Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-30

Now that the Giants have clinched the
remnant and the fans over In Gotham
ore talking of the Worlds Series, re-
cnpitulation will show that this year
National League race has been one OF
tbe closest and hardest fought races in
the history of the senior circuit.
From the start Of the season until
the flag was finally won by the New
Workers, IL has been two-cluo nght,
the Pirates supplying the other halt' Az
times the Braves threatened-that was
early in August--and for a snort tlI,S ,,
It was thought that the Cardinals woulu
creep up to within few games OF ths
Sr,t and second teams. Both fiivvered
in tho stretch. and the race during the
last month narrowed down to the Giants
and the Pirates. -.
George Gibson. the astute leader OF
the Smoky City team and a former star
big league catcher, took charge OF tne
Rucs this season, and with what wou'u
ordinarily be regarded as mediocre ma
terial welded a machine that came wlthln
the proverbial ace of copping the cham-
pionship. .r,.
4 trade with Boston that brought
| Rabbit Maranvillc to the Pirates gaVe
the veteran catcher nucleus Tor MS III :
field. He had Grimm, slugglng nrsI-
sackcr. to rely on, and George Cutsnaw
veteran of many tight campaigns
He started Barnhart, a recruit at thilu
and within short time he developed
into a brilliant player. ~.
Then came the change that sent Cot
ton Tierney, another recruit, TO scconG
In place of Cutshaw. The outnelG
started with Robertson. carey ano
George Whittcd, all veterans and terrlne
hitters. The catchers included Schmiu'
sterling veteran, and Brottem.
With hi. infield and outield selected
Gibson had big task with his tw,rlers,
He had Adams. Cooper and Hamilton
TO start with and three or four young
sters fresh from the sticks. That Ii
where Gibson showed his greatest man
sseriaI ability. He developed Glazner
Morrison and Zinn into big League
! material and had them taking thel'
regular turns on the mound with th'
three veterans.
Trades Aided Giants
The Giants. strengthened on the othei
hand by trades and purchases iron
time to time during the season. starte'
off we'll with the Pirates, but durlnt
August struck snag that dropped then
down and almost out of the race. A
the start the Giants had Kelly. Ban
croft and Frisch as their nucleus. Pat
tcrson and Rapp were used at thir
alternately.
In the outfcld McGraw had Young
Burns, Spencer and CurtiSs Walker
The catching department include
Smith, Gonzales and Snyder. Th
pitchers at the start were Doug glass
barnes, Toncy, Nehf and Benton.
Man for man the Giants had tn
bulge on the Pirates, but despite TIN
they were unable to get out In first an
remain there. Realizing that the tear
must be strengthened If it were to hav
a chance in the pennant fight. McGraN
brought Rawlings to the Giants fror
tho Phillies in a trade that sent Rap
and King here.
The Outfield had one weak spot, an
Emil Meusel, the slugging member c
the Philles, was secured in n trade
That made the team. Rawlings, neve
star, but a graceful fielder and
sturdy hitter, filled in at second base /
; pennant winning style.
Emil Meusel. ever n dangerous an
one of the best hittcrs in the League
did not like playing in this city, BIT
once with the Giants he displayed n
his latent power and made the Outtielt
5 \ noticeable feature of the Giants la
play was the hitting of Meusel. )
the start he was woefully weak wit
the stick, but when he started peltir
-, the hOrSehidp the Giants started Il
upward climb that eventually gain'
. them the penDant.
5 Pirates Lead After Nine Days
E Getting back to the race. The set
: soI opened with the Giants winning Il
= opening game and the Pirates losin
G Nine days after the season opened Il
I Pirates went out in front and remain'
there until June 1.
From April 26 until May s. Il
o Giants were in third place with Il
=. Pirates sailing along under smi
d lead. On June G, the Giants were
e the lead by one and onc-half gam
q with the Pirates running second.
r From June I until SEPTEMBER
: the Pirates were in the lead outside
r two or three days when they were in
s tie with the Giants. On June 3 t
IS two teams were tied with q percen
IS age of .867. On July 81 the Pirnt
= had three game lead that was whi
tied down to tie on July 81. ea
team having won at that time six
games and having lost thirty five.
=, FiFtepn dnyS later thp Pirates had