Were There More Of His Character, Baseball Would Continue To Be The World’s Great Sport.
February 14, 1915 Age 24
By James Jerpe Pittsburgh Post Gazette
“St. Louis Is proud that Bill Doak Is a member of the St. Louis club, writes Sid Keener In the St. Louis Sporting News.
To that testimonial about the Knoxville boy we might add that all Pittsburgh is proud of “Whltey Bill” for the fact that he is a Pittsburgher by birth though not a member of Daddy Pitt’s crew of diamond representatives. Writing of Doak and his great work last year Keener says:
DOAK ONE MODEL PLAYER.
Remembers His Schooling and Refuses to Play the Bandit.
Bill Doak was the premier pitcher in the National League for 1914, according to the twirling records. He topped such hill artists as Christy Mathewson, Jeff Tesreau, Bill James, Grover Alexander, Dick Rudolph, Larry Cheney and Harry Sallee. With his 1914 contract expiring he was in a position to “hold up” the Cards; he could have jockeyed hither and thither with Hug, waited and accepted the highest bid from Organized Baseball or the Feds.
But Bill Doak remembered his schooling – to do right by those who do right by you – he did. Bill remembered how he was tossed around from pillar to post; from bush league clubs up to the majors, down again and up again, and finally with the Cards. With Hug, the “spitter” was given every chance to develop. He did develop, and he did not forget his employer.
When Miller Huggins was prepared to talk terms with Bill there wasn’t a single argument. Hug named the figure he was willing to pay his pitcher; Bill thought it over and signed without delay. This transpired last September over in Pittsburgh.
Polly Perritt, the lad who jumped, received the same consideration from Hug. But Pol, forgetting that the Cardinals put him where he Is, grabbed the Feds’ lucre.
And while Marquard, Magee, Perritt, Wingo, Johnson, Koney and others are head-lined In the newspapers almost every day, no one hears of Bill Doak. But he’s back at his home In Pittsburgh leading a peaceful and quiet life; he isn’t announcing himself as being willing to break the contract he has signed and “jump” to the Feds for an Increase of a few dollars. No, Bill is satisfied. And he’ll get his reward in the end.
St. Louis Is proud that she owns Bill Doak. Were there more of his character, baseball would continue to be the world’s great sport.