The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-04
WHO'S To Be HERO
Have You Doped Out Probable
Star of World Series?
Many "Dubs" Have Worn the
Laurel in Years Past.
BY FRANK G. NfENKE.

New York, Oct. 4.-Who's gonna be
the world series he-e-ero in 1915?
Every year the folks speculate on il.
And every year for the last ten or
SO they have missed their guesses by
mile. Thru 5oine strange whim of
Dame Fortune the men who have
grabbed the glory and the plaudits in
the past haven't been the stars of the
competing mines. Rather, they have
been the dubs.
business of doping out the bird who
Will wear the laurel wreath, it might
De advisable to eliminate poorer play
ers- Unless the order of things is re-
versed IN 1915, it will be some So
called dub who will rise up and grab
unto himself all Inc spotlight rays.
Back in 1906 the White Sox were
forced to insert a substitute called
Whitley Robe, into the blue ribbon
battles with the Cubs 1t was the
same Rohe who was the biggest sin
gle factor in winning a world cham
pionship for the SOx. 1t was Robes
hitting and his brilliant fielding that
startled the baseball world-and beat
the Cubs.
Adams Starred in 1909.
In 1909 when the Pirates met the
Tigers in the tituiar affair a youth
full finger named Adams was left al
most entirely out OF the calculations
by those who were comparing the
was that same Babe" who pitched
and won-three games and so cinchei
for the Pirates the larger end of The
world series purse.
]. Franklin Baker entered the 1911
battle in behalf of the Athletics, al
most unniticed. He emerged the most
talked-about ball player in the world.
Baker, modest, quiet, but with ire
mendous power in his shoulder blades
had caught shoots from the arms OF
both Mathewson and Marquard and
lifted them out of the lot. 1t was his
long drives that enabled the Athletics
to beat the Giants, and won for him
the enduring title Home Run King. y
The hero of 1913 was Joe Bush,
the youthful pitcher for the Mackian
crew. When Connie Mack had used
up Eddie Plank and Chief Bender in
the early battles. the Giants figured
they would have it soft for a day or
two. Bush, the unknown kid. was
inserted into the frolic. The Giants
grinned when he walked into the box
They never grinned afterward. Bush
toyed with them and his victory
caused his praises to be sung thruout
the land.
Gowdy. 1914: Lewis. 1915.
Hank" Gowdy was entirely ignored
by those who studied the strength of
the Braves and Athletics in 1914. Yet
it was Hank" who established rec
ord for terrific hitting that never may
be beaten. He damned the ball to all
portions of the lot and the bulk of his
drives were extra basers. During the
regular season he hit far under 800,
during the four-game world series he
batted for .545. He was a demon
with the mace. He caught and threw
to bases in a way that was superb.
Hank rose to the greatest heights
of his career during those four bat
ties, and the things he did will live
long in memory-and forever in base
ball history.
Just before the world series frolics
of 1915 got under way. there were re-
ports that Duffy Lewis was to be
benched. Twas said that he hadn't
been playing up to his real power and
furthermore, he was fading. At the
last moment, Bill Carrigan decided to
let hinz into the big games and take
a chance. And a fortunate decision
it was.
Lewis was the mightiest power in
the attack of the Red SoX, and one
of the real powers in defensive play.
Time and again his scintillating field
ing cut off Phillie rallies. And it was
his bludgeon which helped to win at
least two of the first four games,
while the two .hom1 runs swats exuded
by this Lewis person routed the Phil
lies in the fifth combat and gave the
worlds championship to the Red Sox
N0Ytf