The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-25
Heinis Zimmerman tabOve) and Heinie GrOh.

CINCINNATI, Aug. 25.-(Special)-
When the critics select the king of
the National leagues third basemen,
Heinie Groh is sure to receive much
consideration. The. diminutive in
fielder, whose playing has been an
important factor in the success of
Mathewson's club, may NOT be the
greatest third baseman in the pas
time, but he is one of the best. Re-
| Gently many experts have compared
| his work with that of Heinie Zim-
norman, who this season is con-
| ceded to be the peer of all third
sackers.
Groh has developed rapidly in the
last few seasons. Not only have his
batting and fielding been of assist
ance to the Reds in their drive to-
ward the top, but his generalship has
figured prominently in the inside
play" OF the infield, the other mem
bers of which are Hal Chase, at
first; Davey Shean and Bill Nc
Kechnie, alternating at second, and
Billy .Kopf. at shortstop.
The little star of the Reds was
born in Rochester, N. Y, in 1889,
and acquired his early baseball
training on the sand lots Of that
city. Groh played with many clubs in
that neighborhood during his youth.
He took up the game because he
preferred baseball to any other line
Of endeavor.
Loves the Game.
Il didn't become a ball player be-
cause / liked life OF ease" he re-
marked in recounting the circum-
stances of his entrance into the
game.
LAS far back as l am able to re-
member ! loved to play baseball. In
my youth dreamed of becoming a
great pitcher like Amos Rusie, but
my small stature prevented my ever
becoming a pitcher / did pitch for
some CT the clubs 1 played with in
my youngsterhood, and made a
pretty good showing at that, but
when l got into faster semi-profes-
sional circles / abandoned the pitch
ing and became an infielder Since
then / have played every position on
the infleld, even getting a chance at
first base on one occasion.
MY favorite position, however, is
third base, and / am doing my ut
most at that post to help the Reds
keep up in the race this season. /
am confident that our club will be in
the fight all the way. do not say
1t is a great club, but 1t is a we'll
balanced team, the boys are hitting
and the pitching is beyond the aver
age. Nobody can laugh at the Reds
today. We are all playing for
Matty, and / will go on record now
as saying that he is the finest man
ager for whom ever played. He is
destined to become one Of the really
great leaders Of the game"
His Debut At Oshkosh.
Groh's first professional engage
ment was with the Oshkosh club in
1908, when that team was q MEM
Der of the Wisconsin and Illinois
league. Although he batted only
Isl in .119 games, he played such a
smart fielding game at shortstop
that year that he was retained, and
the next season he jumped his bat
ting average to .2S5 for 113 games.
Ever since then he has managed to
keep his mark well above the ESQ
notch, raising it to .297 in 1910, while
still playing with Oshkosh, and to
1888 while covering shortstop for
Buffalo in the Eastern league in
1911. His best batting mark while
in the National league was attained
in 1915 while in the service Of the
Reds, and it was .290.
In 1910 Cleveland put In q draft
claim for Groh and he left Oshkosh,
only to be sent to Decatur Oh the
Three-I league, by which club he
was sold to the Giants. The New
York team had plenty of infielders
that season, and Aug. 8 he was sent
to Buffalo on an optional agreement.
In 1912 he was recalled by the
Giants. but still the team was over
.4Aolya5 x,,ttts a, Raiders and as IL was
thought Groh's battingA wasn't quite
good enough for the needs of the
club he was traded May % TO the
Reds, together with Josh Devore and
Leon Ames, for Fromme, a pitcher
who was a failure with the Giants.
Groh has been with the Reds ever
since