Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-12
Marvellous Work Of Frank Bakers Magic Stick
By w. ]. MACBETH.

| NEW YORK. May 1.-THE world,
championship series Of 1911 Is a closeG
book Il dWells IN the public mind-tht
sport-loving public. that is--as an inter,
esting epoch OF ancient history. Fandou
lives in the present. never upon the past
Even 10 analytic minds the carnage ant
| glory Of last fall must have faded Ions
ago. Memory is revived here only e
throw additional light upon one feature
OF the psst classic
That feature embraces the chubby, bis
bat that robbed McGraw Of the world,
championship psnnant The bat belonged
to Frank HaEer, third haseman Of the
! Athletics. lie garnered two home runs IN
/ the series. the first off "Rube" Vanguard
the rec0Hd off the master OF all pitchers
/ Christy Mathewson. Philadelphia could
never have won either game without
Bakers pinch home runs Had the two
games In question fallen 10 the lot Of
New York. the Polo eroundcrs would
have taken the series BY -four games to
two. the margin by which Connie Mack's
wonderful team triumphed
Now about the well-oiled bat OF Baker.
A dozen different stories have been told
as to how he came into possession Of II.
Here is the true story. told, We sincerely
believe. for the first time. The existence
Of that famous stick OF second growth
ash. Is due TO the good fellowslI T. that
obtains in professional base bah as IN
other walks Of life. The bat was made
especially for GEORGE Simmons. the Roch-
ester recruit OF the Yankees who has
done considerable infieAi subbing for
Harry wolyerton this spring An adlmrer
OF this Brooklyn lad. q couple OF years
ago white Simmons was a member OF
Hughie Jennings Tigers. turned the
stick with his own hands and presented
II to the consistent minor league slugger.
Simmons never had great amount Of
luck with the cudgel II was trifle
short and top-heayy for him. He gave
II thorough trial. then discarded II.
He keptfit only because II had been
present TO him owen Bush. the clever
little shortstop Of tho Tigers. borrowed
simmons bat one day after he had
broken his own favorite shillalah. As a
result he had very favorable and prof.
table afternoon With that innate su-
perstition Of ball players in general. ne
fell In love with the stick. He wanted
to buy Il. but Simmons wouldn't sell
Finally Simmons was turned back to the
Eastern league by Detroit, Bush begged
so hard for his fayorite weapon that Sim.
mons finally made present OF Il to the
midget shortstopper.
For a time Bush prospered In his new
mace. Only fair hitter. he began 10
climb up. TO the 80 notch. He had many
extra base hits to his collection OF swats.
But after q couple of months ne fell
away IN form He stuck to the bat until
II was apparent that something was
radically wrong with his form. Mentors
advised him that the bat was too heavy
and clumsy for such a little fellow. Bush
found new stick.
More than u year later the Athletics
were in Detroit for a very important
series. Prior TO the game the third
kaeker o. the Athletics borrowed Buah's
discarded blndgeon for batting practice
He was 10 well pleased with Its swing
and balance that he approached ownie
on the matter OF swap. Bush had no
particular use for the club. Besides. he
il a generous little chap, ''If tho stick
Is any good to you. Frank" he said.
why. so ahead and take H. It's yours.
Only don't tell Simmons. lie gave IL TO
me-"
That afternoon the worlds champions
led the onslaught against Mullin. Dono-
van and Summers. He had four hits in
five times 10 the plate. the collection in
cluding n homer and two doubles. Baker
has never since let that good stick out
OF his sight. Il Is said he slept with II
during the worlds series last fall.
Thus Il win be seen that fate used the
hapless Hishlanders MS an instrument
towards Connie Mack's greater glory IN
1911 New York handed the pennant TO
the Quaker City by walloping the living
daylight out Of Detroit all season. II was
the Hilltoppers that first put the Junga-
leers on the toboggan. The first few
weeks threatened walkoyer for Detroit.
The sensational winning streak Of the
Bengals was broken by New York. Every
time after that when Detroit gave any
evidence of pulling together and heading
off the Athletics It met with reverse at
the hands Of Gotham. Hal chases club
lost as consistently TO the White Ele-
plants as II won from the city-of-tho-
Straits.
And then the worlds series. Where
would Baker have been without his for