Evening star., 1925-10-16

OF Sportdom were compelled to relin
the honorS they earned in that mer
Fall
Pittsburgh, 9: Washington, {.
These were the figures recorded in
the contest that terminated the
valiant effort of Walter Perry John
son indelibly to carve his name along
side those of Babe Adams, Jack
Coombs, Christy Mathewson and Stan
Coveleskie as the only pitchers ever
To win three games in one set of
titular tits
Fame Is Untarnished.
This 3S-year-old veteran of 10
seasons of campaigning had his fame
tarnished not one whit by the fact
that he stands charged with the de-
feat that deprived the Nationals of
the most coveted crown in all COM
petitive endeavor and cost him and
each of his team mates a round
$4,000 that marks the difference be-
tween the individual winners and
losers share of the financial reward.
Essaying his third start in nine days,
after having limited the Pirates to a
single tally in the IS innings he per-
formed, to give the Nationals two
earlier triumphs, and with painful
totled as only a truly courageous
athlete can; and, despite handicaps
embracing the handling of a ball
rendered slippery by moisture which
descended practically throughout the
hours and 20 minutes of paStiming
had victory within his grasp, only to
see it snatched away by whim of
the goddess of fortune. whose frowns
wreaked havoc with the now finally
vanquished Griffmen on numerous
occasions since the Autumnal classic
got under way.
Peck Unwilling Agent.
Again it was Roger Peckinpaugh
unseen forces which guide the hands
and brains-of mere men. This
veteran performer. whose smart and
steady work for the past two years
caused him to be regarded as the
keystone of the greatest defensive
infteld in the game, and who but
a short time back officially was voted
the most valuable player to his club
in the American League, topped off
an unprecedentedly long list of mis-
plays with another which caused the
aspirations of his fellow players and
the hopes of their loyal followers
to be dashed to extinction.
Opposing Johnson at the outset of
a contest that few of the close to
$4,000 assembled in Forbes Field
thought could be finished, due to the
threat of rain. which had necessitated
a postponement the day before. was
Vic -Aldridge. With but two days of rest
since his second winning effort of Mon
day in the Capital, this pitcher proved
unequal to the task confronting him
and was compelled to retire before the
first inning ended, charged with four
runs after stormy period, in which
he issued a trio Of passes, made two
wild pitches and yielded safelies to
Rice and Bluege, two of the quartet
of tallies actually materializing after
he had given way to Morrison.
Despite the trio of tallies accruing
off johnson in the third, due to Texas
leaguerS by Morrison and Barnhart
a real single by Carey and double
by Moore, the assurance that Johnson
would prove the ultimate victor was
strengthened when the Nationals
added pair of markers to their total
In the fifth as Joe Harris doubled, to
score Rice and Goslin, on the runways
by virtue of singles.
Almost Redeemed Self.
This confidence was not shaken
and Cuyler gave the Pirates their
fourth run in round five, nor even
when Peckinpaughs error on Moore's
little fly, followed by Carey'S third
double, his fourth straight hit, and
Traynors triple, enabled the Corsairs
in the seventh to pull up to even
terms with the Griffmen.
1t seemed when Peck poled a homer
over the left field barrier in the
N.<r I.fl 4
made in the defensive armor of Ray
Kremer. who followed Aldridge and
Morrison on the slab for the Pirates,
beginning with the fifth inning. that
poetic justice was being meted out.
1t appeared that the goat" of the
series. already charged, in commit
ting seven errors, with one more field
ing slip than ever had been chalked
against any individual in a world
series, might assume heroic raiment.
But it was not to be. After John
son, in the fag end of the eighth
had disposed of Wright on a foul to
Judge. who caught the ball. despite a
missile aimed at him by rabid
rooter in the nearby stand. and had
caused McInnis to loft harmlessly, a
strong ebb tide of fortune turned
against Walter. Smith doubled and
Yde, who ran for him, scored with
the Pirates sixth run when Bigbee
who batted for Kremer, duplicated
the blow.
Used Faulty Judgment.
Stopping frequently to use hurried
" provided sawduSt to offset the
effects of the rain, which had been
falling practically throughout the
contest, Johnson pitched as carefully
as he could with a slippery ball to
Moore, only to have the latter receive
a pass. Then came the blow that
settled the issue. 1t was bounder
toward short by Carey. Peck fielded
it cleanly but. instead of throwing
10 Judge for retirement, he elected
to attempt force play at second.
Not only was Rogers judgment in
this effort faulty, Harris having no