Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-17
EDDIE PLANK Is
HERO OF SEASON.
SAYS GRANT RICE
Veteran Has Performed
Brilliantly of Late and
Deserves Ranking
MOST RELIABLE SoUTHPAW
BY GRANTLAND RICE

one vote went to the Giants for winning
~ straight on the road from a start in
last place.
Another vote went to iris Speaker for
,sading Ty Cobb over 40 points for the
6rst four months Of the race.
still another earnest fanatic cast his vote
Cor Grover Cleveland Alexander, who IL.
doubtedly has worked one OF the greatest
seasons in the broad realm of play.
A fourth vote was cast for Fielder Jones
and the Browns who started from tho
sorRy depths OF seventh place for a spin
OF 21 out of 23 games.
The Leader
These incidents and episodes, individuals
.pd clubs. all were entitled to the burning
sloquence poured out in their behalf.
we believe, too, vote should he
awarded to Colonel Wlbert Robinson the
King of Brooklyn
mt IL we had to cast one exclusive vote
FOR the most distinctive feature OF the year
o n would 20 to a certain mlddlc-aged sedate
citizen by the name Of Edward S. Plank,
otherwise known as the Gettysburg Guide.
Plak the Hero
Plank in many ways is the hero of the
year. The great southpaw hasn't been as
brilliant or as useful as iris Speaker or
Grover Alexander. But there is at least
this one feat of his to be considered
Mt the age of 42--considored fairly we'll
all in two or three years ago-at the stage
of remnant race whcro he was needed
nnost-he pitches in ucccssion four ball
games that have n vital bearing on tho
pennant race
Here they are in order
New Yorlk--Four hits
Boston-Two hits
washington-One hit.
Cleyeland--Two hits.
This would be n remarkable streak II
spun out by Alexander or Johnson any
star in his prime.
Remarkable Streak
But for n veteran 40 years old, at least
eight years beyond the average pitching
life, It is ones of the most remarkable
achievements in the history of sport.
In four games of vital Importance Plank,
at AZ, allows just nine hits, an average
OF 2.25 hits to the contest.
Il is no light feat to pitch one two-hlt
game. Working two in succession is a
rare achievement which few pitchers know
IN the course of season
To average 2.25 hits a game for four
games in row Is beyond all diagnosis
1t is one of those things that can't be done
until suddenly 1t happens.
Concerning Plank
Plank is one of the marvels of all time.
Consider these details
l. lie was 20 years old before he en-
tered the major league.
2. lie had minor league training or
development OF any sort.
3. He lacked the great physical powers
OF Walsh, MRthewsOn, johnson, Alexander
or Young.
1. lie was not blessed with nn easy
pitching motion, but apparently was work.
Ing hard most OF the way, working with
I, effort quite unlike johnson or Alexander.
B. Where weather conditions were at all
favorable he has not pitched three really
bad ball games In 10 years.
o. He has pitched exceptionally fine ball
In world series and he WAS n lead-
ing factor in flve Of these.
Not an Iron Man
We were talking-a day or two ago with
Andy Coakley about Plank. Andy was one
OF Plank's team mates on the Athletic ma
chine of other days. I'm my opinion" said
Andy, "he is the greatest lleft-hander that
ever lived. Not brilliant as Rube Wad-
dell but for an average performance his
work surpasses them all. L can't recall now
bad ball game that Plank pitched"
Another Detail
Here is another detail" continued Coax |
ley Even when he broke in with the old
Mackmen Plank frequently complained of
sore arm. He had trouble here and there |
with his elbow and his shoulder He was
not an iron man I'm any sense of the word |
and he did his share OF worrying in the |
box. So he war not one of these pitchers |
with Ice water In his veins--one OF the |
type that never frets or bothers. lie was a |
iANN4Sl yOu NOulu llBuTe IllSnl laSl i've OF |
SIX years as star. But here he is today |
AT AZ in his seventeenth campaign pitching |
more brilliantly than he ever worked in his |
NE have kept close track of baseball for |
a long time, but / can't recall in all that |
llme any such continued exhibition as these |
Tour games OF Planks against New York, |
Boston, Washington and Cleveland. Four |
games-two runs, nine hits-an average of
go hits and one-half a run to the contest.
II doesn't sound possible"
The Winning Vote
Is is after figuring in all these details
mat we award to Edward S. Plank, the
gettysburg Guide, the Feature Pinnacle of |
the sporting year Walsh Is through Miner
Brown is fading out Matty's pitching days
are over; the great Johnson is beginning to
get his here and therei but Plank left
handed, AZ, II years I'm harness, not rugged /
OF frame, is rushing through one two-hit /
game after another in the strain of a flag
race almost without an equal
AS master achievement Plank's latest
exhibition is a wonderful thing 70 contem-
plate But when you link this with his
career for II years there are hardly words
expressive enough to tell the story For 1t
goes far beyond the record OF games won
ana lost, as great record as this has
1t is an achievement that rests well be-
yond the eternal dope. Cy Young lasted
~ seasons but cy was husky giant. who
started around 22 with an easy motion and
fast bali to work with And Cy, as great
as he was. was not peeling on two-hit
games in succession in his forty-second year.
Give all the credit you care about TO
your favorite hero as each comes along.
but before you are through wrench on
sprig OF olive for the clammy brow OF the
most effective left-hander day IN. day out
baseball ever has known.
Michigan Aggies' Football Schedule
EAST LANSING Mich Aug. IL The foot
- season of the Michigan Agricultural S0l-
isse VIII begin September 80. Frank sonmer,
l2tmer Penn star. last season at NillanoEa
SSllhlese, who sneceeds John Aaekln a. eoaf44, |