Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-19
oldring's Homer Was Wasted.


Those two home-run drives of Bakers
came at most opportune time. His
name was a headlner on the sport
ing sheet of every paper that boosted
such an institution. He was credited
with beating the Giants singlehanded.
Praise of all kinds was showered on
him for his timely home-run drives
Now. to show the opposite break IN
luck. and how mighty home-rnn
the fifth game of the series. which
would have meant the championship.
had the Athletics been victorious,
"Rube" Oldring with two out and two
on the bases in the third inning drove
the ball far up into the left center
field bleachers at the Polo Grounds.
1t was lustier wallop than either of
the two made by Baker. 1t seemed
certain that Oldring's homer would set
tie the series. for it sent the Athletics
away to commanding three-run lead.
The breaks. however. favored the
Giants in that game. 1t was the con-
test in which Jack Coombs severely
injured himself. yet insisted on re-
naming in the game for several in
nings after he should have retired.
New York made two runs in the ninth.
and tied up the tnrce-run leai the
Athletics had enjoyed because of Old
rings home run. and won out in the
Athletics won that game Oldring would
have been a much talked a bout athlete
but his team lost, and the home run
was soon forgotten. while Bakers still
were fresh in fandom's memory.
When the Giants and the Athletics
met again III 1913, much stress was
laid on the ability of the New York
pitchers to stop Baker. In the very
first game Baker sent New York fans
home cussing his name. because his
t1.N flr1N N Ifyh flnl
stands with Collins second had de-
cided the game in favor of the Ath-
letics, to 4. \ few davs prior to this
game Mathewson and Marquard jour
neyed over to Phiily to see the Ath-
letics in action against Boston in the
final game of the American League. 1t
was strange coincidence that just
as the two great pitchers took their
seats Baker hit a high fast one on the
outside. delivered by Smoky Joe Wood,
into the left field bleachers.
Some More Feats of Swat.
In 1912 the Washington club of the
American League won seventeen
straight games, sixteen of them away
from home. The Philadelphia club
finally interrupted the winning streak
Washington led. ! to 0. up to the ninth.
two were down and two strikes on
Frank Baker, when the husky third
sacker hit the ball over the right field
wall. tied the score. and q few innings
later the Athletics put over the win
ming run. More advertising for Mr..
Baker.
At the present time much space is
being devoted to stories about Baker
and the number of home runs he Is
liable to hit into the right field stands
at the Polo Grounds. Such stories
were printed about Birdie Cree when
he rejoned New York in the middle
of the 1914 season. Cree was always
q notorious right field hitter On the
American League park in New York
he hit hall after ball into right field
territory which would have been home
runs at the Polo Grounds When he
rejoined the club it was predicted that
he would hit many ball into the right
field stands. Strange to say, Cree
didn't make home run on the road
or at home during his stay with the
ankees. Visiting pitchers will work
their hardest against Baker at all
times. particularly at the Polo Grounds
Most managers will be constantly
warning the pitchers to keep the ball
on the outside to Baker to lessen his
chances of pulling the ball to right
held, but at that Mr.. Baker has al
ways proved pretty hard man to
keep from hitting them where they
amt.
Copyright. 1916. by W e. Evans,