The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-10-17
sSTAHL SHOWS
new WORKERS
HE'S NO Joke"
Evens Up With Town Which
Ridiculed Him in the
Years Gone BY.
By EDWARD LYELL FOX,

BOSTON, Mass, Oct. 17.-Ten
years ago a. rangy. black-hsired
young man, straight as young pine,
stood in the coacher's box and watch
ed the University of Illinois win a
baseball championship, Scarcely an
emotion seemed to move him as the
men he had led, inspired as college
captain, can inspire them, rose be-
hind him and, breaking into a volley
Of unexpected hits, brought to his
college another trophy of the field.
Only smile played about the corner
Of his mouth as a thick-legg cd
youngster from tn woods tore
across the plate with the winning
run. Then stahl was gone.
Ten Years, and Then
The years have passed. Bet the stage
In the vale Of the Fenway-set 1t with
a sky of cobalt blue; q wind from the
sea that. Strengthening dropping ban
ners, sends them swapping from their
poles. And on either side OF the. Fen
way the ugly skeletons OF the stands
Oh WOOu dlT-DdTc III STebt
places with deserving spectators-in-
close 1t from the world. Within those
walls a climax CT men was occurring
an awful. drawn strain. the like Of
which I had never seeh before-not
May when men went mad behind the
steering wheels and smoking racing
cars reeled from the track. For the
teams of New York and Boston had
come down to the last ditch-the last
inning of the last game-with the
worlds series as the stake.
And as the gray Giants scattered to
their posts in the field, as The red
legged men Of the home team came
this last attack, a tall, straight-shoul-
dered man bent down among Them
talking hastily. 1t was Stabilize same
quiet, Unconditional stahl. Of Illinois
hair beginning to gray at the temples.
but he was leading his team to sec
ond championship. In the past It was
for the traditions Of a college, for
youth; now 1t was for money almost
$4,000 more to his players II they wonD
Yet although tradition had gone from
his life. spirit and ambition were still
there.
But more than that, a deep-lsid ven
geance had come into it--a desire to
see New York beaten, taken down;
New York who. when Stahl had done
nlB DeSL IOr 1dHhets, poured
abuse upon his head, calling him coke"
instead of Jake" and now Joke"
Stahl was about to take worlds
championship from them.
And now, going to pieces as Snod-
grass had done, thinking, no doubt Of
the $4,000 blunder that had been made
behind him, Mathewson lost control
The grinning Lewis .trotted to first on
balls. Still the expression of the tall
dark-haired Stahl never changed. The
bases were full, one was out, but one
run needed to win the greatest prize OF
baseball. Stahl glanced curiously at the
New York bench. Not ali emotion OF
the situt tion had taken him-this man
who, only the year before, had retired
from baseball only to find the game s
call too strong for him. Maybe he
thought Of that day In Illinois, as he
stood there serene, cool. with the stands
In tumut behind him, the set face OF
McGraw visible behind the dug-out
rail--t fGce furrowed with uncertainty
Srd dread. Maybe Stahl smiled as, fol-
lowing Gardeners long liner to right
2erkes came racing home-a tense
sprint with $4,000 as the prize. Maybe
he did. couldn't see him.
Still, as with arms folded, he turned
70 walk quietly from the field, It wasn't
bard to in CINE the glow in his cheeks
the sweet and quiet triumph in his eyes
GOOD old Jake" whom New York
called Joke" wise leader who had
won. - -. = u 'I.igI!
Copyright 1872. by the Adams News
paper Hervtce.1'y -