New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
B15tlia1acy of Ex-Fordhan,
Boy Factor IN Giants Rise

Frisch can go down a football field
with the speed Of a frightened deer,
and once he got loose it was difficult
indeed to bring him down On the
defense he was equally as good. He
was the same on a basketball court,
fast and shifty on his feet.
During his college days Frisch was
credited with doing the 10o-yard dash
in ten seconds fiat, and it is said that
Andy Moakley, head coach of the
American Olympic team. declared that
he could develop the Fordham star
into one of the fastest short distance
runners in the land.
Frisch's performances on the Ford
ham nine of 1919 stamped him as the
greatest college player of the last dec
AIDE. Arthur Delvin, the Fordham
coach, informed John McGraw of the
youngsters ability early in that sea-
son, with the result that Frisch was
signed TO join the Giants at the end
of the campaign, although he had re-
celyed factoring offers from the
Yankees, the Boston Red Sox and the
Detroit Tigers. Early in June the
young star made his last appearance as
an amateur in u baseball game with
Nlllanova. In that contest he slammed
out home run, a triple, two doubles
and two singles in six trips to the
plate. 1t was a fitting climax to a
brilliant college career.
Made Good at Once
Frisch left for Pittsburgh immedi-
ately to join his new team. What he
has done since that time is matter
of history, familiar to all followers Of
the national game. The youngsters
first real test came in August Of last
year, when he was rushed in to re-
place the faltering Larry Doyle in the
six-game series with TIE Cincinnati
Reds upon which hinged the result of
the pennant race. 1t was situation that
would have tried the soul of a sea-
soned veteran, but Frisch made good
from the start.
His exploits were heralded all over
the country, for the eyes Of the base
ball world were then looking toward
New York. He became famous in day,
and his fame has spread ever since.
His rapid ascent from comparative
obscurity to the heights of stardom
had never before been equaled.. He
was in there to stay and he finished
the season as regular. His chain
lightning speed soon earned him the
title Of the ''Fordham Flash
On the training trip last spring
Frisch's ability was the talk of the
Southland. He came back to the Polo
Grounds with the team, established as
its regular third baseman. and soon
made the fans forget the performances
of Arthur Devlin and Heinie thinner
man. There are no greater admirers
of the kid nfelder than John McGraw,
his own manager, and Stuffy McInnis,
the veteran first baseman. who WATCHED
the youngster closely during the ex-
hibition games between the Giants and
the Red Sox this spring.
McGraw is credited with saying that
Frisch was the most promising young
ster that he had ever seen. Mclnnis
declared that in another year Frisch
will rank as the greatest player in the
game.
Scarcely had a fortnight of the pres
ent campaign passed when the Ford
ham Flash was stricken with an at
tack of appendicitis. he team missed
his presence greatly and soon began
to founder dangerously close to the
cellar But now Frisch has recovered
and is back in the game with all of
the former dash and brilliancy, and
the Giants are in the race once more"
''Prcs' to Try Again