1919 World Series Replay: Game 1

By Mike Lynch

CINCINNATI-The heavily favored American League champion Chicago White Sox rallied for a hard-fought 5-4 extra-inning victory Wednesday in front of a hostile Cincinnati crowd, giving them a 1-0 lead in this best-of-nine series at Redland Park. The Pale Hose pushed across a run in the top of the ninth to knot the score at three, then added two more in the 11^th, before staving off a flurry by the upstart Reds that saw them score a run of their own before falling to defeat.

As the contest was about to begin, the Cincinnati faithful hurled insults at Chicago moundsman Eddie Cicotte while he completed his warm-up exercise. But he quickly silenced the boisterous throng, shutting down the local nine for the first four innings, before surrendering two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Singles by Reds right fielder Greasy Neale and catcher Ivey Wingo and a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Dutch Ruether put runners at second and third with two outs, before second baseman Morrie Rath brought them home in with a safety of his own.

Ruether couldn't hold the lead, however, as Chicago plated two in the top of the sixth to tie the score. Second Baseman Eddie Collins doubled, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Buck Weaver. Left fielder Joe Jackson then followed with a single, moved to second on a base on balls to center fielder Happy Felsch and scored on a single by first baseman Chick Gandil to make it a 2-2 contest.

It appeared as if the Reds had the opening tilt secured in the eighth, when Rath opened the bottom of the frame with a three-bagger against Cicotte. After a ground out that failed to score Rath and an intentional walk to third-sacker Heinie Groh, White Sox catcher Ray Schalk committed an uncharacteristic blunder, firing the ball into center field while attempting to throw out Groh on a steal attempt. Rath walked home with the go-ahead run to give the Reds a 3-2 lead. Cincinnati ran itself out of a possible big inning, however, when center fielder Edd Roush was caught stealing second after being intentionally walked. Left fielder Pat Duncan grounded out to end the inning, stranding Groh 90 feet from home.

As it turned out, Groh's tally would be crucial. Ruether more than acquitted himself against Cicotte, who had won 29 regular season contests, but Schalk was looking for atonement and he got it when he singled to left to lead off the top of the ninth. Chicago's backstop wasted no time erasing the memory of his costly error when he stole second base on the first pitch to pinch-hitter Nemo Liebold, who flied out to center field for the first out. Right fielder Shano Collins caught everyone off guard with a surprise bunt that advanced Schalk to third and found Collins safe at first with an infield single. The White Sox were within striking distance with runners at the corners and Eddie Collins, Weaver and Jackson coming up. Eddie Collins lashed a base hit to left-center to score Schalk and tie the game before reliever Dolph Luque was summoned to extinguish the fire, retiring Weaver and Jackson to end the inning.

Again, the Reds had a chance to put the powerful White Sox away, and again they let them off the hook after putting the first two men on base in the bottom of the ninth. Eddie Collins, Chicago's usually sure-handed second baseman booted shortstop Larry Kopf's grounder and reliever Roy Wilkinson walked Neale to put runners at first and second with no outs. Wilkinson coaxed Wingo to ground into a fielder's choice, advancing Kopf to third. Perhaps afraid to deplete his pitching staff in the first game of the series, Reds manager Pat Moran ordered Luque to sacrifice instead of pinch-hitting for him. Luque was successful and Cincinnati had runners at second and third, with two outs. Rath ended the threat by grounding out to Gandil at first, sending the contest into extra frames.

Neither team could muster a tally in the 10^th -despite putting runners on the basepaths-but the White Sox used safties by Collins, Weaver, Jackson and Gandil and a ground out by Felsch to score two in the 11^th. A two-out sacrifice fly by Wingo pulled the Reds to within one in their half of the inning, but reliever Grover Lowdermilk got out of the jam to record the victory.

The Reds will send southpaw Slim Sallee to the mound tomorrow against Chicago's Lefty Williams in Game 2.

Game 1

BATTING :

Doubles : E. Collins (1, 6th inning off Ruether, 0 on, 1 out.) C. Gandil (1, 2nd inning off Ruether, 0 on, 1 out.)

Runs Batted In : E. Collins (1), B. Weaver (1), J. Jackson (1), H. Felsch (1), C. Gandil (1)

Stolen Bases : E. Collins (1), R. Schalk (1)

Caught Stealing : S. Risberg (1)

Sacrifice Hits: B. Weaver (1)

Sacrifice Flies: B. Weaver (1)

FIELDING:

Errors: R. Schalk (1), E. Collins (1)

BATTING:

Doubles: P. Duncan (1, 6th inning off Cicotte, 0 on, 2 out.)

Triples: M. Rath (1, 8th inning off Cicotte, 0 on, 0 out.)

Runs Batted In: M. Rath 2  (2), I. Wingo (1)

Stolen Bases: H. Groh 2  (2)

Caught Stealing: J. Daubert (1), E. Roush (1)

Sacrifice Hits: D. Ruether (1), D. Luque (1)

Sacrifice Flies: I. Wingo (1)

FIELDING:

Errors: L. Kopf (1)

PITCHING:

Attendance: 30,511

Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune