"Played against the Chicago White Sox in the 1917 and 1919 World Series."
Well, you'd have to have been on the New York Giants in '17 and the Cincinnati Reds two years later for that to happen. And that happened to two guys who new each other very well. Catcher Bill Rariden and pitcher Slim Sallee. Quite the battery.
Sallee was essentially a starter in 1917, yet lead the National League in saves with four. Rariden hit .271 that year. But the Giants seemed like the underdogs.
Nonetheless, they gave Chicago all they could handle. The Giants no longer had Christy Mathewson, but were ready to play at Comiskey Park in the first contest. Sallee dueled Eddie Cicotte to a standstill in that game. Rariden did no catch as it was Lew McCarty behind the dish for the Giants. Each team finished with seven hits, but it was Chicago taking it 2-1. Sallee drove in the only New York tally.
The 1917 Fall Classic was tied at two games each by the time Sallee took the hill again. Again, at Comiskey. Rariden, however, was catching. He had quite a game: 3-3, an RBI and an intentional walk!
Sallee, however, failed to come through this time around. The White Sox got to him and got 13 hits and 7 earned runs off him in only 7 1/3 innings.
Back in New York for game six, it was Chicago winning again, 4-2. That gave them the world crown for 1917.
But Sallee and Rariden were back two years later. And this time, their team won the opener. The Cincinnati Reds turned the ball over to Sallee in game two, hoping to heat to Chicago up 2-0.
Sallee was 21-7 in 1919, compared to 18-7 in 1917. Was he a better pitcher? Well, Chicago had many hits in the contest. Cincy didn't help their own cause much by committing three errors in the game.
But the White Sox blew several chances to really get to Sallee. In the top of the first, Chicago had one on with only one out. Buck Weaver lined into an inning-ending double play. Then, in the second, things looked dim. Joe Jackson got it all started with a double. Soon, he was on third with just one out. Sallee got Chick Gandil and Swede Risberg out to get out of that jam. But Chicago kept coming at him. It was just a matter of time.
In the top of the fourth, Weaver and Jackson were the first two hitters and they both singled. Happy Felsch sacrificed them into scoring position. But a fielder's choice at home erased Weaver for the second out. Gandil, who hit into it, stole second. Again two men in scoring position. The White Sox did not get either Jackson or Gandil home.
And Cincinnati made 'em pay by scoring three times in the bottom of the fourth to give Sallee something to work with. But the way he was pitching, could he make it stand?
Slim sure got it together in the top of the fifth, getting the Sox, 1-2-3. And...
...Well, his battery mate Rariden started the bottom of the fifth with a single, as the Reds looked for more. Sallee, who batted next, flied out to Felsch in centre. Swede Risberg then failed to catch Morrie Rath's pop up close to where Sallee spent a lot of time, the mound. The Reds, despite all this, failed to add to their lead. How about the Sox? They had another chance in the top of the sixth.
Weaver doubled with one out, but then Jackson struck out. But then Sallee watched as Weaver made it to third as he balked pitching to Felsch. Happy gave it quite a ride to centre, and it looked liked Chicago had their first run, at last!
But wait...One centre fielder was about to rob another.
Edd Roush went back...And made a great catch.
And it was one-handed! Whew!
Better, still, the Reds were not done. They scored their fourth run in the bottom of the frame as Roush drew a walk off Lefty Williams. Lefty was working on a three-hitter through five innings, but Cincinnati found a way. A bunt and a single scored Roush to make it 4-0. That was plenty for Sallee.
However, Chicago wasn't about to go away quietly. Would you believe it, Risberg singled with one out and was about to score thanks to some incompetence on the Reds part? Ray Schalk batted. He only singled, but Cincinnati made two errors on the play. Not only did Risberg score, as mentioned, but so did Schalk. The lead was cut in half! This all happened in the top of the seventh. There was still plenty of ball to go in Redland Field (Later, Crosley Field).
Williams got 'em 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame. The White Sox would have two more cracks at Sallee. He got two quick outs to start the eighth. But then, Shoeless Joe got his third hit of the game. Worse, Jackson made it second on another Reds' error. Tying run at the dish. Felsch lined to third.
Another 1-2-3 inning by Williams in the bottom of the eighth. The Reds were still only three outs away from wrapping this out, but the White Sox started the ninth strong. Chick Gandil singled to lead it off. Risberg grounded into a double play, however. Ray Schalk then got the White Sox's tenth hit with a single. Fred McMullin batted for Williams. Sallee got him to ground out to second to end the game, with the Reds on top 4-2.
After six games, it was the Reds up four games to two. But this was a best-of-nine affair in 1919, so Cincinnati still needed another win. Sallee started the sixth game at home. I think he had good reason to wrap it up as the Reds didn't want to go back to the Windy City for games eight, and possibly game nine.
It just wasn't Slim's day, alas.
Eddie Cicotte was his mound opponent, and Cincinnati was 2-0 against him so far in this Fall Classic, having routed him from the mound in game one (9-1 was the final score). Chicago had scored a grand total of one run for Eddie in his two starts. But here, Eddie had his stuff.
Shano Collins greeted Sallee on the hill in the top of the first inning. He singled. Eddie Collins sacrificed him to second, Sallee himself fielding it. Buck Weaver flew out to centre, and Collins did not advance. But Joe Jackson's single scored him. The Reds them looked like they were out of the inning as Jackson was caught between first and second. But Jake Daubert, the first basemen, dropped the ball. Happy Felsch then bunted down the third base line, and made it to first safely. Chick Gandil ended the inning by hitting into a force at second. So only one run had scored, but this was not a good omen.
Two innings later, both Collins' were aboard via singled. Weaver hit a liner that was caught and Eddie Collins was a dead duck at first. Jackson singled home Shano Collins again, however. It was 2-0 Chicago after three.
The Reds had gotten a man on in the bottom of the first via an error from Collins (Eddie). In the second, they scratched out a single. Billy Rariden was not playing. But his replacement behind the dish, Ivey Wingo (Who ended the 1919 Fall Classic by leading both teams in hitting with a .571 batting average) singled in the bottom of the third. The next three batters were retired as the Reds failed to score despite getting the leadoff man to first in two of the first three innings. In the fourth, Eddie Cicotte retired the side in order.
It all came apart for Sallee and the Reds in the top of the fifth. The inning started with the Collins . Shano was retired, Eddie singled. Weaver hit a grounder. Would the inning be over? The Reds didn't even get an out as third basemen Larry Koft committed an error at a terrible time. The man playing second base, Morrie Rath, then failed on Joe Jackson's grounder. The bases were loaded and there was only one out.
Happy Felsch singled to score Collins, and then Weaver. That made it 4-0 for the White Sox. Sallee was through for the day as his manager sent him to early shower. Ray Fisher and Dolph Luque came in and pitched amazing for the National League champions. Fisher pitched 2/3 of an inning and got a strikeout. Luque allowed just one hit (Although the Reds' made their fourth error of the game behind him) and fanned five in four innings. Chicago did not touch home again. By comparison, Sallee had lasted just 4 2/3, given up four runs, nine hits and failed to record a single strikeout.
Cincinnati, by the way, finally got a run in the bottom of the sixth. A double by Heinie Groth and a single by Pat Duncan plated the tally that broke up Cicotte's shutout bid. Eddie, however, settled down. While the Reds got the tying run to the plate the next inning, Cicotte stranded both base runners.
No one could say, however, that Cincinnati didn't try their best to win it. The same couldn't be said of Chicago in all games in the 1919 World Series. However, the White Sox were giving it their all in game six. The Reds, however, were at home and still with some confidence. They gave it a mighty try in the ninth. Even with two outs.
Cicotte was one out away from a fine five-hitter. But Ivey Wingo, who'd walked three times, singled. I guess not playing Bill Rariden was a good idea. Then, Sherry Magee batted for Dolph Luque and followed suite. Back to the top of the order.
Morrie Rath represented the tying run. However, Cicotte got him to fly out to Felsch in right-centre. Chicago had a 4-1 win. The Series was now a nail-biter. Sallee had lost the game, but had finished the 1919 World Series with a fine 1.35 ERA. Among anyone with nine or more innings pitched in the '19 Fall Classic, only Jimmy Ring's was better.
The Cincinnati Reds were discouraged but not defeated. They went to Chicago and came out on top in a slugfest in game eight, 10-5. Rariden was back and had two hits and two RBIs. But neither he nor Sallee were to ever return to the World Series. The Reds would have to wait until 1940 to make it back and Chicago needed another 40 years for a Fall Classic return.
But Rariden and Sallee faced the best (And at times) worse versions of the Chicago White Sox in a World Series.
References
Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.
Retrosheet. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <www.retrosheet.org>
Well, you'd have to have been on the New York Giants in '17 and the Cincinnati Reds two years later for that to happen. And that happened to two guys who new each other very well. Catcher Bill Rariden and pitcher Slim Sallee. Quite the battery.
Sallee was essentially a starter in 1917, yet lead the National League in saves with four. Rariden hit .271 that year. But the Giants seemed like the underdogs.
Nonetheless, they gave Chicago all they could handle. The Giants no longer had Christy Mathewson, but were ready to play at Comiskey Park in the first contest. Sallee dueled Eddie Cicotte to a standstill in that game. Rariden did no catch as it was Lew McCarty behind the dish for the Giants. Each team finished with seven hits, but it was Chicago taking it 2-1. Sallee drove in the only New York tally.
The 1917 Fall Classic was tied at two games each by the time Sallee took the hill again. Again, at Comiskey. Rariden, however, was catching. He had quite a game: 3-3, an RBI and an intentional walk!
Sallee, however, failed to come through this time around. The White Sox got to him and got 13 hits and 7 earned runs off him in only 7 1/3 innings.
Back in New York for game six, it was Chicago winning again, 4-2. That gave them the world crown for 1917.
But Sallee and Rariden were back two years later. And this time, their team won the opener. The Cincinnati Reds turned the ball over to Sallee in game two, hoping to heat to Chicago up 2-0.
Sallee was 21-7 in 1919, compared to 18-7 in 1917. Was he a better pitcher? Well, Chicago had many hits in the contest. Cincy didn't help their own cause much by committing three errors in the game.
But the White Sox blew several chances to really get to Sallee. In the top of the first, Chicago had one on with only one out. Buck Weaver lined into an inning-ending double play. Then, in the second, things looked dim. Joe Jackson got it all started with a double. Soon, he was on third with just one out. Sallee got Chick Gandil and Swede Risberg out to get out of that jam. But Chicago kept coming at him. It was just a matter of time.
In the top of the fourth, Weaver and Jackson were the first two hitters and they both singled. Happy Felsch sacrificed them into scoring position. But a fielder's choice at home erased Weaver for the second out. Gandil, who hit into it, stole second. Again two men in scoring position. The White Sox did not get either Jackson or Gandil home.
And Cincinnati made 'em pay by scoring three times in the bottom of the fourth to give Sallee something to work with. But the way he was pitching, could he make it stand?
Slim sure got it together in the top of the fifth, getting the Sox, 1-2-3. And...
...Well, his battery mate Rariden started the bottom of the fifth with a single, as the Reds looked for more. Sallee, who batted next, flied out to Felsch in centre. Swede Risberg then failed to catch Morrie Rath's pop up close to where Sallee spent a lot of time, the mound. The Reds, despite all this, failed to add to their lead. How about the Sox? They had another chance in the top of the sixth.
Weaver doubled with one out, but then Jackson struck out. But then Sallee watched as Weaver made it to third as he balked pitching to Felsch. Happy gave it quite a ride to centre, and it looked liked Chicago had their first run, at last!
But wait...One centre fielder was about to rob another.
Edd Roush went back...And made a great catch.
And it was one-handed! Whew!
Better, still, the Reds were not done. They scored their fourth run in the bottom of the frame as Roush drew a walk off Lefty Williams. Lefty was working on a three-hitter through five innings, but Cincinnati found a way. A bunt and a single scored Roush to make it 4-0. That was plenty for Sallee.
However, Chicago wasn't about to go away quietly. Would you believe it, Risberg singled with one out and was about to score thanks to some incompetence on the Reds part? Ray Schalk batted. He only singled, but Cincinnati made two errors on the play. Not only did Risberg score, as mentioned, but so did Schalk. The lead was cut in half! This all happened in the top of the seventh. There was still plenty of ball to go in Redland Field (Later, Crosley Field).
Williams got 'em 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame. The White Sox would have two more cracks at Sallee. He got two quick outs to start the eighth. But then, Shoeless Joe got his third hit of the game. Worse, Jackson made it second on another Reds' error. Tying run at the dish. Felsch lined to third.
Another 1-2-3 inning by Williams in the bottom of the eighth. The Reds were still only three outs away from wrapping this out, but the White Sox started the ninth strong. Chick Gandil singled to lead it off. Risberg grounded into a double play, however. Ray Schalk then got the White Sox's tenth hit with a single. Fred McMullin batted for Williams. Sallee got him to ground out to second to end the game, with the Reds on top 4-2.
After six games, it was the Reds up four games to two. But this was a best-of-nine affair in 1919, so Cincinnati still needed another win. Sallee started the sixth game at home. I think he had good reason to wrap it up as the Reds didn't want to go back to the Windy City for games eight, and possibly game nine.
It just wasn't Slim's day, alas.
Eddie Cicotte was his mound opponent, and Cincinnati was 2-0 against him so far in this Fall Classic, having routed him from the mound in game one (9-1 was the final score). Chicago had scored a grand total of one run for Eddie in his two starts. But here, Eddie had his stuff.
Shano Collins greeted Sallee on the hill in the top of the first inning. He singled. Eddie Collins sacrificed him to second, Sallee himself fielding it. Buck Weaver flew out to centre, and Collins did not advance. But Joe Jackson's single scored him. The Reds them looked like they were out of the inning as Jackson was caught between first and second. But Jake Daubert, the first basemen, dropped the ball. Happy Felsch then bunted down the third base line, and made it to first safely. Chick Gandil ended the inning by hitting into a force at second. So only one run had scored, but this was not a good omen.
Two innings later, both Collins' were aboard via singled. Weaver hit a liner that was caught and Eddie Collins was a dead duck at first. Jackson singled home Shano Collins again, however. It was 2-0 Chicago after three.
The Reds had gotten a man on in the bottom of the first via an error from Collins (Eddie). In the second, they scratched out a single. Billy Rariden was not playing. But his replacement behind the dish, Ivey Wingo (Who ended the 1919 Fall Classic by leading both teams in hitting with a .571 batting average) singled in the bottom of the third. The next three batters were retired as the Reds failed to score despite getting the leadoff man to first in two of the first three innings. In the fourth, Eddie Cicotte retired the side in order.
It all came apart for Sallee and the Reds in the top of the fifth. The inning started with the Collins . Shano was retired, Eddie singled. Weaver hit a grounder. Would the inning be over? The Reds didn't even get an out as third basemen Larry Koft committed an error at a terrible time. The man playing second base, Morrie Rath, then failed on Joe Jackson's grounder. The bases were loaded and there was only one out.
Happy Felsch singled to score Collins, and then Weaver. That made it 4-0 for the White Sox. Sallee was through for the day as his manager sent him to early shower. Ray Fisher and Dolph Luque came in and pitched amazing for the National League champions. Fisher pitched 2/3 of an inning and got a strikeout. Luque allowed just one hit (Although the Reds' made their fourth error of the game behind him) and fanned five in four innings. Chicago did not touch home again. By comparison, Sallee had lasted just 4 2/3, given up four runs, nine hits and failed to record a single strikeout.
Cincinnati, by the way, finally got a run in the bottom of the sixth. A double by Heinie Groth and a single by Pat Duncan plated the tally that broke up Cicotte's shutout bid. Eddie, however, settled down. While the Reds got the tying run to the plate the next inning, Cicotte stranded both base runners.
No one could say, however, that Cincinnati didn't try their best to win it. The same couldn't be said of Chicago in all games in the 1919 World Series. However, the White Sox were giving it their all in game six. The Reds, however, were at home and still with some confidence. They gave it a mighty try in the ninth. Even with two outs.
Cicotte was one out away from a fine five-hitter. But Ivey Wingo, who'd walked three times, singled. I guess not playing Bill Rariden was a good idea. Then, Sherry Magee batted for Dolph Luque and followed suite. Back to the top of the order.
Morrie Rath represented the tying run. However, Cicotte got him to fly out to Felsch in right-centre. Chicago had a 4-1 win. The Series was now a nail-biter. Sallee had lost the game, but had finished the 1919 World Series with a fine 1.35 ERA. Among anyone with nine or more innings pitched in the '19 Fall Classic, only Jimmy Ring's was better.
The Cincinnati Reds were discouraged but not defeated. They went to Chicago and came out on top in a slugfest in game eight, 10-5. Rariden was back and had two hits and two RBIs. But neither he nor Sallee were to ever return to the World Series. The Reds would have to wait until 1940 to make it back and Chicago needed another 40 years for a Fall Classic return.
But Rariden and Sallee faced the best (And at times) worse versions of the Chicago White Sox in a World Series.
References
Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.
Retrosheet. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <www.retrosheet.org>
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