The Washington times., 1914-03-15

in 1903 in the series against Boston.
Since then / have heard that Wagners
showing In his previous worlds series
he spent in the game until 1903. and that
he had been waiting for this opportunity
to vindicate himself. He certainly did
it, for his batting was responsible for
nearly half of the runs scored by the
Pirates in that series, IL my memory has
not altogether failed me. His style
looks almost awkward to me as he
stands far back from the plate with his
feet apart and his elbows tapping from
his sides as If he were about TO fly. But
he does not let any balls that he might
reach get away from him. 1t was a
splendid exhibition Of nerve that he
gave III 1869, and although 1t Seat the
Detroit club out of the best chance it
ever had to win the big series. and al
though II took lot of money away
from my fellow-players and me because
we had to accept the losers end of the
purse instead of the winners. still no
body could help but admire the Dutch
man.
Baker Ideal Hitter.
OF course, Frank Baker is the IDEAL
hitter for a worlds series, because he
never worries about what he is going
to do. I'll admit that the strain for me
is a great one. and I never have had
the luck in a big series that I have
during the season. Baker has done
much better in :lis last two worlds Sc
ries than he did in the one when the
Athletics faced and defeated the Cubs
II you will look up his record You will
find that Frank did not bat So we'll in
Chicago as he did in Pailadelphia in
that series. Further. if you will exam
in Dol
that he always hits better at home than
on the road.
American Leaguers attribute this to
two causes. One is that Frank must
have his sea food diet Strange as it
may sound. he never plays as good ball
wien he gets so far inland that he
cannot get his oysters and Holsters and
crabs. He seems to go best on the food
I" which he is accustomed on the
eastern shore of Maryland, where his
home is, and where he has always
lived. l honestly do not think Baker
would have been rated the great play
er he is today If, through the luck of
baseball. ne mad been signed with St.
Louis. say. where it is next to .mpos-
mer time. 1t is easy to get it in
Philadelphia. which is near the coast
What do you feed Baker during the
worlds series?' somebody asked Con
feated the Giants for the second time.
That ) my secret replied Con
ME" with 4 smile.
But all the members OF the Athletics
will tell you that Frank is peculiar
about his food. He does not seem to
the sort OF diet he is used to- and
naturally when he is unhappy no does
not go Sd vel. Nobody does.
Again, Baker is very quiet. unas-
suming sort OF fellow who Is almost
diffident off the field. He is extremely
fond II his home, and spends most OF
the limo there when he is out of his
uniform. On the road, he is. therefore.
.,st for occupation and longs Tor the
time when the club will get back nome
for that reason he never hits as Wen
on the road Now. If Mctiraw could
have CUrncTrd AL the sea food and neid
out on Baker during the past TWO
worlds series. ne might have had oet.
ter luck | hope that no one VIII
think l am not loyal to the American
League for slipping this tip ABOUT
Bakers gastrouoInic taste.
They Have Preferences.
Nearly ever hitter in baseball either
prefers the road or home. Some go
better away. while others are weaklinss
on tn" road and strong at the home
grounds. Personally. l hit better when
on the road. because l like the opposi-
ZION of foreign crowds. They key me
up. and that is what need ON tile
other haud. nv great rival in the Ameri-
can League who is more HhlegmatIc III
his nature. busts hem better at nome
than h. does on tlt road. Most or my
GAINS were made on Jackson last sum-
mcr when both clu"a We're making long
trips through th, East. This CCndltlon
Of things is hard IL explain, as are
many other recognized facts IN baseDai.
some clubs arr better road cIubs than
At home. The Giants. they tell me. Ill
uays nat stronger away from their own
doorstep. The New York payers mann
tanned for - long lime thar II was the
&larinE hriSht-hu'd advertising SANS
in center ii,ld that hurt their hlttinG al
home IIt = ME" green background
WAS painted in at the Polo Grounds for
Il" hrurtt Of the battrrS, and :tiil thcE
continue to bc i better road vIuh
There is It p"curIar phenomenon n
connection With III" Atht"ti"S ana their
uniforms. uear fauit found Wlth IL
dr;tb traN.in:. .''iit"rrnS o. tie AthtrfiCS