Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1917 — HANK GOWDY’S ACT WORTHY OF EMULATION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HANK GOWDY’S ACT WORTHY OF EMULATION

Baseball fans will never forget Harry (Hank) Gowdy. The tall blond catcher of the Boston Braves has made his name among professional ball players by no act on the diamond, although he is known by reputation wherever our national game is played. Gowdy is the first player among the hundreds eligible for national service in the major league who has enlisted. By thus coming to the front by his own voluntary act he not only displays a true Americanism which reflects great credit upon him personally, but also that of his profession. But he also has done an act that undoubtedly will be emulated by others of the professional diamond. Gowdy is no ordinary ball player. Neither is he of ordinary mold. He is a recognized leader among those of his profession; a man with character and brains. Gowdy is a man who would have been successful tn most any vocation that he might have selected, had not his skill as a ball player made him one of the best catchers in the

oldest of the baseball organizations. For five years he has been the mainstay of the Braves back of the bat, and his work always has been conscientious and marked by a degree of skill that marked him a leader of those playing his position. He came into unusual prominence in the world’s series between Boston and the Athletics in the fall of 1914, when the Braves were the first to win the championship title by taking four straight games. Gowdy was the batting hero of the series. He also caught all the games for Boston, and his all-round playing as a catcher was never more brilliant in his career than in these games. Standing more than six feet, weighing close to 190 pounds, of fine Intelligent face, with a shock of waving blond hair, he always has been a conspicuous figure on the professional diamond. Gow<s sacrifices a salary of $6,000 as a ball player to serve his country in the humble capacity of a private in the Ohio National Guard. All honor and glory to Gowdy.

FIRST BASEBALL PLAYER TO ENLIST IN ARMY.