Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-05
Veterans OF Previous
Contests in the Infield

be found in the infielde of the New
York Nationals and the Chicago Amer
leans when these two teams meet late
this week in the 1917 series. OF the
eight players who are expected to de-
fend the inner lines four have already
passed through one or more Of these
baseball classics and Of this quartet
three will wear uniforms of the Giants
and one of the colors of the White
Sox. Another regularity is that the
veteran material will cluster between
second and third bases the initial sack
being guarded by less experienced play
ers.
At first Manager McGraw will place
his reliance in Holke while the Chi
cago interests will be defended by Can
dill. In years of service and the know
ledge which comes with it, Gandil will
have the edge over his younger OPP
ponent. Both are steady, consistent
players covering the bag and the ad-
jacent territory without spectacular ef-
fort but with a high degree of efticlen-
cy.
According to their records for the
past season in their respective leagues
there is little to choose between them
so far as fielding or batting is concern
ed. Holke has a slight advantage OF
the avere ges in both these departments
as well as in stolen bases and double
plays. He is also three years younger
than Gandil but when all is considered
it it likely that the latters greater
experience will slightly outweigh
Holke's speedier footwork. The margin
of advantage is so small one way or
the other that so far as forecasts are
concerned, the two players may be
said to be equal in offensive and de-
fensive work.
Two of the best second basemen
in their respective leagues will be OPP
posed at the midway sack and the
struggle for e1onors between Eddie
Collins and Charles Herzog should DE
one Of the thrilling features OF the
series. World Series play is no long
er a novelty to either a. Collins mas
participated in four such conflicts
while a member of the Philadelphia
Athletics and HerZog has seen service
in three series with the Giants Both
are noted for their ability to rise
to extreme heights Of play at times and
from thei1 keystone position to DOM
mate the work of the entire lnleld
combinations.
Herzog, owing to the injury to his
hack due to a fall earlier in the sea-
son, has not played as regularly as
Collins and there is Just the bare pos
he
for the series but this chance Is so
remote that he can for comparative
purposes be considered as the Giants
second baseman. If it proves to be
otherwise the stock Of the New YORK
Club will suffer a severe slump even
before the first bah Is pitched, AS
their records stand for the season Col
Inns had the better of Herzog in bat
tin, fielding, stolen bases and doupie
plays. The same is true of his aV-
erages in past World Series. Collins
has batted .3SS and fielded '9'o IN
four series to Herzog's PA and 900
in three post season struggles.
II Herzog enter the fray benefited
hv the rest he insisted on taking. after
the Giants had virtually clinched the
nennant he may prove to be capable
of more efficient work than his rec
ords would indicate for he is one OF
the best money players" in the game
today. He is a dangerous patter AZ
critical moments Of the play: resource
full and daring in the field and a man
who Is not willing to concede defea'
until the final put-out is made. Col
Inns. however, on such records ano
form az are available must be given
the edge at second over the Giants
guardian of the keystone base
Injuries also complicate the situation
at short and third. The White Sox
regular third baseman. Buck" Weaver
broke one Of his fingers in a game
late in the season and did not return
to the lineup until a few days before
tho pennant race closed. In the mean
time McMullin had held down this
position so satisfactorily that there
is some doubt as to whether Weaver
will return to the bag. It would not
be surprising If Manager Rowland
sent him into the big series as snort
stop in place Of Risherg.
If this should prove to be the case
McMullin will have Zimmerman as ms
rival at third and the advantage would
he decidedly with the Giants for the
former Chicago Club player has pass
ed through the test Of one World
Series in 1909 when he hatted .235 ana
fie,ded 1855 for the Chicago Nationals
Of that year. Zimmerman also figures
better than McMullin on the season
averages OF the two leagues for the
i-;an,'a third baseman has bat
ted .2s6 and fielded ,9N IN
the National circuit while NC
Mullins averages in the American
League are .246 and 1928. In double
plays and stolen bases Zimmerman also
leads but II Weaver goes back to his
old position there will be far closer
struggle as the latter is fully equal
to holding his own with Zimineriiah
both at bat and in the field.
Risberg has played short Tor the
Chicago team most Of the year ana
II was his acquisition that finally
completed the White sox baseball ma
chine and made pennant possible
He Is a rather erractic batter, how
AVER and for that reason 1t Is not
unlikely that Weaver will be sent to
short. in the opening game at least
ana RIsberx held on the bench TOT
emergencies. On this basis weaver
would be opposed to Fletcher tne
c,ant.s regular shortstop and the White
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