroes. This one was no ex-
ception. But it must be confessed that
most of the heroes arising from the
ruins of an i'll fought fight were tar
nshed in the public mind. Not soul
came through clean and white. without
blemish of censure, save possibly Urban
Faber of the Sox, and Rube Benton. OF
the Giants.
And even these were tarnished idols
when the series was through. Benton
in one game outpitched Faber. the
pitching lion of the classic. yet Ben
tons second game. equally good, gave
Urban his revenge because Of New
York's sand lot ball.
Rariden Leading Hero
All things considered. it is doubtful
if the series developed stouter cham
zion than Bill Rarden. second catcher
of the Giants. His case is the more
worthy because his rise to the sublime
was so entirely unexpected.
Thrown into the pit because OF an
injury to Lew McCarty. Rariden did
not find himself in the few innings re-
naming of his inaugural. But after
ward he out-caught, if he did not out
think. the wonderful Ray Schalk. who,
on the whole, was rather bust
| notice q number OF the Giant play
ore includinc their manager, are now
trying 10 Law TO Rariden's door the
fault Of Zimmerman's famous "boner
of the closing game. Well. Boshter
Rill lives out of town; Heinie owns
gin mill up in The Bronx.
No student of the game Will blame
Rariden. II may be true he disre-
garded McGraw's instructions about
leaving the plate unguarded, but when
BENTON began to chase Collins back
toward third base il was Rariden's ONCE
TO follow up the line a way TO retrieve
any possible bad return from Zimmer-
man to Benton. And when Heinie be-
gan his mad dash aftcr Collins, almost
within reaching distance, he had nifty
feet within which distance he might
have thrown to q prepared Rariden.
The fault in leaving the plate un-
guarded should be charged TO Holke,
who was watching the crows.
No matter upon whose toes we may
tread. il is our personal opinion that
Rariden was one of the most pro-
neunced successes for the Giants. His
throwing was much better than that Of
Schalk, and his handling of the pitch
ers was faultless. He nullihed Chi
cago's reputed speed, and, unlike Schalk,
was not always calling for pitchouts.
He always stood TO gamble on his own
resources. and in the pinches surpassed
himself That goes for Bill Rariden.
Benton Robbed Of Glory
Benton would have been the lion OF
the Polo Grounds array if he Lad been
allowed TO get away with the last game.
This effort against Faber was up to the
standard of his earlier shutout. But
let the dead rest IN peace. IL is doubt
full If Chicago ever would have earned
iun of the Rube in the regulation
nire innings.
Faber fell just short Of going into