Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 174, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1915 — ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE “COME BACKS” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE “COME BACKS”

Up out of the misty murk of oblivion emerges one Jack Coombs, former world’s series star and long the mainstay of the Athletics’ great pitching staff in their palmy days. With Squire Ebbetts’ Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, ably managed by Your Uncle Wilbert Robinson, Coombs is once more battling his way over the rough roads that lead to fame and glory. Released outright by the Athletics and generally regarded as being one of baseball’s "has beens,” the "Iron Man” of other days has flashed a brand of twirling in the National league this season that bids fair to put him at or near the top of the circuit’s winning hurlers. Coombs’ return to the top of the heap is one of the most remarkable ever recorded in the annals of baseball. The big twirler severely wrenched the muscles of his back in a world’s series battle while with the Athletics. At that time it was thought

he was through for all time as an athlete. But Coombs was determined to stick in the game. He employed specialists to work on him, and a “harness”—something on the order of a steel jacket—was rigged up tor him. Wearing this he was able to work on the mound, though under difficulty. The injury made itself manifest in his work, however. He twirled lots of good games, but he couldn’t pitch with the effectiveness that had once marked his efforts. Connie Mack was loath to let him go and it was not until last fall, when he “cleaned house” for fair, did the Athletic manager part with him. Coombs, then a free agent, went to Manager Robinson of the Dodgers. To him he made the proposition that if he didn’t return to his old form ills services were not to cost a cent. Judging by his work so far, Coombs is meeting the Dodgers’ paymaster regularly.

Jack Coombs, Formerly With Champion Athletics, Now Battling Himself to Glory With Brooklyn Dodgers.