El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-12

EW YORK, Oct ll--Ihey &c
come back" sometimes. Eddie
- Plank, the Oldest pitcher in big
league harness in point Of age and one
of the oldest in point of service, proved
il this afternoon. The veteran south
paw hurled the Philadelphia Athletics
to a worlds championship at the Polo
Grounds this afternoon, beating the
New York Clans in the fifth and final
game Of the series by a score of three
TO one.
Thousands of philadelphia fans piled
cut on the field as Larry Doyle was
retired in the final inning, and, picking
I'D the Gettysburg Calling" they bore
him in triumph from the field Once
beaten in this series by the great
Christy Matthewson, many doubted
that Plank-39 years old and 1S years
a big league pitcher-could return
after such short rest, but the box
score shows the game he pitched.
Again he was opposed by Matthewson
and again the big baseball idol of Man
haitian pitched a great game, but be-
fore the swapping cross fire Of Phila-
deIphia's old side winder, the Giants
hung helpless when they needed the
punch 80
tacuIar features that have marked
nearly all Of the other four encounters
of the series. The Athletics fought
a carefully planned battle against
slamming the first ball he pitched at
them
Fred MerkIe one Of the most uH-
lucky and at the same time, one OF me
most brilliant of ball players, Whos
misfortunes seem to fall heavily upon
him in a series such as the champion
ship, contributed a play that Would
have been termed a wonder mad II
gone through, but which, falling In eN-
ecution, came to be regarded as rather
damaging to the Giants, although II
was probably not this play that really
decided the title,
The Athletics had the better team
They not only had the better team in
this encounter but one of the best
teams that has ever taken the baIlfield-
Handicapped as they were by injuries
the Giants did well to get one game
PITCHES steady Game.
Plank pitched steadily from start
to finish today. While the game
passed off in quick time. due to the
rapid fielding on both sides, the vet
eran had to 90 slowly, He is not as
young as he used to be and he knows
it. It was duel between two Of the
greatest pitchers in the game today ana
one that viii long be remembered Dy
the 10000 persons packed in the stands
The Giants were confident enough
when they faced Plank. Like the fans,
they did not believe it possible for
Eddie to come back" especially as he
seemed to be falling in the final in
ninGs of the game he lost TO Matthew
son over in Philadelphia. Several mem
bers of the teams expressed the opin-
ion that the veteran would not give
them as much trouble as he did on
that dav but they were badly fooled.
Plank Takes His Time.
In times Of stress, Plank would
pause in his pitching, tighten his belt
walk around the box and otherwise
'-stalI' until he felt ready to go on
again 1t is stated that he refarked
during the game in Philadelphia when
Eddie Collins, BLACK jack Barry and
other impetuOus young fnfielders of
the Mackmen were calling on him to
hurry: L am an old man and I've got
to take my time"
They did not talk to him much today,
save in tones of encouragement. and
the man who would be considered in
his prime in the ordinary walk of life
but is regarded as almost as antede
liffVian IN baseball pitched as he de-
sired-carefuIIy and at his leisure.
MathewsOn's Work.
Meanwhile Mathewson, several years
younger than Plank, but none the less
sluggers of the Mack brigade in a
fashion that showed how well he had
studied them since he first faced them
two years ago. There were half a
dozen instances where the breaks of
came undoubtedly against the Giants