New Britain herald., 1927-12-23
(BY BILLY ENANS)

In over $500 major league ball games in which I have officiatcd, l have seen so many sensational plays atield that it is difficult matter for me to make up my mind what play I regard as the superlative feat in fielding.
 After considerable thought I am inclined to think that the play that brought the 1921 world series to a close was the most thrilling of them all Perhaps the big stakes for which the two teams were playing made the play stand out all the more.
 Back in 1911, Frank Baker. then with the Philadelphia Athletics, won for himself the title of Home Run King" largely by his slugging in that particular classic. Unless l ad mistaken he led the American league in homo runs that year with nine. Nowadays, Babe Ruth makes that many in q couple of weeks
 It will be remembered that Baker made home runs in the 1911 series off both Marquard and Matthewson at critical spots, turning what seemed defeats into victories for the Athletics.
 It is, therefore, all the more in terestng that Baker, noted for his feats of slugging, should be one of tho victims in the most thrilling fielding feat I have ever seen.
 The 1921 world series was the first meeting between the two New York clubs in baseball's classic. That year the teams were playing best five in nine games.
 The Tanks had gotten away 10 a two-game lead, but when the eighth game of the series rolled around the Giants were in front four games 10 three. Unless the Tanks could win the eighth game the affair was ended for another I.yc&r.
 An error enabled the Giants 10 score q run in the first inning That one run. as it later turned out, de- cidcd the ball game and the series. There was on more scoring. How ever, in the ninth. the Tanks staged q rally that promised great things. but proved "dud.' II did set the stage. however, for the greatest fielding play l have ever seen. The Tanks made their bid to even the count or win the game by sending Ruth to the bat as pinch hitter. He had been out of the game because of an injured arm. The Yankee fans went wild when Ruth took his place at the bat They had visions of a homo run i that might even the count The Babe failed 'cm merely grounding out to first.
 Ward. tho next batsman. was ! passed. His reaching ii st base set
 the stage for the thriller that was 10 1 follow. Frank Baker, Home Run ! King" of other days. was sent in 10 i pinch hit. A circuit drive by him would win tho game for the Yanks.
 Rawlings, a substitute, was play : ing second base for the Giants. He l had played sensational ball through ! out the series. When Baker stepped
 10 the plate. Rawlings moved scv-
 cral steps toward first base. Baker . being q dead right-hcld hitter. Getting q pitch to his liking, 1 Baker drove q sizzler to right that it seemed neither Rawlings nor 1 Kelly, playing first base for New
 York, would be able 10 handle. Rawlings made dive after the ! ball and, in some way, came up
 with II, q miraculous play. Badly out Of position. he somehow got the
 ball 10 first ahead of Baker. Ward, running with the hit and certain tine ball had gone through the intield, dashed for third Kelly
 mad" great throw to Trisch at
 third. Ky diving at Ward. who
 went into third with the most ap- proved hook slide Frisch won the decision, ending the game and win
 nir| the series for the Giants. ] Three great plays, wonder stop hy Rawlings. Il remarkable throw by Kelly and q diving finish by
 Frach in putting tho ball on the ! runner. comprise the most scnsa- tional play l have ever seen aned.