Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-12
Third Baseman, Nov Crowned Home
Run King" Fielded and Batted
His Way to Fame.

brilliant, who we're the real heroes OF
the 1910 and 1871 word series AMI
VINO today are no. given credit for
hciag The great ball players their rec
DDS prove them 10 be
Ira Thomas came TO the Athletics
aver stormy career in the minors
ana majors. tic ~as born In Ballston
Spa. Y. January - 1881. aud
80 there. playing amateur ball N
us boyhood. untu he was eighteen.
when his family moved TO Collinsv.lle.
Cora Thee lie played amateur base
h:iI :n.h discovered b. Hartford
brother then <amols as . pitcher, hut
/ who la:er in1arsd his sral. and these
two ware known as the Thomas
battery Wis brother was signed by
| whore he p.ayed during the fall OF
1902.
IN tho spr'Eg OF 1909 he was sold 10
the Newark Eastern League Club and
he finished the SEASON but disagreed
with the club on n. salary question
Ira was holcort in he spring or
AGA and Pat Powers. president of tie
league, persuaded President Burnha,a
Of the Newark club 10 serd Ira -
Providence Powers then owned stock
in the Providence club Thomas va
sent to Providence. where the salar,
was made satisfactory, end lie played
| there i'll 1904 under Tom Caiy and
caught the 1905 Providence team.
/ managed by Jack Qninn- into the pen
/ nant.
Thomas reputation vas made, and +
New York Americans bought him in
4 l:'a1 and he reported in July but in
Jured hss arm in August. He reported
! In 1905. but again his arm was in poor
shape. and he did not catch until late
! in June. 1t was the same thing in 1907.
and lie was sold to Detroit In tre
spring of 1905. His arm improved, but
still bothered him. but despite this h.
hit over 300 and was catching like :.
! veteran. lie diSa greed with Jennings
and after the worlds series in 1905 H.
was sold to the Athletics. 10 whom he
reported in 1909. His arm began to
yield to treatment and is today I'm the
| best shape OF his career Thomas is a
physical giant. standing six feet two
inches high and Weighing zoo pounds
His present home is on Lehigh avenue
west OF I'D street.
Baker was born in Trappe Md. where
he still makes his home March Is. iss6.
He first entered the lime,ight Of base
bali in 1906 with the amateur team Of
Risley, Nd. In 1907 and. 1905 he pla yed
with the Cambridge tMd.) club. acvei
Herzog and ST. Nichols. In 1905 Ia.
was secured by Manager Wsitzel 10
the Reading Tri-State Club. He wa
only one year in Tri-State societ,
where he was the sensation because ~
his wonderful fieldin~ and hard hlttiuc
In the fall OF that year his release Wa
purchased b. Manager Mack and y.
Joined the Athletics. playing a Few
games in the closing days.
Under the guidance of Manager Mac
Baker has rounded into one Of the I'M
ished third sackers in the game. having
all the grace and ability of Bill Brad
ley. for years the star third baseman
of the American League. Baker IL OF tie
TYPE of batsman known as the 'break-
up hitter. His home-run drives oSer
the right field wall at Shibe Park have
caused him to be feared by all clubs.
and when he comes to bat the outaeiders
back up to the limit.
e Baker has the distinction OF driv!ns
two home runs over the right field wal
in one game, an American League 70
ord that will stand urbroken for many
a day. Baker Is oae inch short Of sis
fleet and weighs Il: pounds.