Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-29
HARRY DAVIS.
MAKES EXIT
FROM GAME
Mack's Right Bower Will
Devote Time to Business
and Common Council
STARRED IN MANY PARTS
BY ROBERT w. MAXWELL

Another good story was spoiled last
night When Harry Davis, common coun-
Gilman from the Twenty-eishth WARD.
president of the Sterling Iron and steer
Company and assistant manager. cap
tain and scout extraordinary OF the Ath-
letics ball club. decided to step out OF
baseball and devote his entire time 10
common councilng and taking care oi
his customers who need iron and steel.
Harry left Connie Mack fiat, and the
boss of the AS is disconsolatc. Harry
is not sore at Connie and Connie Is not
sore at Harry. They are the best OF
friends they did not go TO the mat after
a scrap or anything like that. Davis
quit Just because his business was grow
ing so rapidly that he didn't nave the
time to devote to baseball.
But let's get back to the lost story
When Connie shunted his stars TO bos
ton for so much per star ana canneu
some of the goofs to the minor leagues
IL was limited that Davis would return
to the game and play first base next
season. Harry was about the only
player left, and II was thought ne wouio
fiji in at the initial sack until some
one was procured. Although the ripe
old age of forty-nvc, Harry still Is very
active and able to play a good game Oh
ba sehall Every one was anxious to see
how he would come out, but now the
stuff IL off. Thus Big Business mas
! scored another victory over baseoali'
Played Many Parts
Harry was one Of the unique charac-
| tcrs in baseball. He never became eN-
/ cited and went serenely on his wa!
working his head Off. but always Keep
! ing both feet on the ground. He "oulo
be on the coaching lines one day ana
/ don the false whiskers and gum shoes
| to spy on some unsuspecting busher IN
| the grass belt the next. Occasionail!
! he would fill in as a pinch hitter In the
regular games. and when Connie was on
a still hunt for talent. would sit In as
manager of the club. Harry made him.
self useful at all times and his easy
going methods earned him the name
| of Jasper among the players
Harry was n great hitter in his day
and led the American League in nome
runs for four straight seasons. In 1901
he had ten circuit swats. eight in 1905
twelve in 1906 and seven In 1907. He
could hit 'em mile in those days ant
in 1902 led the league In two baggers
| when he raped out forty-three. II
1905 he gathered forty-seven and II
1907 came through with thirty-seven
That's some record for eXtra-base clouts
His Last Appearance
lie played in one game last year ant
just missed being a hero by one inch
Ii was in the thirteenth inning of ;
scoreless game with the New iori
Yankees, played at Shibe Park on Ma!
80 Both teams were playing wonderful
ball, the pitchers were going good an'
the batters were a path from the hom
plate to the bench. Connie was anxious
to grab that game and inserted new
players here and there until MS suppl.
had been used up.
In the thirteenth Bodie opened with 6
walk and took second on Bates's sacri
fee Stuffy NcInnis stepped up AM
rapped a single to left, and Ping, VIII
was travelling without a taxicab. coul'
get nc farther than third. Wally Schan'
sat in for Haley. and Slim Love, IN
Yank hurler, was told to pass him. TN
filled the bags with only one out, ant
Jing Johnson was the next batter.
Davis to the Rescue
Connie looked over the array of hire
men strewn over the bench and shool
his head. No one was present who coul'
even dent the ball and johnson wa
about to rneander to the plate whei
Mack turf ed to Davis.
"Bow 40 you feel. Harry" he asked
Can ycu lit for Jing?"
Davis rushed to the bat pile ant
searched for his old bat. 1t was no
there. but he grabbed the longest one Il
the bunch and strobe up to the plate
The Yankees were surprised and Lof
couldn't believe his eyes. No one eN
, pectcd Harry to take an active part u
, the contest any more than Connie Macs
} But he pitched to the veteran and TN
croyd-the largest of last 'eason--si
back and breathlessly watched the out
! come.
Hits Into Double Play
Harry let two bad ones slide by an
then took a mighty swing. He hit tn
ball on the nose and sent 1t to the lei
of the second baseman. 1t looks like
sure safety, but Fritz Maisel made
sensational stop. got Schang at secon
! and the ball was relayed to first ]
time to nip Davis by a step. The doubl
, play retired the side and to this da
Harry blames everything on the guy VIII
| stole his bat. Had he been swingin
the old war club. which was one inc
longer, the ball would have bee
knocked into Kensington or some plac
he claims.
The Yankees won the game in I'll
fifteenth inning when they showed
pair Of runs across the pan.
Harry Davis was the originator
the reverse steal in baseball and cause
,he rules to be changed. In one gan
he reached second and in order
/ / ~ toll fire hao