Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-05
BY W. J. NcReth-

biggest man in baseball right
- now. The manager of a pen
nant winner is always worshiped
by fandom Jake is not only the
generalissimo Of the Boston gon-
Talon expedition but one of the
strongest players on the team as
Well In view of this fact. be-
lieve it is high time that those who
are not familiar with his baseball
life better get next" so here
goes:
Garland stahl was born in Elk
hart, H., on April 10. 1880. His
parents, both of whom are living.
were American born, his father of
German and his mother of Scotch
Irish extraction. An older brother
is engaged in the hardware and
agricultural implement business in
his old home. He has two sis
tiers. one is married and lives in
Chicago.
First. where did Stahl get the
nickname, Jake" That story has
no connection with baseball. In
Elkhart lived a hermit known as
old Uncle Jake" simple minded
but harmless and likable character.
tie took fancy to the boy. and
they became such boon compan-
ions they were soon known as "Old
I9k a'' and
Stahl went to the University of L.
linois, although he did not know a
soul there the name followed. 1t
has stuck ever since.
Started as d Pitcher.
Stahl attended the Elkhart pub
lie and high schools. from which he
was graduated in 1897 He played
on the town team as the regular
pitcher In addition. he was some-J
thing of a hurdler and high jumper
in the school meets. When StahI
was graduated from the high
school his father offered him a col
lese education or place in the
store. Jake chose the latter In
less than two years he was cured
and asked his father if the other
offer still went" 1t did so Jake
entered the University of Illinois
in the fall Of 1898. There ne played
four years Of varsity baseball and
-four wears Of football.
When Stahl began his college ca
reer he weighed only 14S pounds.
but played guard and tackle on the
freshman football eleven. The
next spring he went out for the
baseball nine Carl Lundgren, Fred
Falkenberg and Jimmy Cook were
freshmen at the same time. None
Of them made the varsity, which
was composed of veterans. in the
first year Walter Thornton was
coaching the pitchers and devoted
much time to Stahl, but finally ad-
vjsed him TO give up pitching be-
cause Of lack or control
Stahl's first varsity game, the
following year. shaped his early
baseball career. In the ninth in
ming of a contest against Michigan.
with the bases full and Illinois
leading. to 6, a Michigan bats
man hit q long fly toward Stahl
who had Deen stationed in the out
field. Stahl misjudged the ball. 1t
wen fol a home run. Illinois was
beaten. 10 to 8. But Stahl got
four hits that day. and the Illinois
catcher did about as poorly in his
position as Stahl in the outfield.
In the next game Director George
Huff. who now acts as scout for
cleveland in summer, put Stahl
behind the bat After that he was
the regular catcher
Scored Three Touchdowns.
AS left guard on the football
eleven Stahl scored three of the
touchdowns which defeated the
University Of Chicago in 1902 by
a score Of % to o. Western fans
well remember that game. and how
on a fake interference play Stahl
time and again tore around the
opposite tackle for sure gains when
The distance was needed for first
down
After his graduation, in 1903,
Stahi had offers from the Chicago
Nationals and Boston Americans.
He wished to join his old battery
partner, Lundgren, at Chicago. bat
Henry Killea. then owner Of the
P,c+,, fa.,D1 had seen him ,,'aV i'm