Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-12
Mack's Great Catcher Achieved Greatest
Honors by Stopping Base Run
ming of Cubs and Giants.

I in the worlds series OF the past two
years. In those two series many Things
went toward Athletic victories, but there
were two men who stood out prominently,
head and shoulder above the rest, as the
master workinen of the series. Those
men we're Ira Thomas and Frank Baker.
Strange as it may seem. it was upon
these two players that the Cubs IL. 1910
and the Giants in 1911 massed their first
attacks. They were the only men on the
Athletic team who were looked upon as
uncertain quantities when under fire. yet
they had played series after series
through the seasons and Connie Mack
and the fans seemed satisfied.
Never Received Credit.
Just what the reason Is that the fans
and critics have never given these men
the credit that belongs to them is not
known Neither has ever committed
"bonehead" play that was remembered
over night Yet they played through their
seasons steadily and consistently, each
doing his share OF the work and perform
ing his duties ably and to the satisfaction
of his manager. Despite this they were
picked as the goats" Of the Athletics
Just prior to the worlds series in 1910 and
1911.
When It was certain tue Cubs would
meet the Athletics in the worlds series
Of 1910 the first reason set forth by critics
for favoring the National Leaguers was
that Ira Thomas could not stop the Cubs
base running. and that Frank Baker
would blow up in his fielding The re-
suit Of this kind of talk was that the first
Chicagoan to get on base tried to steal.
and Thomas throw was so fast and true
that the runner found Eddie Collins wait
ing with the ball for him when he slid
into second base. This was not done once,
but a dozen times during the series. Yet
after the series was over and Thomas had
effectively checked the Cubs on the bases
he was not even given credit, and critics
said it was flash in the pan.
In that same series there was enacted
a little comedy that If it had worked out
as the Cubs planned would have been a
tragedy for the then youthful Frank Ba
kerr now Home Run" Baker. Just as
Thomas had been the victim OF biased
critics who deplored his catching. SO was
Baker the weak leg in the Mack inf1eld.
The Cubs planned to make Baker quit.
They tried to hit the ball to him, past
him and through him. and the plucky
youngster made them change their style,
for he gathered in everything that came
his way. He came in on hunts and with
wonderful throws caught runners at first
He leaped and pulled down terrific line
drives and scooped up grounder balls that
fairly SiZZled over the diamond without a
falter He knew what the Cubs We're do
ing and he knew that the whole base ball
world was watching him for sign of
weakness. but his pluck and courage and
Inherent ability beat the Cubs at their
own game.
Thomas Stops Giants.
Then came the worlds series OF 1911
Thomas was again the star catcher of
the Athletics and Baker the star third
basenlan and wonderful batsman. The
Giants were stronger and faster than
the Cubs on the bases and had practical
ly won the pennant by stealing bases,
IL, n II TIao
can't stop the Giants base running.
But Thomas did stop them. In fact, he
was so accurate and steady in his throw
ing that McGraw was forced to give
up the style of play with which he won
the National League pennant and with
which he expected to repeat his victory
over the Athletics in 1905
Not only was Thomas the mainstay of