The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-05
A GLANCE AT EN-
PhillieS Have Five Worlds
Series 'sVets" on Team,
More Than Half of SOX Have
Been Through Mill.

New York, Oct. SIN nearly every
series for the worlds baseball cham
p1onship some player on each of the
contending teams has been picked by
the fans as a tower of strength in
some department and in the minds
eye of the baseball public he stood
head and shoulders above his CO.
workers. This years contest for the
premier title of the diamond will
prove no exception to this accepted
fact.
In looking over the list of eligibles
for the coming battle between the
Philadelphia Nationals and the Bos-
ton Red SoX, Alexander and Speaker
naturally are the first to strike the
eyes of even the casual observer as
the ones who may furnish the star
plays of the coming contest. Many
other players, however, on both sides
have shown remarkable aptitude to do
the right thing at the right time dur
ing the long seasons grind. Quick
thinking and fast. accurate action are
the essentials which make great base
ball players. While the two players
mentioned have shown wonderful con-
'trO1 and effectiveness in their posi-
t1ons, a great deal should be said
about many others who, while not SO
prominent, have been equally eff
cient in their pennant winning work
this season either at bat, on the paths
or in the field.
Moran's Share.
In the minds of many baseball ex-
perts Manager Moran's feat of making
a supposedly mediocre team a pennant
winning aggregation is equally as
great a performance as that accom-
plished last year by George Stallings
with the Boston Braves. The Moran
men are virtually ''cast off, team
as thirteen of them were let out by
other major league clubs. Captain
Luderus was once with the Chicago
Nationals; Killifer was tried by St
Louis and let go; Adams was with tho
New York Giants for short time;
Demaree came from the Giants and
McQuillen played with Cincinnati and
Pittsburg; Niehoff was with Cipcin-
natl; Dugey and Whitfield came from
the Braves; Stock was transferred to
Philadelphia by New York; Ryrne was
once with ST. Louis and Pittsburg;
Cravath, the fence demolisher, played
with Boston, Chicago and Washington
Americans; Paskert chased flies for
Cincinnati, and Becker saw service
with the Boston Nationals, New York
Giants and Cincinnati.
Alexander, Mayer and Rixey, Chal-
mors and Bancroft are the only mem
bers of the team who grew into Ma
tiOnal league material while with the
club. lineup, Baumgartner and
Weiser are youngsters who have yet to
win regular pla ceS on the team.
How "Alex'' Feels.
during the season has placed him in
the limelight as the star pitcher of
the National league and the backbone
of the Quaker City team. If the series
goes to the limit of seven games Alex
ander, it is expected, will be en- the
mound in at least three games, begin
ming with the opening clash. After he
had won his thirtieth game. a few
days ago, Alexander when asked what
he would do in the worlds series, re-
Inc no RTs,,,
ran tells me. ] have been well sup
ported by my teammates and 1 must
say they have saved me frequently.
Boston may boast of some great hit
tiers but 1 think we have some fence
busters on the Phillies who will equal
the Boston sluggers."
With Mayer, Demaree. McQuiI1en,
Chalmers and Rixey on his pitching
staff, Manager Moran feels that he
has formidable array of boxrnan to
back up Alexander in attacking the
Red Sox defense. The infield. COM
posed of Luderus, Niehoff, Bancroft
and Stock, is a strong combination,
and Cravath, Paskert and Whitfield are
well able to take care of the outer
garden
Captain Luderus stands second in
the batting list of the National league,
and with Cravath. Whitfield, Stock,
Becker and Niehcff the hitting of the
Moran team shows considerable
strength. Should the majority of
games be played on the Philadelphia
grounds. that the park with its short
fences VIII suit the home hitters much
better than the visitors is the opinion
shared in by many close followers of
the game.
Five w. s. Vets.
Including Manager Moran. five
members of the Philadelphia Nation
ais have been members of the former
worlds series teams. The other four
are Demaree, Whitfield, Becker and
Dugey- Moran was with the Chicago
Cubs when Frank Chance was man
ager Of the National league pennant
winners. Demaree was with the New
York Giants in 1913. Whitfield played
with the Boston Braves last year
Beals Becker helded for the New
York Giants in 1911 and 1912, and