The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-29


what has been termed a superman typ
mcnt of the struggle. Certain names RI
in connection with specific series long
of the competing clubs have faded from
The pitching of Christy Mathewson
IN the series against the Philadelphia
Athletics in 1904; the heavy batting OF
Franklin Baker against the Giants in
the Philadelphia-New York contests
of 1911 when he pounded out two
home. runs at critical periods in the
play and drove in five runs during the
series: cannonading of Hank Gowdys
.Jat in the Boston Braves victory over
the Athletics in the struggle of 1914
" hen the Braves catcher startled the
baseball world with his terrific hitting
that gave him an average of .545 and
an assortment of drives which consist
ed of one home run; one three Dagger;
three two base hits and five singles in
eleven times at bat. all made world
series history.
The same can be said of the field
play Of Harry Hooper in the famous
eight game series between the Boston
Americans and the New York Nation
ais. the work of Third Baseman Rohe
of the Chicago Americans in 1906
when that team defeated the Chicago
Nationals four games out of six; Ed
die Collins remarkable showing at
second base for the Athletics in the
series of 1910 and 1913 and Pitcher
base for the Giants in 1918. The list
might be continued almost indefinite
" if all the stars were to be given
their due.
No Dope Works.
1t can be seen that every series de-
velops one or more players VINO rise
To a degree far in excess of their nor
nal diamond work during the regular
pennant play. Various reasons nave
been advanced for this marked mt
ing of their game and they nave peen
referred to as star money players
series cracks and other terms to dis
tingufsh them from the men whose
work in the big contests is neither
more or less sensational than their
seasonal play. Another peculiar 1eat-
ure is that there can be no accurate
forecasting as to which men VIII rise
to the occasion in this manner. many
have been expected to play most Drill
1iantlv only to disappoint their sup
Dorters with an exhibition whlch
hardly deserved the descriptive term
OF mediocre.
There is a wide field of speculative
possibilities among the players oI ny
Chicago Americans and the New I oIh
%ationals and the World series heroes
NAV sprinE from unexpected positions
in the coming contests between THESE
clubs Whether these series stars WIN
rise from the ranks OF the VeteIa ns
Of the White SoX and the Glahts olily
tir,e can tell. In veteran material
tested in the fire of world series striIe
the New York Nationals nave d 49,
ed advantage over their rlNals I'm
~ Riddle west Whether all OF these
piayers will get into the SERIES NJ"
ever remains to be seen -,
T., additior1 to Manager McGraW,
who has led four teams in the strus
rles. Pitcher Tesreau was g.
~ the Giants team whlch IlsuIeu III
cbanpionship play of 1872 ana SLo,
1i,,,,,,errnan was a member of the
Chicago Nationals when that clup nlet
the Philadelphia Athletlcs IN A'iV;
catcher George Gibson was penlhu
the Dlate for the Pittsburgh team
v-be1 that combination played the
Detroit Americans in 19Os, anu
pitcher Demaree and Outflelder
Burns played with the Giants IN the
series of 1913 against the Athieucs,
In sharp contrast the White SoX nave
but two PLAYERS who have participated
to any extent in the baseball classic;
Eddie Collins, the Chicago second
baseman, was a MEMBER OF CONNIE
Macks famous pennant and %orIa l
series machine a few years ago ana
figured prominently in the struggles
of 191O-'11-'12-'14.
Murphy Old Star.
Eddie Murphy was also a member
of the Athletics for several years and
was a factor in the series play. In
fielderN Robert Byrne was enrolled
with the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
Nationals in 1909 and 1915 when these
teams won the right to play the
American league pennant winners for
the worlds championship.
There is also much promising ma
terial among the younger members
of the teams. and it is not all unlikely
that one or more of these players, un-
tried in the premier diamond conflict,
may prove the deciding factor in
either a game or the series as a whole.
Certainly some of them have excellent
records to support the superstition.
Benny Kauff, the star batter of the
defunct Federal league; Jim Thorpe,
the famous Indian athlete, football
player and former member of several
major and minor league clubs;
Pitcher Fred Anderson; Walter Holke
and others of the younger Giants all
appear as possessing possibilities in
this direction.
The White Sox roster includes the
names of several players who have
sprung into baseball prominence
within the past season or two and it
may be from this list there will ap-
pear one who by a spectacular field