The chronicle=news., 1914-10-07
.QBll's .sERIEs
TEAMS ..flXlDG
LINEUP FOR
GAMES

New York, Oct. In all likelihood
only four men will be called upon to
work at the receiving ends OF the
batteries during the coming Worlds
Championship Series between the
Philadelphia Athletics and Boston
Nationals. Each club will undoubt-
edly depend upon the two catchers
who have given such . good account
OF themselves all through the play.
ing season. They will take an I'M
portant part In the struggle for as
soon as a catcher dons the mitt and
mask his calling In q contest he as
sumes an immense amount OF res
possibility. In fact there is no tell
ing how many OF the games are d.
rected from behind the plate. In ad-
dition to exchanging signals with the
pitcher as to the weakness OF
strength OF the batters. he has to be
a quick thinker, keen sighted. always
alert and invariably accurate in
throwing to head of the base pilfer-
ers.
In this department Connie Mack is
probably the more fortunate In haV-
ing La2p and Schang. botli Of whom
have had previous experience in
Worlds Championship games. Lapp
played in the 1910. 1911 and 1913
games. each time on the winnins
side and this will be the fourth time
his services will be needed for the
retention Of the flag In Philadelphia.
Although only thirty years old. Lapp
has lot Of experience during the
nine years he has been identified
with professional baseball. He stands
five feet ten and one half inches
and weighs about 10 pounds. Last
year lie took part in only one OF the
five games played for the Champion
ship.
Schang, on whom most of the work
behind the bat devolved in the Ath-
let!cs-Giants series a year ago bore
the brunt Of the work throughout
this years American League season.
Last year he caught in four Of the
five games played in the Worlds
Series and may do the larger share
again In the coming contests. He
Is twenty-four years old, is five feet,
nine inches tall and weighs about
$50 pounds. His experience in major
league baseball dates back just four
years. Ira Thomas the veteran
catcher. is another on whom Man
ager Mack could call in case Of acci-
dent to either Of the two mentioned,
but lie has not been in the game
much during the past season and 1t
is not likely that his services will
be, needed. The Athletics also have
a fourth catcher In McAvoy late OF
the Baltimore International League
team, but 1t is not at all probable
that he will be called upon to go be-
hind the bat against the Braves.
Manager Stallings has two very
reliable receivers in Gowdy and
Whaling, both of whom have been
wonderfully successful this past seas
on. Both are young men and each
has been identified with profession
al baseball for five years. The sue
cess of the team, phenomenal as IT
was. in landing the National League
pennant, this year, speaks volumes
for the work of the batteries and
the catchers naturally are not to be
overlooked for the parts they played
SO well in bringing about the un-
looked for victory.
Gowdy, who did the lions share OF
catching for the Braves during the
season, stands one inch over six feet
and weighs 1877 pounds. Whaling,
who is twenty-five years old, just one
year older than Gowdy, also is six
footer and weighs 1873 pounds H