The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-10
GAMES STANDARDS
DECIDED OUTCOME
M'Kechnie Gets Most Credit
For Triumph; Wilson, Wer-
Der Share In Glory
BY JUDsON 1 L

NEW YROK, Oct. g. Up The
best thing that could have hap
pened to baseball was the victory
of the Cincinnati Reds in the World
Series. They made a National
league year" our of 1910 and re-
stored the great American game
to the competitive system. Even
the American leaguers admit pri-
vately that the old one-sidedness
was getting unhealthy.
1t was a victory for the time
tested standards of baseball-that
pitching is 70 per cent of the game
and that smartness is as good as
strength.
In retrospect the series vas SO
full of drama, joy and pathos that
it might well have been a piece OF
fiction.
To 20 back to the beginning, a
year ago at this time nobody had
the remotest thought that the Reds
and Tigers would win their pen
nants in 1910. The Tigers had just
finished fifth in the American
league and the Reds had been
wrecked by the all-conquerng
Yankees. The wise men said no
team ever recovered fir o m the
shock of being steam-rollered IN
four straight by the Yanks.
Yet out of this bottomless pit in
to which the National league had
fallen came a courageous combi-
nation from the smallest city in the
major leagues to overthrow the
superior beings" who inhabited
their rival territory.
The whole Cincinnati organiza-
ton is an efficient unit, but most OF
the credit, of course, goes to willy
Will McKechnie, who also guided
two National league All-Star COL
lections to triumphs over the
American league this year-first IN
Florida last March and again In
St. Louis in July.
He reorganized his Redlegs after
the rout last year and brought
them back again stronger and bet
ter than ever. He kept them roll
ing in spite of vicissitudes that
would have capsized a less cour-
ageous club-the death of Willard
Hershberger and injuries to Ernie
lombard and Lonnie Frey.
McKechnie inspired his men to
give more than they had. He
caused 40-year-old Jimmy Wilson
to shed ten years and ten pounds
and end his playing career in a
blaze of glory. For the final game
Wilson's right leg was tapped in
solid layers of adhesive so that it
felt like it was in a cast.
The veteran catcher said after
ward, II wouldn't have gone out
there and played for anybody in
baseball except Bill. You got your
last look at me in this series. The
old master is through"
Wilson caught six of the seven
games and worked as hard as a
rookie. And in the final desperate
struggle he had a perfect day at
bat with two singles and a sacrifice
and the only stolen base of the
series. His experienced handling
of the Cincinnati pitching corps
also unquestionably was a big fac
tor in its success.
Wilson was the unsung hero of
the series to the press box boys,
but there were others who will
stand out in everybody's memory
for a long time to come. Bill Wer-
Der was one He was the back
bone of the Reds attack as well
as the defense. He led all players
on both teams in hitting with a
$40 average. Red-headed Jimmy
Ripple was another. He clinched
Bucky Walters first victory with a
two-run homer and he helped win
the finale with a crucial double.
Besides his clutch hitting he was
the outstanding defensive %outfielder
Of the series.
Finally, of course, Walters and
big Paul Derringer d d exactly
what was expected of them by the
people who picked the Reds to win
the series. They each pitched two
magnificent victories.
The Tigers were equally heroic
in defeat and Buck Newsom was
Incompatible. He allowed an
earned run average of only 1873
in three games and came close to
achieving three victories and a
place in baseballs honor roll held
by only eight other pitchers.
The break of the game that beat
him yesterday came in the seventh
inning when shortstop Dick Bartell
took a throw from the outfield after
Ripple's double. He had plenty of
time to trap Frank McCormick's
belated bid for a run but for some
reason held onto the ball. l
CAMP Will RI RTIT.T