Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-06
BASE BALL LIGHTS
DROP FROM NOTICE
Players Who Star in Worlds
Series Are Soon Forgotten
by the Fans.

by the Fans.
| The dark horses, as rule, have played
a prominent part in the outcome Of the
worlds series since the Inauguration of
| the contests between the two rival major
/ leagues.
| Of course. such ball players as Evers,
| Cobb, Wagner and a score of others have
covered themselves with glory in the an
nual meetings. but, strangely enough, each
year some player not touted to set the
! world on fire plays a stellar role in the
thrilling base ball drama.
When New York and Philadelphia
clashed back in 1905 Christy Mathewson
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 his
tory.
| Previous to the playing of that series,
| in which New York scored a signal tri
umph. little was heard in the ante-series
! gossip about Second Baseman Billy Gil
bert. cot the Giants. Every fan or critic
knew Gilbert 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 general opinion that before the clever
| twirling 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 fortunate
enough to be present at the series. His
hitting was one OF the real features, out
side 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 Gil
bert proved to be the hitting hero Of the
| series. All of his drives were OF the time
| liest fashion and proved big factor In
| turning the tide in favor OF McGraw's
| team.
Dark Horse Bobs Up.
Thus in the series of 1906 player not
| figured to do anything out Of the ordinary
proved to be the one big sensation, and
| pressed hard the acknowledged hero,
/ Mathewson. for the leading honors.
When the Chicago Cubs and White Sox
met for the worlds honors. in 1905, per-
haps 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 It became evident a few days be-
\ fore the first game that 1T would be nee
essary 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 we'll re-
member what Robe did in that great
series of games. Once. with the bases
| filled and the Sox in real need OF runs,
Robe hit the ball mile a minute over
| the third sack. When the dust had cleared
| away and the fans were sane enough TO
| give the matter some consideration Hone
| was seen to be stationed at third. While
| three breathless White Sox players were
| resting on the bench and receiving con-
| gratulations from their teammates. Again
| in the series Robe was called upon to de-
| liver the goods in a similar pinch, and ne
again responded with a three-bagger.'
At the opening of the series the Cubs
were regarded as topheavy favorites In
discussing the relative merits OF the va
rious players few. il any. gave Robe
much consideration and an We're , OF the the
| National League team would be FAR
| stronger at that position. careful Pc
rusal Of the records OF the two PLAYERS
was all to Steinfeldts advantage, and on
| the dope Rohe didn't look as II ne Wouio
make a killing.
Robe the heal hero.
i 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 win
ming fashion but no one element was a
| bigger factor In the victory OF COmis-
KEYS men 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 COMPARE
son of the opposing players on the two
| rival teams for the purpose of getting
| line on the probable winner Of the series
| When it came to comparison OF Ross
! man and Chance few of the wise ones
gave hard-hitting Rossman even scant
| look-in While RoSsman had played ex-
cellent ball during the season in all de-
partments of the game. still no one cared
| to place him In a class with Chance.
/ While Il 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 Chicago-Detroit contests.
/ Always regarded as hard hitter, a
/ PLAYER liable to break up a game in a
pinch. Rossman lived up to his reputa-
! ton. In fact, he fairly ontdid himself.
havoc with the Chicago pitchers were
| falling in their efforts 10 get the ball
| safe, Rossman was recording bingles with
| surprising regularity.
/ At the close Of the series the publishing
4 of the Official averages proved that big
Claude was the leading slngger Of the
entire aggregation, while his work In