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Big Six · 04-22-2003, 09:43 PM

Boston Globe , Friday, June 6, 1908

RED SOX THE SURPRISE OF THE SEASON
Collins' Speed Boys Playing Winning Ball, Close to First Division
Young Players Making Difference

BOSTON- As the first warm breezes of April blew softly across the Huntington Avenue Grounds, few base ball writers, myself included, gave the local American League outfit much chance to make a good showing this season. There were too few hitters with punch, too few pitchers with stout enough arms to carry the team very far.

As spring prepares to give way to summer, however, most of us are now admitting we were wrong. The standings show the Bostons in fifth place, but only a scant game out of the second spot, with a record that shows 30 wins against 28 defeats.

The outfit Manager Collins has decked out in red stockings has exceeded all expectations, and best of all, the team is fully stocked with young players who should only get better.

Yes, the roster still contains the venerable names of Freeman, Ferris, Parent and Young. But these veterans have largely stepped aside in favor of names that should one day ring as proudly...Speaker and Pruiett, Cravath and O'Farrell and Carrigan and Lord.

These younger players, all 27 tender years of age or younger, form the core of the squad that should entertain Beantown rooters well into the next decade. The youngest among them, outfielder Speaker and second baseman O'Farrell, only left their teenaged years behind them months ago.

"Spoke," as the Texan is often called, is the finest flychaser to grace the Huntington grounds since their opening. Playing so shallow he appears to be an additional infielder, he nevertheless pursues the ball like a hawk, snaring it before it touches the ground behind him. His arm has already taken care of several base runners who dared to challenge him.

"Paddy" O'Farrell is equally impressive with his glove work around the keystone sack, and has hit the ball with even more authority. Seventeen of Pat's hits have gone for extra bases, and Collins recently announced that he would experiment with a move to the fifth spot in the order for the youngster, who has hit as many as ten home runs in the minor circuits. Only Grimshaw has driven home as many runners as O'Farrell at this point in the season....

(rest of article lost)

04-22-2003, 09:43 PM	#33 (permalink)
Big Six Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 2,410 Thanks: 117 Thanked 91x in 73 posts	Good days in Boston Boston Globe , Friday, June 6, 1908 RED SOX THE SURPRISE OF THE SEASON Collins' Speed Boys Playing Winning Ball, Close to First Division Young Players Making Difference BOSTON- As the first warm breezes of April blew softly across the Huntington Avenue Grounds, few base ball writers, myself included, gave the local American League outfit much chance to make a good showing this season. There were too few hitters with punch, too few pitchers with stout enough arms to carry the team very far. As spring prepares to give way to summer, however, most of us are now admitting we were wrong. The standings show the Bostons in fifth place, but only a scant game out of the second spot, with a record that shows 30 wins against 28 defeats. The outfit Manager Collins has decked out in red stockings has exceeded all expectations, and best of all, the team is fully stocked with young players who should only get better. Yes, the roster still contains the venerable names of Freeman, Ferris, Parent and Young. But these veterans have largely stepped aside in favor of names that should one day ring as proudly...Speaker and Pruiett, Cravath and O'Farrell and Carrigan and Lord. These younger players, all 27 tender years of age or younger, form the core of the squad that should entertain Beantown rooters well into the next decade. The youngest among them, outfielder Speaker and second baseman O'Farrell, only left their teenaged years behind them months ago. "Spoke," as the Texan is often called, is the finest flychaser to grace the Huntington grounds since their opening. Playing so shallow he appears to be an additional infielder, he nevertheless pursues the ball like a hawk, snaring it before it touches the ground behind him. His arm has already taken care of several base runners who dared to challenge him. "Paddy" O'Farrell is equally impressive with his glove work around the keystone sack, and has hit the ball with even more authority. Seventeen of Pat's hits have gone for extra bases, and Collins recently announced that he would experiment with a move to the fifth spot in the order for the youngster, who has hit as many as ten home runs in the minor circuits. Only Grimshaw has driven home as many runners as O'Farrell at this point in the season.... (rest of article lost)