The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-10-04

the New York Nationals and the Chi
cago Americans when these two teams
meet late this week in the 1917
series. OF the eight players 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. Another
popularity Is that the veteran ma
teriaI will cluster between second and
third bases the initial sack being
guarded by less experienced players.
At first Manager McGraw will place
his reliance in Ho1ke while the Chi
.cago interests will be defended by
Gandil. In years of service and the
knowledge which comes with it,
Gandil will have the edge over his
consistent players covering the bag
and the adjacent territory without
spectacular effort but with a high
degree Of efficiency.
According to their records for the
past season in their respective leagues
there is little to choose btween them
SO far as fielding Or batting is COM
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 it Is likely that the latter's
greater experience will slightly OUT
weighcdolke' 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 OPP
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
q novelty to either as Collins has
participated in four such conflicts
while member of the Philadelphia
Athletics and Herzog has seen SER
vice in three series with the Giants
Both are noted for their ability to
rise to extreme heights of play al
| times and from their keystone posi-
ton to dominate the work Of the en-
tire infeld combinations
Herzog, owing to the injury to his
! back due to a fall earlier In the sea
i 6On, mas nOI pl<byGa Is ISSu11I1 ~ az
,isCollins and there is just this bare
i possibility that he may not be avail.
liable for the series but this chance Il
so remote that he can for compare
tive purposes be considered as thu
Giants second baseman. If it proves
to be otherwise the stock of the New
York club will suffer severe slunI
4 even before the first ball Is pitched
AS ,thir records stand for the season
Collins had the better of Herzog II
j battin, fielding, stolen bases and dou
i BILE plays. The same is true Of his av
i erages in past World Series. Collin
has batted 1888 and felded .975 II
i four series to Herzog,s .214 and .95'
In three post season struggles.
i If Herzog enters the fray benefite'
4 by the rest he insisted on taking
4 after the Giants had virtually clinch
! ed the pennant, he may prove to b
j capable of more efficient work than hi
records would Indicate for he is on
Of the best money players in tn
game today. He is a; dangerous bat
ter at critical moments of the play
4 resourceful and daring in the f1e1
and a man who is not willing to con
cede defeat until the final put-out
made. Collins, however, on such re
cords and form as are available mus
be given the edge at second over tn
Il Giants guardian OF the keytson
Z base.
Injuries also complicate the situa
ition at short and third The Whit
Sox regular third baseman, Buck
Weaver, broke one Of his fingers
a game late in the season and did nj
return to the lineup until a few day
: before the pennant race closed.
! the meantime McMuIiin had he1
! down this position SO satisfactory
that there is some doubt as
: whether Weaver will return to til
!. bag. 1t would not be surprising
D Manager Rowland sent him into tt
big series as shortstop in place (
Risberg.
If this should prove to be the ca.
N McMul1in will have Zimmerman {
his rival at third and the advantae
I would be decidedly with the Clan
Z for the former Chicago club play
has passed through the test of OF
: World Series in 1909 when he bate
= 235 and fielded 1855 for the Chicas
y Nationals of that year. Zimmerma
: also figures better than McMullin c
= the seasons averages of the tv
leagues for the Giants third bas
: man has batted .296 and fe1ded 81
, in the National circuit while Menu
= Inns averages in the American Leagl
!. are .246 and .928. In double pla,
: and stolen bases, Zimmerman all
!. leads but If Weaver goes bak to h
old position there will be a far clos
!, struggle as the latter is fully equal
# holding his own with Zimmerms
q both at bat and in the field.
r. Risberg has played short for tt
.e Chicago team most of the year al
p it was his acquisition that final
completed the White Sox basebs
3 machine and made penrfant poss
BILE. He is rather erratic bate
however, and for that reason 1t
not unlikely that Weaver will be sc
r to short, in the opening game at lea
and Risberg held on the bench +
emergencies. On this basis Weav
II would be opposed to Fletcher, t.
Giants regular shortstop, and It
Il White Sox appear to have a little t
IT better in comparison. Weaver is
. better hitter than Fletcher; fully
e fast and accurate in fielding and CO
siderab1y faster on the bases. Shou
> Risberg cover short then it will
> Fletcher who Will have the edge BIO
= in experience and effective playin