Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 310, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1918 — GOWDY’S LATEST ACHIEVEMENT ONE OF MOST SPECTACULAR IN BASEBALL GAME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GOWDY’S LATEST ACHIEVEMENT ONE OF MOST SPECTACULAR IN BASEBALL GAME

It always seemed to us that the most spectacular figure ever produced by a world series or by any other big sporting event was Lank Hank Gowdy, the blonfl backstop of the Boston Braves, who bludgeoned his way to fame in 1914, writes Damon Runyon. Unheralded and unsung, Lankus Hankus we|it Into that series and ripped it wide open. He was supposed to be an addle-pated sort of fellow behind the bat, an indifferent catcher and a bum hitter, but for four stirring days the long Ohioan was a Solomon squatting in the shade of the hickories and a Hercules when he straddled the plate. t An ingenious fellow is Lank Hank Gowdy, with an ifigenious smile and an ingenious way of thinking.. After the series was all over and we took to reflection and retrospection it seemed to us quite natural that he should have turned out to be a hero. Salutation Worth While. We saw Lank Hank during the list world series up at the Polo grounds.

He -wore a soldier uniform, and he was passing the hat for Clark Griffith's bat and ball fund, smiling his old ingenious smile as he worked through the crowd, saluting friends of his baseball days. A salutation from Lank Hank is like a blast of fresh air. It is no casual nodding with him—-no mumbling how-d’y-do sort of greeting. He tells the world when he says hello. He is always glad to see people, and be wants them to know it It struck us that day that it was singularly appropriate for Lank Hank Gowdy to be there in that uniform; It seemed to us quite in line with his spectacular career, and it strengthened the appeal which the personality of Hank has always had for our imagination. v . , ' He was the first baseball notable to enlist for service. Many another will follow in his footsteps during the coming winter, but Lank Hank was first. That will be his claim to fame long after his deeds on the diamond have t&en forgotten.

“HANK" GOWDY IN HIS SOLDIER UNIFORM.