1927 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
KINGS IN A HOLE AFTER DROPPING PAIR AT HOME
The Brooklyn Kings old nemisis, 1-run games, came back to haunt them as the World Championship Series got underway. Brooklyn, which struggled in 1-run contests during the season going 16-21, dropped both games one and two of the series to the Philadelphia Keystones by that margin. They are certainly not out of it but what makes comeback chances even tougher for Brooklyn is both of those games were played at Kings County Park and now they must travel to Philadelphia needing to win two of three on Broad Street in order to prolong the series.
The series opener saw the potent Philadelphia offense get right to work, scoring twice in the top of the first inning although they were aided by a wild pitch from Brooklyn starter Cal Williams (21-10). Brooklyn battled back with single runs in the 4th,5th and 6th frames to go up 3-2 but Philadelphia retook the lead for good with 3 runs in the 7th inning, keyed by a 2-run double off the bat of Keystones shortstop Cliff Herman (.309,7,115). The Kings cut the gap to one in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a 1-out solo homerun from catcher Mickey Dowell (.306,8,87) and had the tying run on base following a 2-out single off the bat of rookie second sacker Willie Jackson (.271,8,47) but the game ended 2 pitches later when Rip Agee hit into a fielders choice to make the final 5-4 Keystones.
While most expected the series to be a slugfest between the top offensive clubs in each league, it was pitching that stole the show in Game Two. Brooklyn's talented 25 year old lefthander Leon Campbell (17-13) went the distance allowing just 4 Philadelphia hits but Philadelphia's Rube Frazier (14-17) was nearly as effective, surrendering only 7 hits to the Kings and pitching his way out of several jams. Scoreless thru five, it was Brooklyn's Campbell that blinked first, walking Lee Smith (.326,11,97) with one out and then, after getting Carl Ames (.338,12,97) to fly out, Campbell made a mistake on his first delivery to Federal Association triple crown winner Rankin Kellogg (.364,32,133). The 24 year old outfielder belted the ball 422 feet for a homerun that some in attendence felt went much further than that.
It put Philadelphia up 2-0 and even though Campbell aided his own cause by driving in Lou Garman (.320,7,67) with a run in the bottom of the 6th to make the score 2-1, it was clear on this day that Rube Frazier had the Kings number. The 2-1 victory meant Philadelphia was heading home with a 2-0 series lead. This was a game the Kings should have won, and normally would win but they failed to take advantage of 3 Philadelphia errors and several good scoring opportunities- none better than having the bases loaded with 1 out in the third inning while the game was still scoreless. Unfortunately they came away empty just as they did two innings later with runners on first and second and two out. In both cases Bud Rogers (.335,8,84) failed to deliver.
Despite outhitting the Keystones 18-13 in the two games and committing just 1 error to Philadelphia's 6, the Brooklyn Kings now find their backs against the wall. It is not a position they are unused to this season, having come back and received plenty of good luck in terms of the right teams winning to allow them to claim the Continental Association pennant. Now, it remains to be seen if that luck is still there or if it has run out on Brooklyn.
WHERE IS DOUG LIGHTBODY?
One big question on the minds of Brooklyn fans is what is going on with Doug Lightbody. The 23 year old Continental Association batting champ seemed almost invisible during the opening two games of the series. Lightbody had an average first game, going 1-for-4 in the series opener. He reached on an error in the first inning but failed to advance. In the third inning he followed up John Wilder's 2-out double with a single but didn't get the rbi as Wilder was erased at the plate for the third out. He delivered a sacrifice bunt to advance Wilder to second base in the fifth inning but Wilder would be stranded there as Mickey Dowell and Lou Garman each popped out. Lightbody grounded out to lead off the 7th inning and did the same for the final out of the 8th, stranding Wilder at third base.
He was hitless and looked tired in Game Two, grounding out to end the first inning, reaching on a error to lead the bases with one out in the third but Brooklyn failed to score a run as Bud Rogers hit into a force out at home and Mickey Dowell popped up to end the inning in what could have, and likely should have been the inning to turn around the game for the Kings. Bases loaded with 1 out only to come away empty.
Lightbody drew a walk to in the bottom of the fifth to put runners on first and second with 2 out but Bud Rogers flew out to end that rally as well. In his final at bat, Lightbody grounded out weakly to the pitcher in the 8th inning.
Lightbody is 1-for-7 in the series, the same as Philadelphia star Rankin Kellogg. The difference is, of course, Kellogg's hit was a big two-run homer to lift the Keystones to victory in Game Two. Neither young superstar looked dominant in their first World Championship Series appearances, but Kellogg came through when needed. Had Brooklyn won either of the two games we would not be making as big a deal about Lightbody, and it is a lot of pressure to put on a 23 year old with only a year and a half of professional experience under his belt, but if the Kings are to come back in the series it will be up to Lightbody to lead the way.