The Washington herald., 1921-10-05
new YORK ON EDGE
AS WORLD SERIES
FIGHT DRAWS NEAR
Rivals Seen More Nearly
Matched Than in Any
Former Contest.
By GRANTLAND RICE.

NEW YORK, Oct. 4.-For the first
time since Matty's arm was young.
a horde of New York fans will
move upon the Polo Grounds to-
morrow without any fear that some
hostile tribe will rumple the home
club into shapeless mass. y
Most of these same fans have
seen Philadelphia. Boston or Chi
cago report and promptly start
pushing the Giants into the gravel
ditch. but those sombre. sordid
days now belong to the moth
eaten past. -.
The Mackmen hit the soapy chute
six years ago and have never left
the cellar since. The White SoN
are only a notch above the Mack
men. and the Red SoS are also
travelling second class we'll out of
the scrimmage. So now If the
Giants are to lose their fifth sue
cessive championship their scalps
at least will not be borne away to
distant wigwams, for the three
clubs that have beaten them be-
fore are fioundering on the roof.
Inc poNNhOiOSE VI NhC "OA ~
series which opens tomorrow will
be one of its leading features. day
by day.
Chicago Division Clear Cut.
There is no such wide division
as the SoS and Cubs of 1906 en-
countered with two distinct clans
worked up into a. high fever over
southside or westside success.
As the 10000 take their places
tomorrow afternoon, while Mays
Nehf and ToneY are warming up
no one can say how many of these
will be supporting the Giants Ol
pulling for the Yankees.
While both will have supporting
voices raised to lusty clamor. another
large section will be distinctly neutra
until 1t comes to the case of Ruth
Ruth lifting a home run over tn,
walls or Ruth striking out will brins
them the main thrill. but from thes,
neutrals, as well as all Yankee back
ers, you will hear ONLY shrill. plaintive
bird-like cries of distress when Clan
pitchers. deciding that discretion Is th,
better part Of bravado, start issuing in
territorial passes to the Sultan of Slug
Passing Ruth Unpopular.
Passing Ruth in a, pinch will bt
but 1t will not be a popular gesture
with so per cent of the multitude.
New York all through today made
Babel sound like a listening post in
| No Mans Land when it came to chat.
ter of picking a winner. We spent nc
small part of the day in long lines
leading TO both Giant and Yankee of
fees, and before the day was over we
began to wonder how London and
Paris ever got in on the series, for no
such masses of humanity ever came
from New York alone
In so far as the fans themselves were
concerned, few seemed to have any
definite hunch. The main idea seemed
to be a toss-Up, with the Yanks slight
ly favored in case Ruth felt in a pun,
melting mood.
There were others in those ticket
stalking lines who thought the Yanks
were banking too heavily on one man,
and this is no small talking point in
favor of the Giants.
If Ruth is polling 'em-great for the
Yanks. But suppose ne isn't?
Giant Machine Balanced.
Against this one outstanding star,
who bestrides the series as Herman
J. Colossus once bestrode a narrow
world, McGraw is sending a WELL
rounded. evenly balanced mach ne
into action that can suffer a lapse
or two and still present an organ
lied front
On form, the series should go to
eight games and; II 1t does, over
100000 people will have paid in over
100000 by way of breaking all past
records with a lot of people and 4
lot Of dollars left over Neithe,
club seems strong enough to win Ave
out of seven games since neither
club can command that much sur,
fire pitching. II the ser ,es oges tc
eight games, the admission recort
will stand until they begin expand.
| ing ball parks TO proper sizeA givinf
most of those Interested some out
side chance to pick up an eyefull.
On four successive occasions. nov
the Giants have skidded badly a
some spot along the world seriei
path. They were mp against stoute
l,stuff when they gave way befor,
| the Athletics but highly spotted pla,
wrecked their outlook against Re,
j