The public ledger., 1919-09-30


Cincinnati, Ohio, September 30
Everything Is in readiness for the
great battle between the Cincinnati
Reds, champions of the National
League, and the Chicago White Sox,
champions of the American League,
the first game of which battle will be
played at Redland field here on We'd
nesday afternoon.
Cincinnati hotels groaned, Tuesday,
under the weight Of base ball enthus-
iasm. They were the caldron in which
diamond discussion from the four cor
ners of the United States seethed.
Above the din created by the clamor
for rooms and accommodations; more
highly pitched than the eternal alibi
of the man who failed to write in ad-
vance, rose the voice of King Base
Ball.
The majority Of the guests who reg
istered at the principal hotels were
prepared for Inconvenience. They
actually express surprise when they
found how thoroughly the manage
ments had laid their plans. True, 15
men will and If necessary to sleep
In one room, but they will be In COM
Portable single beds. Some may have
to sleep behind screen In reception
room, but their beds will be but a
step from luxurious shower.
SEThe White Sox and some Of their
handsome wives invaded Redland
Tuesday with the announcement that
the first two games Of the world ser
les IRE as good as theirs already.
However, many Cincinnatians,
watching them enter the Sinton Hotel,
shook their hands in sympathetic
manner, saying: 1T is sad to think
how badly these fine fellows are to be
beaten. How cheerfully they enter
our city, and how sadly they will go
away!"
William kid" Gleason, their man
ager, led the caravan of taxicabs in
which the Sox went down town after
arriving at Central Union Station.
Those who, by reason Of his child
like name. expected to see fair-hair-
ed, downy-cheeked youth, were as
founded to learn that kid" Gleason is
no chicken, as one might say.
On the contrary, he Is 81 years old
and there are streaks Of gray In his
old head, but, he being Irish, the years
otherwise have dealt gently with him
Chicago's White Sox are approxi-
mately two and half per cent strong
er for purposes of the world series
than are the Cincinnati Reds. The
team, with every factor Of strength
considered, shows an advantage of 257
points.
The advantage of the Sox, however
is greater even than the two and q
half per cent. shows. The chance of q
team to overcome that handicap lies
in Just two elements-superiority oi
pitching power over the attacking
power Of the opponent, and luck.
In the coming series luck has been
eliminated to a large extent by the ex.
tension of the series to five out Of nine
games. Also, 1t is a notorious fact
that in baseball luck follows the
stronger ball club.
However, In this comparison Of the
teams there is no allowance made fol
the element of luck.
The figures indicate the Reds have
a pitching advantage Of slightly under
per cent. The White Sox figures
show their attacking superiority to be
about 51s per cent.
Even admitting Moran can choose
pitchers with such skill as to pit his
strongest men against the weakest oi
the White Sox there still remains the
fact that. In the two games at least In
which Cicotte will work, the White
Sox, In addition to their attacking
strength OF nearly 9 per cent. and
their defensive advantage (independ.
ent OF pitchers) OF nearly q per cent.