Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31
OZARK HORSES" IN
THE WORLDS SERIES
Umpire Evans Writes Inter.
estingIy on the Surpris-
ing 'UnknoWns."
By Billy Evans.

by olAiy 6NaAo'
The dark horses, as u rule. have played
n prominent part in the outcome of the
worlds series since the inauguration OF
tile contests between the two rival major
leagues.
OF course such great ball players as
Evers, Cobb Wagner and n score OF 9TH
e:s have covered themselves with glory
in the annual meetings. bHt, strangely
enough. each year some player not tout
I'd 20 set the world on fire plays stellar
role in the thrilling base ball drama.
When New York and Philadelphia
clashed. back in 1905. Christy Ma;hewson
was the name most heard among the
base ball fans New Workers pinned their
hopes of victory in the former Bucknell
star, and the wonderful showing made by
the collegian in taking three straight
games from the Athletics is now matter
OF history.
Previous to the playing of that series in
which New York scored a signal triumph
little was heard in the ante-se les gossip
about Second BaSeman Billy Gilbert OF
the Giants. Every fan or critic knew Gill
bert was a grand fielder. and that he
would look after that part of the program
in the most approved style. but what
about his batting ability? 1t was the gei-
eral opinion that before the clever twirl-
ing of the Athletic pitchers, Gilbert would
be well nigh helpless. That little could
be expected of Gilbert at the bat was
the almost unanimous verdict
The awful jar that Billy Gilbert gave
the advance dope on his work at the
bat is still talked about by those for
tunate enough to be present at the series.
Ills hitting was one of the real features,
outside of the work of Mathewson. While
the star twirler of the Giants worked in
perfect style. his efforts would have prob
ably gone for naught had not Billy GU
ha he hot inc hnr az
series. All of his drives were of the time
Hest fashion, and proved big factor n
turning the tide i'll favor of McGraw's
team.
Thus, in the series of 1905 a player
not figured pn to do anything out OF
the ordinary proved to be the one big
sensation, and pressed hard the acknowl-
edged hero. Mathewson. for the leading
honors.
Game Little Robe.
when the Chicago Cubs and White
Sox met for the worlds honors in 1906
perhaps no player on either team was
given less consideration than George
Robe the unassuming white-haired chap
who played utility roles for the SoX.
Because of injuries to several of the
regulars II became evident few days
before the first game that 1t would be
necessary to place Robe at third base.
The announcement didn't set the Chicago
South Side fans wild with joy and only
made the Cub rooters all the firmer in
the belief that Chances players would
trim Comiskey'S team.
Base ball fans the country over Wen
remember what Robe did in that great
series of games Once with the bases
filled and the Sox in need of runs Rohe
hit the ball a mile minute over the
third sack. When the dust had cleared
away and the fans were sane enough to
give the matter some consideration, Rohe
was seen to be stationed at third. while
three breathless White Sox players were
resting on the bench, and receiving con-
Gratulations from their team mates.
Again in the series Robe was called upon
to deliver. the goods in a similar pinch,
and he again responded with a three
Dagger
At the opening Of the series the Cubs
were regarded topheavy favortes. In
discussing the relative merits of the
various players few II any gave Rohe
much consideration. and all were of the
opinion that with Steinfeld at third the
National League team would be far
stronger in that position. careful peru
sal OF the records of the two players was
all to Steinfeld's advantage, and on the
dope Robe didn't look as If he would
make a killing.
The White Sox won. and no player
figured more prominently in the four
needed victories of the American League
team than the much despised Robe.
True, the Chicago pitchers performed in
winning fashion, but no one element was
keys team than the batting of Robe.
When Detroit won the championship of
the American League in 1907, critics and
fans at once began to make a comparison
OF the opposing players on the two rival
teams. for the purpose. of getting a line
on the probable winner of the series.
When II came to a comparison OF Ross
man and Chance. few OF the wise ones
gave hard-h:tting Claude even a scant
look I'm. While Rossman had played ex-
cel,ent ball during the season in all de-
partments OF the game. still no one cared
TO place him III 4 class with Chance
Praise for Rossman.
While 1t is very possible that Rossman
will never equal the deeds of Chance as
the guardian OF the initial sack, yet there
is no getting away from the fact that he
was the biggest sensation of the first De-
troit-Chicago contests.
Always regarded as hard hitter. a
player liable to break up a game In
pinch, Rossman lived up to his reputa-
lion. In fact, he fairly Outdid him
self. While players who were touted to
play havoc with the Chicago pitchers
were falling In their efforts to get the
DalI safe. Rossman was recording bingles
with surprising regularity.
1t the close of the series the publishing
of the official averages showed that big
Claude was the leading slugger OF the
entire aggregation while his work in the
field would have been hard To improve
on. Detroit lost the series, but the bril-
liant showing OF Rossman was a choice
inorsel for the Tiger fans to cogtate.
While the work of Johnny Killing, the
brilliant catcher OF the Cubs. was the
feature OF the second clash between the
Tigers In 1905. still there were others of
less rcnown who did meritorious work.
Capt. Herman Schaefer played game
at second base that caused johnny Eyers
TO sit up and take all kinds of notice.
while the brilliant little Charley OLeary
iieided In such wonderful style that he
slAused even the most rabid Cub fan to
admit that Joe Tinker was not the only
shortstop In the world. The fact that
OLeary played throughout the series with
a broken finger that would have kent a
less game chap on the bench made his
performance all the more noteworthy.
In the recent series between the Detroit
Tigers and the Pittsburg Pirates In which
the latter team emerged from the fray
victorious. Pitcher Adams OF the Pirates
and Second Baseman Delehanty of the
Tigers were the loud noise.
The average Pittsburg fan didn't for a
minute think that Manager Fred Clarke
OF the Pirates would cali upon the young
ster Adams to do the brunt of the work
Oh the hurting line. While Adams was
regarded a most promising twirler
still u was generally believed that the
veterans like Wills. Camnitz and Phil
Iippi would be forced TO do most of the
work.
IL was big surprise when Adams was
selected the pitcher for the opening
aft he icfn