Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-10-01
BY BILLY EVANS.
American League Umpire and
Worlds Greatest Authority on
Baseball

IdstDafi
NEW YORK, Oct. Ability to
knock off it's leading contender, vas
the determining factor in the win
ming of the National League PEN
nant by the New York Giants.
Pittsburg was easy picking for
the Giants throughout the year.
McGraw's team won 16 out OF the
20 clashes. That wide margin of
difference between the two clubs
decided the issue.
That would make it seem that
New York was much the superior
club. There seems TO be consider
able difference of opinion On that
point. The fact remains that the
Giants could beat the Pirates almost
as they pleased. With scarcely a
month to play, Pittsburgh enjoyed
a seven and one-half game lead.
Then followed a five-game series
between New York and Pittsburg,
the former winning five straight
That was the blow that killed the
Pirates.
Giants Are Not Great Ball Club
The New York Giants are not a
great ball club. There are no great
teams in either the American or Ma
tional League. However. the Giants
are a game hustling aggregation.
led by two Of the most aggressive
managers of the game. John Nc
Graw and Hughey Jennings. Such a
combination of playing strength and
leadership makes the Giants size
up as a pretty formidable aggrega-
ton to beat in = world series, which
calls for gamSness and aggressive
ness more than anything else.
Good pitching is moss essential
for a pennant winning team. Dur
ing the greater part of the 1921
campaign the Giants did not get
good pitching. Don't get the i'm
preston from that statement that
the Giants are lacking in npable
pitchers. 1t just seemed that at 70
time was McGraw able to have four
pitchers working smoothly.
During the greater part Of the
season, the last month of play ex-
.cepted, McGraw usually had only
two pitchers on whom he could de-
pend. The dependable pitchers were
not always the same fellows. For
perhaps a month two certain pitch
ers would carry the burden, and
then, as two others would round
into form, the two dependable
would develop a mediocre streak.
Giants Game Despite Hurting
1t takes a game ball club to keep
plugging along with a pitching staff
lacking in consistency. At one stage
of the race it seemed the Giants
were hopelessly out of it. 1t seemed
impossible for McGraw's club to
combine hitting with pitching
Then there came a break. the pitch
ers rounded into form. Good pitch
ing was aided by timely hitting and
brilliant Unfolding and the Giants
were on their way.
Some idea of the clip at which
the New York team travelled dur
ing the last six weeks of the cam
paign can be cleaned by consulting
the '.fggers."
With less than so games to play,
McGraw's team sliced away the
Pittsburg margin of even and one
half games and was able TO win with
a couple TO spare. The Giants in a
short space of time accomplished a
seemingly impossible task,
In that stretch of games, New
York beat Pittsburgh in eight out OF
nine clashes. Ability to knock on
the leading contender decided the
issue in favor of the Giants.
Dreyfus Figured on Enlarging Park
Let us look over this team, which
was able TO come with such a re-
markable rush, after the pennant
had practically been conceded TO
other quarters. So certain had it
seemed that Pittsburgh would win, al
one stage of the race. that Owner
Dreyfus of the Pittsburgh club had
started arrangements to enlarge his
ball park.
However. the sudden reversal OF
form on the part Of he Plttsourgn
club. and the Garrison" finish of the
New York team, stand out as the
two big events in the closing days
Of the National League race.
Pitching usually decides the out
come OF every world series. so il Is
fitting that the Giants pitching staff
be given first consideration. While
there are perhaps a dozen pitchers
on the New York staff at present
seldom are more than four pitchers
regarded as world series possibilities.
Here's McGraw's Great Quartet
1t seems certain that McGraw will
call upon Artie Nehf, a mighty styl-
ish left handler, Phil Douglas. lead
ing exponent of the spitball, and
Toney and Barnes. two veteran
right handlers. II is possible that
some of the other members Of the
Giants staff may break into the box
score, but l seriously doubt if any
pitcher other than the four men,
toned will be called upon TO start a
game.
The New York staff is not a great
pitching staff. There are no mem
bers of 1t who stand out like Walter
johnson or Grover Cleveland Alex
ander. 1t is. however. a well ball
anced stan that combines every type
of pitching. There is a marked diff
ference in the style Of all four men.
Nehf is a fine left handler, who car-
ries a complete assortment. which
he mixes with telling effect. Once
he gains the upper hand he is poi
son. Early in the season he discov-
cred the Pittsburgh club was made TO
order for him. He made a careful
study OF the Pirates. Then he put
into execution his observations. cou-
pied with his pitching mastery. The
result was seven victories over the
Pittsburgh team. That is certainly a
very remarkable performance for a
pitcher TO make against his teams
leading contender. 1t stamps Nehf
as a southpaw. who on form. should
make all kinds of trouble for the
American Legion Opposition.
Douglas Great Spitban Pitcher
Phil Douglas is a great spitban
pitcher, but inclined to be errauc.
Douglas has a most deceptive de-
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