1919 World Series Replay: Game 4

By Mike Lynch

CHICAGO-A crowd numbering 34,363 came out to Comiskey Park on Sunday, fully expecting to watch their ace pitcher, Eddie Cicotte, make short work of the visiting Cincinnati Reds. But it was Reds hurler Jimmy Ring who treated the enemy throng to a masterpiece. Ring, the victor in only 10 regular season contests, scattered five hits, allowing only three White Sox runners to reach second base, in a 5-0 victory that puts the Chicagoans in a 3-games-to-1 hole heading into Game 5.

Just as they had in each of the previous three contests, the Reds jumped out to an early lead, touching Cicotte for two first-inning runs. After walking leadoff man Morrie Rath, it appeared as if the 29-game winner would work his way out of peril, when he fanned first baseman Jake Daubert and third baseman Heinie Groh. But center fielder Edd Roush earned a free pass to put runners at first and second, before left fielder Pat Duncan slapped a single to the gap in left center, plating Rath. Chicago center fielder Happy Felsch tried to cut the runner down at the plate, but his effort went for naught and Roush and Duncan were able to move up an extra base on the throw. Shortstop Larry Kopf delivered the second Cincinnati run when he shot the horsehide cleanly to right field, scoring Roush. Cicotte escaped without further damage, but the tone for this contest was set.

The White Sox wasted a leadoff safety off the bat of Nemo Leibold, with the numbers two, three and four hitters going down in order in the bottom of the first, then braced themselves, as Cicotte allowed a double to the Reds' first batter, catcher Ivey Wingo. Ring followed with a walk, but was erased at second base, when Rath bounced one back to Cicotte, who whirled and threw to Collins, who, in turn, fired a strike to Gandil for the double play. Once again, the local hurler looked as if he would slip out of trouble. But Daubert smoked a liner to left that fell in for a hit and the Reds were on the board once again.

The next three innings came and went without incident as Cicotte finally settled down, while Ring continued his mastery of the Chicago nine. Except for a single in the third by the White Sox pitcher and a double in the fourth by Felsch, Ring was perfect, retiring 15 of the first 17 batters.

Then Chicago played Jekyl and Hyde in the sixth. Duncan led off with a screaming double that went to the wall in left center, but was quickly cut down at the plate by a brilliant throw from Felsch, when Kopf lined Cicotte's next pitch for a single. The crowd, perhaps sensing a change in momentum, leapt to its feet in unison and gave Felsch a much deserved round of applause. But the applause would quickly die when second baseman Eddie Collins threw wildly to first on a routine grounder by right fielder Greasy Neale.

Kopf, who had advanced to second on Felsch's grand heave, was now on third and Neale was safe at first with only one out. As if Collins' miscue was not enough to catch the White Sox faithful by surprise, catcher Ray Schalk misplayed his batterymate's next pitch, allowing it to roll all the way to the backstop, and Kopf scampered home with Cincinnati's fourth run. Cicotte stranded Neale at third by retiring Wingo and Ring in order, but it was clear the hometown team was not playing up to its abilities.

The American League's best tried to manufacture a run in its half of the sixth, when Leibold walked and was replaced by Eddie Collins at first on a fielder's choice ground out. Collins was able to secure second base with a successful steal, but died there when neither third baseman Buck Weaver nor left fielder Joe Jackson could muster any offense. 

The Reds added one more tally in the seventh on back-to-back one-baggers by Rath and Daubert and a ground out by Groh, then helped Ring shut down the White Sox the rest of the way as he allowed single runners in the seventh, eighth and ninth, but no runs.

Lefty Williams, who was brilliant in Chicago's Game 2 loss, will take the hill tomorrow in Game 5 against Hod Eller. Eller went 19-9 with a 2.39 ERA and led the Reds with 248 innings pitched, 137 strikeouts and seven shutouts.

Game 4

10/4/1919:

Cincinnati at Chicago (A)

BATTING:

Doubles: P. Duncan (1, 6th inning off Cicotte, 0 on, 0 out.) G. Neale (1, 8th inning off Cicotte, 0 on, 2 out.) I. Wingo (1, 2nd inning off Cicotte, 0 on, 0 out.)

Runs Batted In: J. Daubert (1), H. Groh (1), P. Duncan (1), L. Kopf (1)

Caught Stealing: Groh (1)

BATTING:

Doubles: H. Felsch (1, 4th inning off Ring, 0 on, 2 out.)

Stolen Bases: E. Collins (2), H. Felsch (1)

FIELDING:

Errors: E. Collins (1)

PITCHING:

Attendance: 34,363

Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune