The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-10-11
Big League Gossip
CHRISTY MATHEWSON
Cincinnati DsAA

} series will carry II far. know that
after VIC won two straight from the Red
Sox In 1912 and put the issue up to- a
single game, We were the favorites. Tho
Boston fans quit cold the day We tied it
up and they had no confidence the next
day. , The Red Sox were nervous and
worried. too. We would have beaten
them II one man had not failed US At
crucial moment.
You may remember that Joe Wood
pitched the opening game at the Polo
grounds and, beat us handtly. His vic
tory was much more impressive than
cicotte's repulse Of the Giants last Sat
urtlay. And we could not get away
frbm TIE fact that Wood trimmed US
before our own crowd.
THE next day We went over to Boston
and played wretched game that ended
| in a tie. II either team had been In
form, one Of US would have taken as
decisive a beating as the Sox admins.
! tcred to the Giants last Sunday. Tho
final score was to s. Both teams had
q bad day such as the Giants expert
enced last Sunday
We stayed over in Boston to play off
the tie and RUDE hlarquard won IL for
us. But Wa lost the next day tn New
York and the following day In Boston.
We were then in even moro serious
prcdicament than the Giants found
themselves this week after losing the
first two games in Chicago.
The fact that we had been unable to
win either Of the first two games and
would have lost both II we had not
caught the Red sox on an OFF day; that
We had lost three Of the first four
games that went to @ decision; had been
able TO win but one Of tho FIRST flvo
playeyd and wero beaten in both OF our
Appearances at the Polo grounds COM
bined 10 make our situation most dis
couraEing.
But We never quit. and think we
fully demonstrated our gameness when
we won those next two games.
Tho Red SoS had an awful close call
that year, and the White Sox will havo
another II the Giants can win Wednes-'
day. There is nothing like a blow In the
face 10 smear up smile Of confidence.
McGraw has the hitters and he has
enough good pitchers. =,
Ths respective strength Of tne,twoL
major leagues Is now up for annual dis
cussion. Personally. I do not believe
that inter-lcague games establish any
sound basis for these arguments. To
my mind. It Is question Of pitchlnS.
N'HltklIlSS ltdIIi o'i
pitching. and again there have been hard
hitting and rcsourceful combinations
that have won with ordinary pitching.
should plpsce the Giants Of this year in
that class.
The Cubs won two successive worlds
championships because they had the
pitchers and don't believe the Ma
iional league WAS any stronger than the
American IN those years. Pitchers
made tho Athletics a wonderful team.
Those who contend that tho American
league must necessarily be 4 lot
stronger than the National II the White
SnH beat the Giants. are no more Jus"
tined in making this claim than would
be in proclaiming the National Z SUI
perior institution because my C1ncin-
natl Reds took three straight from tho
Cleveland Indians in our little series
for the championship OF Ohio. It's
question Of pitchers. Cleveland has
some good ones, but ours happened to
be better on those particular days
L have been told by more than one, re-
liable authority In the closing weeks Of
tile American league race. the Cleveland
and Detroit teams were as strong or
stronger than tho White Sox. Whether
that Is SO or not, I cannot Say. do
not think. however. that the Reds, as
, they finished the season. were stronger
than the Giants. We just happened to
play our good game against those Cleve-
land boya.
will say for the Reds. however. that
the material Is thare and we think we
have as good a chance as the Giants to
land the pennant next year.
Copyright, 1917. by tho Bell Syndi-
cate. Incl