The Washington times., 1919-01-09
HANK GOWDY, BASEBALL'S REAL HERO,
WILL BE GIVEN WONDERFUL WELCOME

The announcement. from Hank
Gowdy to the Boston Braves that he
will probably be back from France
in time to make the Southern train
ing trip with the club-certainly In
time for the opening of the season
brought Joy to all baseball fans.
When he dons his baseball togs,
catcher's mask, shin guards and
chest protector and marches out on
the diamond for his first game in
1919 he viii get reception such as
has never been given a ball player
He viii be national hero. Baseball
partisanship will be forgotten by
every man, woman and child in the
stands, and Gowdy will be acclaimed
q hero in the greatest Of all hero
elass-a war hero.
Then il win be that Henry N.
yGowdy. of Columbus. Ohio, will realize
his reward for doing exactly the right
shing In quitting his team in 1917 and
enlisting in the army, thusgaining
the distinction of beng the frst big
league player to go to the assistance
OF his country. ..Ir.
II was in June, 1917, that Gowdy
announced In Boston that he was
through with baseball for the dura-
ton OF the war. and that he was going
at once to his home town, Columbus,
TO enlist. He was working under 4
contract calling for $4,000 for about
six months work. but he tossed this
aside for Uncle Sans $50 per month.
Gained Quick Promotion.
Soon after joining the colors Gowdv
was made a sergeant and shortly
thereafter was on his way to France
There he did a mans work in his
usual manly way, went over the top,
and was recommended for bravery.
lie was in line for a commission when
the Germans realized they were we'll
licked and quit.
Grit has always been one of
Gowdy's characteristics, and he put
the cspstOne on his reputation in this
line when he enlisted. This same
fighting spirit has been shown many
times on the diamond by Hank. 1t
was his courage that held up the
Braves pitchers in 1914, when the
Boston club came from behind and
beat Johnny McGraw's Giants out of
the National League pennant, and 1t
vas this same courage that enabled
the Braves to down the Athletics in
the worlds series that finished the
season. In the four games OF the big
series Hank hit for .545 and fieIded
faultlessIy.
Started As Dat Boy.
Gowdy got his early education in
baseball while acting as bat boy for
the Columbia club of the Ohio State
League. He practiced with the play
ers for several seasons and by the
time he graduated into long pants
had acquired enough experience to be
given a chance to play professionally.
He was signed by the Lancaster club
of the Ohio State League in 1908 and
played with that team the following
season He was then a first baseman
and once in q while was sent in to
catch a game.
From Lancaster. Gowdy went TO
Dallas, of the Texas League. ani
while there. was discovered by Man
ager McGraw, OF the Giants. McGraw
had seen him play while the Giants
were touring the south in the spring,
and at the end of the 1910 season, af-
ter Gowdy had been crowned cham
pion batsmaR OF the league, pur-
chased him outright
The following spring he was taken
TO Marlin with the New York team
as an understudy to Fred Merkle at
first He failed to live up to mis- big
reputation as a hitter. however, Snd
before the season was over was re-
leased to Boston. He spent most OF
the time on the bench during the re-
mainder of that season.
Killing Made Him Catcher.
The following year Johnny Killing,
then manager of the Braves, decided
that catching was Gowdys forte and
he made a pretty good showing Sc
hind the bat
When George StaIlings took Kings
Job he doped il out that Hank need
ed a little more experience and sent
him 70 Buffalo In the spring of-I913
With the Bisons. Gowdy did so well,
both behind the bat-at the bat, he
hit for .31I-that he was recalled at
the end OF the season by BostoN
His work during the regular sea
son OF 1914 and in the worlds series
bas already been mentioned
In 1915 he hit for .2IT AMI IN 1915
for .25a- Gowdy played in but 30
games In 1917 when he quit the team
and at that time had an average for
swatting. Of .214