The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-03
'BABE' ADAMS GAREERI0NN0UND
READS LIKE PAGES FROM A NOVEL
Had a Hard Time Getting
Started; Refuses To
Qait. Now

Charles lBabel Adams, the husky
S9-year.oid right handed hurler Of
the pittsburg club; has a career and
record ON the diamond that Is as
thrilling as Il Is remarkable, and
some Of It's phases are as colorful
as the brightest chapters in the life
of some 81 Americas most noted
characters. no begin with, It might
be we'll 70 explain to some OF tho
unsophjsticated who Judge the age
OF Adams BY the intantile appella-
ton that was tackled on him about
the period In which Abraham Lin.
coin was the appellation Of RAJ
Splitter" that the impression the
nickname gives that Mr.. Adams IA
just out ot9his teens Is slightly err
roneous Tor In 1882 at Upton, Ind.
was this coming great ushered into
this world.
when very young Babes father
located IN Mt Moriah, Mo-, and till.
I'd farm. Babes youthful days
we're spent attending the district
school In winter and following the
pillow and COW during the summer.
Consequently he grew big, strong
and hard, solliard and strong in fact
that he was the selection TO do the
hurting for the Haymakers, cham
pions 81 Harrison county Missouri,
He pitched so well for that team
that i,e rarefyeti an offer from the
management Of the Parsons club
Of the Missouri Valley league which
he accepted.
In 1905 Babe Adams won 80 Of
the 40 games he pitched for the
Parsons team, and this achieve
ment won him an entrance into the
big show via the st. Louis card.-
mails. That outfit kept the rookie
ON the bench half the season Of
1905. then sent him to Louisville.
In turn that club passed him on to
the Denver club Of the Western
league. sosthat season wasn't good
one for the boy from Mt. Mor'ah,
who required plenty OF work 10 de-
velop his ability. In 1907 the sun
shone brightly on Adams and after
the season ended d halo Of baseball
glory settled oyer the rather taci.
turn countenance OF the coming
hurlsr Of the game. BY beginning
hat season with a winning streak
Of ii consecutive " ctories and fin
ishing with q record Of IS victories
out Of 50 games he hurled, the Tip
ton Wonder was the idol Of every
tan in Denver, "
The Pittsburgh management pur-
chased this sensational youngster,
but gave him only short trial in
1908, then EARNED him out to the
Louisville club OF the American AS.
ISOLATION and for that team he
pitched So effectively that he was
recalled and on April %, 1903, Babe
Adams began his real career in the
big show. In the fourth inning Of
the game played on that date he
replaced Vic Willis and for the re
mainder Of the game held tn Cardi-
mails hitless, which enabled the Pr
rates to win the game. In his next
attempt WIN hswas against the Cubs
his work was Sensational and the
Chicago team failed to put over a
run IN IL innings, the Pittsburgh
team winning by score of 10.
Adams was used as a relief pitcher
for month or SO and was emf
nently successful. For instance, on
August 6, after Deacon Philippi
failed 70 stop the st. Louis team,
Adams took up the task at the end
OF the fourth round and again held
that Quilt hitless and his team won
out.
Adams was so successful In the
role of relief pitcher that Manager
Clarke couldnst keep him from step.
Ping into the ranks OF the regulars
and toward the end OF the season
he was pitching such wonderful ball
that he was the selection to pitch
the first game OF the worlds series
against The Detroit, club, champions
Of the American League, and the
rookie ccntounded all critics as well
as the hard.hitting Detroit swats-
men by holding them to six hits
which gave the Pirates the first
victory by q score Of II.
A blight struck Michigan on octo.
her i6. 1903 which extended from
The copper country down to Kala.
mazoo. 10 Wyandotte and Ypsilant
and even to Windsor, Canada, fol
on that date 900 Michiganers sal
In Bennett Park and shiyered, moi
SO much because It was a cold
moist october day but because they
gazed upon o rookie, unknown t
most OF them beating "Wild Bill
Donovan, their idol. This remark
able yopngster held the Tigers, in
GLIDING sam Crawford and Ty Cobt
10 six hits, which yielded no runs
The gamy Michiganers who hat
laid their kale on the event as the
game progressed saw only two play
ers in that contest; only two-Babl
Adams and Honns Wagner. II wal