The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-08
Lost, Strayed- or Stolen-A
Healthy Batting Reputation
Notify Cleveland.
by SAMUEL J. BRooKMAN.

: law ihdI heu tne DouSer3 play in the
! opening game of the series has been
ooliterated completely by the victories
OF the last two days. and 1t will be
confident. hard lighting Brooklyn band
that will invade Ire lair of the Indians
at League Park. Cleveland. tomorrow.
Lost. strayed or stolen--A perfectly
! healthy batting reputation. somewhere
| between League Park. Cleveland and
/ Ebbets Field, Brooklyn Finder will con-
fer great favor upon Cleveland Ameri-
can League Baseball Club.
Where indeed is the Wanted ba ting
strength OF the Indians, the terrific slug
gtng attack that was to instiil fear in
the hearts of the Brooklyn pitching
staff? If the figures TO date tell the real
story the Dodgcr twirlers may rest
easy. Here is what the fence busters
of the Cleveland team have accom-
plished thus far: An average OF five
hits game, an average OF one and one
third runs game one run In the last
twenty-three innings Not a record to
look back on with confidence
y Short but not very sweet was Ray
Caldwells first experience in worlds
series. From the time Ivan Olson wor-
ried him into passing him to first the
former Yankee pitcher hung out dis
j tress signals, and it was. rot long be-
fore iris Speaker decided to come to his
rescue. A message came out to Mails
| by srecial delivery ana the ie,rtit
pitcher hurried to take up the burden.
To ask who figured in the only run
for Cleveland is superiluous. Tr!s
Speaker? Why, of course.
An interested spectator was Arthur
Irwin. who thrty-six years ago played
for the providence Grays in the first
worlds series of all time. In that series
the Grays, champions OF the National
League, defeated the Metropolitans, lead
ers in the American Association, three
straight games for the title.
In passing bouquets around to the
Dodger infielders Honey, too must not
be forgotten His contribution came In
the fifth inning when Cleveland maAes
its most serious threat OF the game.
After Joe Wood had famed Sewell
coexed a pass ont of Smith. and then
O'Neill made the first of his two hits.
Duster Mails made splendid try toad
vance the runners. but Olson checked
the flight of his grounder. A throw to
Kilduff forced O'Neill at second. Kill
duff then wheeled to l.url the ball &c
first but in his haste threw very low
Luckily Honey is a big fellow with
long reach. Keeping one foot on TIN
bag. the first baseran stretched his siX
feet two ut full lea.th on the ground
and with arms extended speared thr
ball before Mails reached the bag. 1t
was the end OF timely double play.
There is some sentiment In a baseball
crowd after all Wheat actually war
arplauded long and loud as he came ~
from the field after making the error
that gave the Indians their only run. II
was not joshins applause 1t was per-
fectly sincere. the sort that seemed to
imsly; ITS all right. old fellow: we
know you're good anyway"
From the way Mails busted most OF
the batters off the plate during his six
and two-third innings Of pitching the
fans were given some inkllng as to how
"Duster" earned his soubrlquet.
Manager Speaker sprang a surprise
on the Dodgers BY selecting Caldwell TO
pitch. and then Caldwell srrang a sur
prise on Speaker by pitching himself
out OF the game in less than one inning.
George Burns struck winged Mer-
curry ose as he reached over into box
and plucked Wheat's foul out OF the
waiting hands OF a fan.
That Cleveland base ball bug who dis
turbed the reace of the first two games
with his piercing. raucous voice was I'M
able TO sreak above a WHISPER, but he
had a steamboat whistle with him that
in comparison made his own explosions
sound like the sweetest OF music. The
holders of reserved seats In his vicinity
are praying that II the teams have TO
come back to,Ebbets Field for an eighth
game that the fan In question stays In
hts home town or misses the train or
something.
Many fans found It hard TO under
stand why Griffith after making his
brilliant catch ofS Joe Wood in the sec
ond inning was replaced by Bernie Neis
I'm right field. The answer was that
Neis is supposed to be more effective
bs tier against southpaw pitching and
Robinson decided on the change when
Mails took Caldwclls place on the
mound. These be days OF baseball
strategy.
II Sherry Smith doesn't do another
worth while thing IN his major league
career he already has earned place In
the baseball hall OF fane. Smith pitched
great ball In his fourteen inning duel
with Babe Ruth In the 1916 series with
the Red Sox, but he pitched greater ball
yesterday and he deserved a shutout II
ever n pitcher did. Cautious at the
start, Smith gained confidence as the
game progrcsser. nand In the latter i'm
rings he was burning them into. Otto
Miller's mitt without the slightest hest
taton. Very few pitchers have held
Cleveland TO three hits this year.
Half an hour for the first inning. At .
.hat rate of speed the teams would have
been Obliged TO stay over another day
10 complete the third game.
whats the idea of Caldwell walking
the frat man up?" asked fellow near
the press stand. why that's perfectly
s.mple."i he was told, he's laying plans
for double play"
The warm sun loosened up everything.
WE players went through their fielding
practice with far more snap and vigor
the fans began flocting to the field at
nm earlier hour, and for the first time
IN the series gave evidence OF real enthu-
siasn. There was more noise, more
chatter more joshing, more cheering,
more optimism. more pepper. more
~ tt,n ffofI al.