Evening journal., 1911-10-18
Bakers Swat the Roughest
Blow in MdfheWson'S Career
as a Baseball Pitcher

IN the National League war, Math-
ewson and Marquard stood between
the Giants and defeat In the worlds
series they have stood as firmly until
Frank Bakers mighty war club swept
them both from the path. The score
was to 2 and Baker did it again.
John Franklin Baker, of Trappe, Nd
That's the name and that's the hon
ored village beneath today's white spot
light. For the first time in his career,
pitching as grandly as he ever pitch
ed, Christy Mathewson has gone down
in worlds s series defeat. His mates had
cracked behind him. Johnny Coombs
was pitching valiant ball and the hard
hitting Athletics were rushing and as
saulting Mathewson savagely. Under
this crimson fire the Giants premier
had held his team up to the ninNh in
ming, with to 0 lead. He had led
his team upon both attack and defense.
He was the great machine almost
alone and unaided. He had put his
great right arm between his people,
and they were satisfied and confident
Then with victory in sight, with his
fifth Philadelphia win since 1905 dang
ling at his eager finger tips and with
Franklin Baker threw his war club
into the argument and as the ball
sailed gracefully and swiftly, far and
deep into the right field crowd, the
story ended In Mathewson's twelve
campaigns of pitching this was the
toughest blow Of his pitching life.
There were two strikes called on
Baker when Matty broke one over
with a curve which broke shoulder
high For a brief second the gray ball
semed TO hang in mid-air, and then
Bing-good night
No two ball clubs ever fought a more
historic battle. In contrast to the first
two conflicts, the third duel fairly
reeked with Vhirls and climaxes and
hair raising episodes. Coombs pitched
with spectacular effort Coombs' sup
port was staunch He broke in but one
round-the third when Meyers sin
gled, Mathewson hammered the In
dian to third, and Devore's force-out
put the chief across. From this point
out, the Athletic iron man had the
Giants spell bound with an occasional
fiutter of wildness, until Herzoe
doubled in the eleventh and scored or
Collins tumble.
All this time the Athletics machine
was outplaying the Giants man fol
man, with the exception of Mathewson
Mack's men were stealing on Meyers
and Mack's infeld was out-playing th'
Giants, with both outfelds steady
but Mathewson still stood guard be
fore the door of Giant hope. He wat
pitching his fifth worlds series game
and a run had to be earned from his
wonderful pitching. With far lesi
Hr nd "a
hardly as sharp, the Giant magician
was still standing on its beam end on
of the hardest hitting ball clubs eve
gotten together in the history of base
ball. Try as they would. they could DO
break beneath his guard. His patei
were confident of victory, the vast au
dience was preparing to leave tn
park, and then, we repeat, came Bakol
Bakers wsllop not only inspired hi
[ pals with new hope, but 1t cracked th
( Giant machine into fragments. Math
ewson still pitched we'll, but his reel
ing support kicked away the tina
chance Three infeld misplays at IL
/ finish coupled with a brace of hit
/ which otherwise might not hav
I scored, gave the Philadelphians tw
p runs and a deadly sure lead
The Giants fought back Brilliant
when Herzog doubled TO ifft and 500
scored on Collins tumble but the rail
{ died quickly Even with Bakers fame
ii making swipe, had Mathewson's SUI
G port remained intact he might hay
!. had a chance to win. But there was th
tinge of the bush league playing afte
Baker came through and upset th
scenery.
J This sudden turn at the close, fc
II the first time gave the Athletics III
Jump. The odds for the first time no
belong their way. They have won onl
two games to one, but play today
home with Bender ready for anoths
start and Mathewson unavailable unf
Thursday when even then he wi
r., hardly be fresh and at his best. +
II looked tired and worn as he left Il
y box in the eleventh, crushed by Il
Z Sudden turn which had driven hi
y back Just as the crest was reached.
The Athletics looked to be a bett'
club Tuesday. Collins again tzzled