New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-17

every day. go to the ball park by the
same route ! took when things began
TO break for us. and / leave my auto
mobile in exactly the same spot IN
fortunately. there was a crowd going
to the grounds the first day we were at
home after things began 10 come our
way last year. and got out OF my car
a couple Of blocks from the park, be
cause ! could walk through the crowd
faster than machine could be driven.
We won that day. and had to get out
at the same place and walk TO the park
from there for the rest of the season.
Some folks thought ! was crazy, when
there was plenty Of room in the road
10 ride, but ! didn't care what they
thought so long as we won.
Players Keep Up System.
When a ball player is going well he
will always try TO do everything each
day Just as he did when things started
TO break for him, even 20 putting on
his uniform in the same order OF gar
ments and hanging his towel just as
he did on the lucky day Readers may
laugh at this, but have known big
league ball player TO go like house
afre for weeks and follow out re-
ligiously a certain clubhouse formula
each afternoon. Then one day some
body knocks down his towel and II "a
hung up on another hook. lie hnds IT
there. believes he is linked, and he
goes out and plays rotten ball. Moth
ing like that could happen IN our care
fully ordered clubhouse. Believe me,
watch out for these little things. Can
, YOU blame manager for falling for
superstition?
After we won that first game in the
worlds series we were very careful TO
repeat every act just as we had per
formed il on that first day. We
dressed At the Phillies' park at the
same hour and had batting practice be
fore going TO Shibe Field for the Satur-
day game exactly as we had done on
the victorious Friday. We were sure
that Plank would oppose US that second
day, so ] worked my hitters. especially
the right handlers, against the best LETT
handed pitching we had outside OF our
first string man. Tyler. In fact. we
had morning batting practice before
each Of the games in Boston, too. we
never took any chances in that series
we could help We were playing every
thing TO get the percentage right up
TO the limit.
Perhaps some or the 1aNs Noulu Inc
to know what consider TO be the most
important play of the first game Of the
worlds series In my judgment. Il was
when Schmidt caught that foul fly and
turned, all off mis- balance, shooting the
ball TO third base and mailing the run
ner by the combination of his good
throw and the nervy work OF Deal,
who was looked upon as substitute
and a weak spot in our lineup. ! did
not look on him in that way, Tor |
knew him. but our opponents and a lot
of fans did. o.,
When the Athletics were met with
that play they knew that they were up
against a ball club and that they could
not beat US by getting US 70 throwing
the ball around. They had beaten
other clubs that way. and they thought
they might us Their whole attitude
toward our club changed after that
play. and they realized then they
would have 10 work hard 20 win. l
honestly believe this was the turning
point in the series.
Now, TO mention the last bit OF su-
perstition that | played in connection
with that series. We had won three
games, and the fourth WAS scheduled
to take place on our home grounds, IN
Boston. II we lost that. according 70
the rules for playing the series laid
down By the National Commission. the
whole works had 20 jump back 70 Phila-
delphia for the fifth game the next day.
The players were at their morning
skull" practice on the day OF the last
cana when the secretary of the club