South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-01


BILLY EVANS. the presence of
Ruth in the lineup mean TO the
Yankees? When he is in a batting
slump, does his failure TO hit have
any bearing on the rest of the team
These and a score of other ques-
tions have been fired at me when
il was apparent that the New YORK
Yankees and the great Babe Ruth
would be the American league rep
resentative IN the world series. The
ordinary series offers enough topics
for conversation, but when the out
standing figure is baseball. Babe
Ruth is listed among the perform
ers, it makes the annual clash all
the more interesting
Many Intentional Passes.
Ordinarily. home-run hitters have
not played an extremely important
role in many Of the world series IL
I is apparent that the value of a
slugger would be more evident over
a campaign of ia games than in a
short series of nine contests. 1t is
also a matter of record that in
short series. pitchers work far more
carefully on a batter noted for his
ability 10 hit home runs than they
do during the ordinary game. 1t is
always customary 70 pass the home
run hitter when the situation Is
dangerous rather than pitch TO him
and take chance on his breaking
I up the ball game.
1t ia a certainty that Babc Ruth
will draw many an intentional base
on balls during the coming series if
I he happens TO bat with a couple Of
( men on and the Giants in the lead.
/ That is good baseball.
There is "a chance that Ruth may
not do the many great things the
/ public expect OF him. In q pinch he
/ Is going 10 be passed. When the
Giant pitchers elect TO work on him
/ there is sure 10 be nothing at stake.
/ At such times Ruth is going 10 look
at the very best the Giants pitch
| ers can offer Ruth hates 10 dis
| appoint He will certainly try his
best TO come through with n home
run or two. At such times Ruth is
very liable 70 strike out SO that
/ Ruth is liable 10 Whit more often
than he makes home runs.
Homcrs Decided Series.
Ordinarily home runs do not play
a determining part in a world series.
The 1911 and 1915 and 1920 events
were exceptions in this particular.
In 1911 Frank Baker acquired his
title of Home Run" Baker by hit
ting Mathewson and Marquard for
I ~T~f a. - .
I the Giants. In 1915 three home runs
decided the final game OF the series
and gave the championship 10 the
| Boston Americans Duffy Lewis con-
/ tributed one OF the homers. Harry
! Hooper the other two. The score
was ; TO 4 In 1920 Elmer Smiths
hit with the bases allied against
Grimes. the star pitcher OF the
| Brooklyn club, was the turning point
| in the game and series.
Home runs therefore have figured
in every series in which the games
have been played in a park with a
short right or left-feld fence. That
is the case in New York. Cleveland
and at both Philadelphia parks
Since all the games OF 1921 are 10
! be played at the Polo grounds. which
has a short right and left-feld
! boundary. look for the home run
70 be in evidence, and that does not
| necessarily mean that Ruth viii do
the swatting. There are any num-
bers Of players on both the Yankees
and the Giants capable or turning
the trick.
However. there is no denying that
the New York Americans would fee
greatly the loss OF Ruth. il an in
jury prevented his playing.
Copyright, 1921. NEA Service)