1919 World Series Replay: Game 2

By Mike Lynch

CINCINNATI-It was just two years ago when Cincinnati pitcher Slim Sallee, then with the New York Giants,  was beaten twice in the 1917 World Series by this same Chicago White Sox team. Last night Sallee tasted sweet revenge, hurling nine brilliant innings in a 2-1, 12 inning victory-the second extra-inning game of the series-at Redland Park. The 35-year-old lefty walked away without a decision as his prize, but was magnificent in his performance, allowing only five safeties and one unearned run, before giving way to Dolph Luque, who was equally brilliant. Luque threw the final three innings, allowing only one hit, to earn the victory.

The assemblage of 29,690 was discernibly quieter than it had been the day before, but was appreciative of the efforts of both starting moundsmen. Chicago's Lefty Williams was up to the task as he tossed eight innings of four-hit ball of his own, allowing only one run, while walking two batsmen and fanning four. But, once again, nine innings would not be enough to determine a winner and both pitchers were forced to let their respective relief corps decide the outcome of the epic contest.

As they had in Game 1, the Reds struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of inning number two. Williams, who is known for his control, walked left fielder Pat Duncan to lead off the inning, then watched shortstop Larry Kopf's bid for the series' first circuit clout fall short at the wall in left-center field, nestling in Happy Felsch's glove for the first out. After a fielder's choice ground out off the bat of right fielder Greasy Neale, it appeared as if Williams might work his way out of the jam, but Neale pilfered second base and scored on catcher Bill Rariden's one-bagger to left.

Not to be outdone, the Chicago nine answered with a tally of their own in the top of the third, using a single by shortstop Swede Risberg, a sacrifice bunt, a ground out and a throwing error by Kopf to plate their lone run.

Williams seemed to be energized by his team's good luck and went to work on the National League champions. He didn't allow another hit until Rariden's seventh-inning safety avoided the leather of Chicago's fielders. Except for two miscues, one by third baseman Buck Weaver in the fourth and one by first baseman Chick Gandil in the sixth, the Windy City southpaw was perfect, retiring 14 of 16 batters at one point.

Meanwhile Sallee, unfazed by his misfortune in the third, refused to relent to his opponents. With the exception of catcher Ray Schalk's two-out triple in the fifth frame, Chicago couldn't threaten as the Cincinnati portsider set down batter after batter, retiring 15 of the last 18 he faced heading into the top of the ninth.

Suddenly, memories of 1917 came flooding back, when Weaver swatted one down the right field line to lead off the ninth. White Sox skipper Kid Gleason took a gamble when he sent Weaver to second on a steal attempt. The fleet-footed third-sacker made it safely and the Pale Hose had the go-ahead run in scoring position, but Pat Moran wisely countered Gleason's move by intentionally walking slugger Joe Jackson. With runners on first and second and none out, it looked like Sallee had expended his fuel, but Moran stayed with his hurler and it paid off, despite one last scare.

Felsch failed in his attempt to move the runners up, then flied out weekly to center field, but Gandil leaned into one and sent the horsehide toward the wall in left. It looked as if the White Sox would break 29,000 hearts with another come-from-behind victory, but Duncan hauled down Gandil's blast at the wall to the delight of Reds fans everywhere. Sallee finished off the uprising by coaxing Risberg to fly out to end the inning.

Sensing that they had dodged a bullet, the Reds came out strong in the bottom half of the stanza as Duncan led off with a scorching two-bagger down the right field line, chasing Williams from the game. Roy Wilkinson issued an intentional pass to Kopf before recording the first out of the inning on Neale's fielder's choice ground out. With runners on the corners, Neale took a giant risk and sped off for second, beating the throw from Schalk to put runners on second and third. Wilkinson pitched carefully to pinch-hitter Sherry Magee and walked him to load the bases, but he got second baseman Morrie Rath to fly out to Collins in right to end the threat, setting up another thrilling finish.

Luque and White Sox pitcher Bill James traded goose eggs for the next two innings, then Luque set the White Sox down in order in the 12^th. Now it was the Reds' turn. Gandil, who had already committed one error and nearly redeemed himself with a long blast to left, committed his second error of the game on a grounder by first sacker Jake Daubert. Third baseman Heinie Groh moved Daubert to second with a safety to center and center fielder Edd Roush walked to load the bags with nobody out. The crowd was nearly delirious by the time Duncan stepped to the dish and he didn't disappoint, smacking a line shot single to left- his fifth hit of the series-and Daubert jogged home with the winning run, tying the series at one game apiece.

The teams will move to Chicago's Comiskey Park for tomorrow night's tilt. The hometown White Sox will send 26-year-old rookie Dickie Kerr to the hill to face veteran hurler Ray Fisher. Kerr finished the regular season with a 13-7 record and a 2.88 ERA, while Fisher fashioned a 14-5 record and posted a 2.17 ERA.

Game 2

10/2/1919:

Chicago (A) at Cincinnati

BATTING:

Triples: R. Schalk (1, 5th inning off Sallee, 0 on, 2 out.)

Runs Batted In: S. Collins (1)

Stolen Bases: B. Weaver (1), S. Risberg (1)

Sacrifice Hits: S. Collins (1), L. Williams (1)

FIELDING:

Errors: C. Gandil 2  (2), B. Weaver 2  (2)

BATTING:

Doubles: M. Rath (1, 8th inning off Williams, 0 on, 0 out.) P. Duncan (1, 9th inning off Williams, 0 on, 0 out.)

Runs Batted In: P. Duncan (1), B. Rariden (1)

Stolen Bases: G. Neale 2  (2)

FIELDING:

Errors: L. Kopf (1)

PITCHING:

Attendance: 29,690

Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune