The Washington times., 1913-10-07
BATTLE OF BRAIN
! AND ARM DUE
Clash of Mathewson and Bender in the World Series Games
To Be Great Test-GrantIand Rice Compares Todays
Contest to Battle of Romans Years Ago.
By GRANTLAND RICE.

I who had been waning fast, or upon the
uncertainty of inexperienced youngsters
who had youths stuff. but who were
unknown quantities under such a fire?
And while Mackian supporters were
wondering whether Connie the crafty,
would call on Bush. Shawkey. or Brown
as aides to Bender and Plank, Giant
supporters We're equally, puzzled as to
whether McGraw. at the last moment,
would shift Doyle and Snodgrass
through injuries and replace one or
beth with other men.
Another point which added to the lure
of this present series and the mystery
thereof, was the weird mixture of so
many ages Of stars. There were. first
Of all. Mathewson and Plank, servin 6
bats: Bender, the Indian, with ten
years seryice-these three large topics
of fan conversation. The central theme
being as to whether or not they were
still there with the unalloyed goods.
Then came comparison of those in
their prime. such as Collins and Doyle
and Baker and Merkle and Murray and
OldYing. And with these the young
sters-Burns and Eddie F. Murphy,
Demares and Schang. Shafer and
Shawkey and Brown and Bush.
All sorts and conditions of baseball
flesh formed this championship meet
ing. and SO many and varied were the
terms that no man could say in advance
what the answer might be.
The Central Figure.
If there was one central figure from
the two waiting armies. it was John
Franklin Baker. Of Trappe. Md. No
other one athlete from both hordes was
so much talked about on the battles
eve
For here was a man who. in two
worlds series against different sorts of
pitching-against Miner Brown and
JEFF Overall, against Christy Mathew
the high average Of .2s1, and alone and
unaided had put two decisive games on
ice for his clan.
There was no question here of a
freak hitter-but of another Delehauty-
and another Lajoie or Wagner.
1t was conteded that Baker, making a
reputation and Baker defending one
already made. were two different things
that the psychology was against him,
that he would be over anxious and
over-eager to make good. But it must
be remembered that Baker lacks the
high string imagination of a Cobb or of
otner stars who were below par under
he maintains any home run regulations
or not, he will take along with the old
mace and continue hitting the ball,
going about it in a calm. stocical way.
such as might have been fostered by
existence in the sedate city Of Trappe.
Next To Baker.
Next to Bakers batting. the main
trend Of fashionable chit-chat veered
to Comics selection of youngsters.
After Bender and Plank would it be
Bush, Shawkey, or Brown? One, or
maybe two. of these had to make good.
Russ Ford. the keen-eyed pitcher, tip
ped US TO watch Bush as the first selec-
ton. Others point toward Shawkey or
Brown. But we have no desire to delve
In multitudi1ous guesses at this prox-
unity to the first box score.
1t is sufficient that the human horde
is now pouring into the field; that Nc
Graw has his four pitching stars in
wonderful shape TO meet the hardest
batting Of the business; that before
another dusk has settled there will be
an answer at last to cap all this collec-
ton of mere words that has gone be-
fore-words that led up to the first
pitched bail and then stopped to wait
for the first box scores.