Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 244, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1915 — PHILLIES WIN OUT IN NATIONAL LEAGUE [ARTICLE]

PHILLIES WIN OUT IN NATIONAL LEAGUE

Much Credit Due to Manager Moran and Pitcher Alexander. m • ' Tail-end Team, Not Given Chance at Beginning of Season, Captures Pennant—Praise for Cravath, Luderus and Others. (By CHARLES H. CROWELL.) To Pat Moran and Grover Cleveland Alexander belong the honor of landing the National league pennant this year for the Philadelphia team, to Moran for his gameness and rare judgment in crucial situations and to Alexander for the cunning he has displayed with his right whip. Moran’s methods are the kind that win. He took hold of a tail-end team at the beginning of the season and by tact and courage landed a winner in his first year as a manager. He is known as a stem man on the field, and when he has anything to say to a player he does not indulge in any wheedling nonsense. He does not ride his men; neither does he pet them. There is no manager in baseball more serious-minded than Patrick John Moran. Moran knows as much about inside baseball as any man living. He seldom, if ever, plays hunches, or guesses that a certain play is the right one. His study arid observation of what to him is a seripus business has taught him what he firmly bel.eves the right thing to do in each situation that arises in the course of a game. On several occasions he has yanked twirlers when it seemed foolhardy to dp so, and at other times he has allowed pitchers to remain in the box when it seemed certain that the opposition would hit him all over the lot Put in Pinch Hitters. He has put in pinch hitters when it seeded foolish to the fans, and he has sent supposedly weak hitters to bat in regular turn when it seemed foolhardy to do so. No manager in modem baseball has handled a team with such delicate judgment as Moran has handled the Phillies. And the Phillies have won. No one ever suspected Moran of having managerial ability. He scouted sometimes, but as a general thing he tried to educate young pitchers. Re has proved himself even more deserving of the title of “Miracle Man” than George Stallings, because it was his first job as a manager, while Stallings is a man of experience. Moran was bora February 7, 1876, at Fitchburg, Mass. He was signed by the Lyons club of the New York State league in 1897. He played with the Montreal club of the Eastern

league in 1900 and bfecame the property of the Boston Nationals in 1901. He was traded to the Chicago Nationals in 1905 and in 1910 he was traded to Philadelphia. He was appointed manager of the team this spring after Charlie Dooin had been deposed. Importance of Alexander. The next man of importance on the Philadelphia team aftdr Moran is Grover Cleveland Alexander, the "Nebraska Wonder.” His record this year is far ahead of that of any other pitcher in the National league. He has been a prime factor in keeping the team on top. During the recent PhiladelphiaSt. Louis series Umpire Bill Klem, in speaking of Alexander, said: “There’s one player in our league who could win the pennant tor any of the seven teams who are out of first place. He is Grover Cleveland Alex-, ander. It is the first time since I have been in the league that one player stands out in front of all of his rivals. It would not be proper for me to give my opinion on the race or to pick my favorite for the pennant, but I’lt Say this: If Alexander had been with the Cardinals since the start of the season St. Louis would have won the pennant Huggins lacked just such a pitcher. When a team has a pitcher like Alexander it shows confidence. I’vb seen the Phils slip several times this summer; Alexander would go to the hill, pitch a shut-out game, and the Quakers would be back on their Btride. Give the Reds Alexander and I think Herzog would have won the pennant. The same* for the Cubs and other clubs.” Alexander was born at St. Paul, Neb., on February 26, 1887. His first professional engagement was with the Galesburg (Ill.) team in the lUinoisMichigan league •in 1909. He was drafted by the Indianapolis team of the American association in 1910 and was turned over to the Syracuse club of the New York State league without a trial in 1910 and drafted by the Phillies at the end of that season. Cravath Is Praised. A large part of the credit for winning the flag belongs to Clarence Clifford Cravath, more popularly known as Cactus and Gavvy. Cravath has never been noted for his fielding or speed on the bases. His specialty is in making home runs, and he stands in a class of his own in this regard. All season long he has been swinging his wagon tongue with deadly effect, and his long-distance 'drives have meant runs. Cravath has won many a game tor the Phillies this year by his terrific hitting and takes rank alongside of Alexander as the man who put the Quakertown team on the baseball map. Fred Luderus on lint base also deserves much credit for the success of the team." He is captain of the team and stands wen at the top in the batting list. Luderus has a habit of IntnoUng the baU out of the lot when

least expected. He joined the Phillies in 1910. Others Do Well. Much good can be said of other members of the team. Pitchers Rixey, Chalmers, Demaree, Mayer and McQuillan have performed in championship form during the season, all being" lucky in escaping injury or other ailments. Milton Stock, the young third baseman, secured in a trade from the New York Giants, has been a mountain of strength to the team since the injury to Bobby Byrne. His fielding/ has been sensational and his batting timely. Hlb playing has surpassed anything he showed with the Giants, and, in fact, has been of more value than Hans Lobert, for whom he, Beals Becker and Lobert were traded. The work of Shortstop David Bancroft has been of the highest .class throughout the season. This is hi& first year in fast company and he has won the hearts of the Philadelphia fans. All the Phillies are old enough to vote, the baby of the Moran squad being "Stanwood Baumgartner, graduate jot the University of Chicago. Lefty be twenty-two years old in December. He and Ben Tincup have the same birthday—December 14. Houston (Tex.) fans should be interested in games in which Baumgartner and Adams make up the battery, as both were born in, that city. Bums is the most aged of the catchers, McQuillan of the pitchers, Byrnes of the inflelders, Cravath of the outfielders, and Dugey of the subs. Thtf youngest catcher is Adams, the most youthful pitcher Baumgartner, the junior infielder Stock, youngest outfielder Whitted, and Weiser is the Juvenile among the substitutes. The average age of the Quakers is twentysix years.