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More Memorable World Series Moments!
Heinie Zimmerman Chases Eddie Collins Across the Plate in the 1917 World Series!
“Who the hell was I supposed to throw to, Bill Klem?” –Famous quote attributed to Heine Zimmerman commenting on the play that made him the scape-goat of the 1917 World Series.
In the featured photo below, we see Heine Zimmerman as a member of the Cubs (1907-1916).
Yesterday marked the 99th anniversary of another controversial World Series play. It occurred in the fourth inning of the sixth and final game of the 1917 World Series (October 6-15, 1917) between the White Sox (100-54, .649), and John McGraw’s Giants (98-56, .636). The White Sox led in the Series after five games 3-2. Game Six, played at the Polo Grounds, featured a controversial rundown in which Giants’ third baseman Heinie Zimmerman engaged in a futile foot race with the speedy Hall-of-Famer Eddie Collins toward an unprotected home plate. Collins scored what turned out to be the Series-winning run.
With Collins on third and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson on first, Hap Felsch hit a bouncer back to the mound. Giants’ pitcher Rube Benton spun and threw to Zimmerman hoping to catch Collins off the bag. Catcher Bill Rariden had run up the third base line to start a rundown, expecting Benton or first baseman Walter Holke to cover the plate. But neither of them budged and the plate was left uncovered! This forced Zimmerman to chase the crafty Collins – one of the fastest players in the game – as he scurried toward the plate. Zimmerman was seen in hot pursuit, pawing the ball in the air, futilely attempting to tag him. The New York media blamed Zimmerman for losing the game, as he was added to the list of previous Giants’ World Series scapegoats: Fred Merkle and Fred Snodgrass. McGraw put the blame on Benton and Holke for failing to cover the plate.
After the Series, Zimmerman found himself having to publicly deny he purposely allowed Collins to score. Conventional wisdom has it that Collins was much faster than Zimmerman, but that wasn’t completely true. Zimmerman was also known for his speed with 175 career stolen bases. Existing photos show that Zimmerman was only a step or two behind Collins, who slid across the plate while Zimmerman jumped over him.
Zimmerman played 13 seasons in the majors (1907-1919) with the Cubs (1907-’16) and the Giants ((1916-’19). He hit .295 with 58 home runs, and 796 RBIs. His best year was 1912 when he led the National League in batting average (.372), hits (207), doubles (41), home runs (14), RBIs (104), slugging (.571), and total bases (318). He was a member of two World Series championships (1907-’08) with the Cubs. Zimmerman was eventually banned for life by Judge Landis due to various accusations of corruption.
Hall of Famers who appeared in the 1917 World Series: Umpires Bill Klem and Billy Evans; White Sox Eddie Collins, Red Faber, Ray Schalk; Giants John McGraw.
-Gary Livacari
Photo Credits: All from Google search; Heine Zimmerman colorization by Don Stokes: https://www.facebook.com/Don-Stokes-Old-Time-Baseball-Colorizations-923346241033508/?fref=ts
Information: Excerpts edited from the 1917 World Series Wikipedia page
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