The Washington herald., 1914-09-13
BILL DOAK HAS
Seen SERVICE
St. Louis Cardinals Star Hurl-
er Has Career Marked
with Many Shifts.
STARTED AT KNOXVILLE
Discovered by Scout Henri in 1913
and Has Been Big Factor in Hug
gins Showing This Season.

william Leopold Doak, of the Cardi-
mails, was seventeen years old and in his
senior year at the Pittsburgh High
School. just about to be graduated. when
he was taken to task one day by Pa
Doak. who got this on his chest:
Willie, my boy, you are paying too
much attention to baseball, and warn
YOU to stop 1t. want you to become
q mining engineer, so make up your
mind along those lines"
Now, william Leopold had studied
trigonometry and he knew something
about engines, but he preferred curves
especially an out-drop, which he slipped
over with the call three and two. So he
answered Mr.. Doak like this:
Dad Il Wrong.
dad, you're all wrong and you lose.
I've already signed with Knoxville. In
the County League, and I'm going to
pitch my first game next Sunday"
Willie and his father weren't very
friendly for some time to come. After
pitching in and around Pittsburgh for
one season he went to Wheeling, in the
Central League, In 1910 and was still
there in 1911 Starting 1872 he bobbed
up with Columbus, in the American As
sociation. but after . short trial he
heard the piercing rattle Of boiler and
suddenly found himself in Akron, with
the Central Association club.
In the fall OF 1913, Willie had a thrill
He WAS sold to Cincinnati and he had
visions Of regaining parental blessings.
Bill wasn't much of a man Just then,
size, weight and appearance considered.
But he was full Of confidence and he
reported in Rhineland to that frozen
faced man called Henri o'Day.
Fails with O'Day.
o'Day didn't enthuse over BnTs COM
ing. He put him into a ball game forth
with and when the opposition had two
I innings of Bills stun o'Day warmed
up another pitcher.
Do, crestfallen, went back to Akron.
He was in Akron when the season
of IJI3 started and 1t was there that
Edwardo Henri, the fattest scout in the
National League. found him early in
July. Henri scouts for the Cardinals.
Henri donned an Akron uniform and
Travelled with the team for two weeks.
Doak. at that time, was just mastering
a spitball and he acquired control Of
the moistened curve so easily that Henri
bought him on July Is for a beggars
pittance OF 500.
Reports to Huggfns.
Bills rise from that day was meteoric.
He reported to Huggins in New York.
Henri decided to give him an early
trial He let him finish up two innings
against the Giants. Doak didn't yield
a hit. The Cardinals returned to st.
Louis and Henri gave Doak another
two-inning fling at the champions. Again
The Giants failed to score. The next
day Doak started against McGraw's
team and he lost a bitter duel to Al
Demaree, to o.
That established Willie. But we,li skip
over the remainder of 1913 and review
only what happened In 1s14
Today Willie Doak is the premier win
ming pitcher of the National League He
tops CHS Mathewson. Rube Marquard.
Grover Cleveland Alexander, and Larry
Cheney.
; He's twenty-three years old-born jan
uary q. 1891 and he's the youngest
pitcher that ever attained the leadership
of the National League his first season
out. His long string Of conquests this
year include a sparkling decision, 10.
over Alexander
He has met Matty twice and beaten
the Old Master both times, 4-5 and 81
He has scored hve shut-outs, two against
Chicago. one each against Brooklyn.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh