(October 20th, 1911) PHILADELPHIA– The rivalry between New York and Philadelphia just heated up a bit, as Philly fans have made life so miserable for Fred Snodgrass that he has left the city and returned to New York until the rain stops. Snodgrass, as you may recall, slid hard into Frank “Home Run” Baker an inning after Baker’s dramatic game tying home run. The slide was so vicious that it produced gashes in Baker’s arm and leg, and tore his trousers from knee to hip. Even the home town New Yorkers thought it a dirty ply, and booed Snodgrass when he walked back to the dugout. Well, if you think the home town didn’t like it, you can only imagine what Baker’s Philly fans thought of it. They have so aggressively hooted Snodgrass since he got off the train that McGraw thought that Snodgrass should head back to New York until the rain stops for his own safety.
The center fielder’s absence from the Majestic Hotel started a wild rumor that he had been shot by a crazed A’s fan. There was no substance ot the rumor, but a crowd gathered at the Majestic until several Giants players came out and explained the situation. As for Snodgrass? Will he even play in Game 4 in Philly if this rain ever lets up?
“My goat is not for sale,” he says. They say the crowd tomorrow will have it in for me, but there’s no danger of my going up in the air.”
Another wild rumor went out that baker had suffered blood poisoning because of that fateful slide, but this was of course hogwash. Baker is resting peacefully at his home in North Philly, and is as pleased as anyone about these rains, which have given him time to lick his wounds.
IN OTHER NEWS: Tickets for Game 4 are almost impossible to come by here in Philadelphia, and several fans braved the thunderstorm last night in the doorways of Shibe Park in the hopes of getting their hands on some tickets. Scalpers are having no problems disposing of tickets for double their face value, and Game 4 will certainly be a sellout.
*notes for this article came from the October 20th, 1911 copy of the New York Times.
