[Big Six]

Wichita Eagle, October 30, 1920

WRANGLERS RALLY TO BEAT BARNSTORMERS, 5-2
Local Ballists Rough Up Smoky Joe Wood

WICHITA--Roy Hitt's traveling All-Americans pulled into town yesterday with a roster full of major league stars. Today, they sent to the hill one of baseball's most renowned pitching stars, Joe Wood, in his first performance in his home state since he left Ness City in 1906. The huge assemblage that packed every available seat at the Base Ball Grounds probably expected the home town team, the semipro stalwart Wranglers, to provide some competition for the All-Americans, but little more than that.

What they saw, instead, was a spirited late-innings charge by the Wranglers that resulted in five runs and a 5-2 victory over the major leaguers in the opening game of their barnstorming tour.

For six and a half innings, things proceeded according to script. Wood's crackling fastball mowed down the Wranglers like wheat. The Red Sox star struck out thirteen men in eight innings of work, so it cannot be said that the Wranglers caught him on a day when his "stuff" was lacking.

The All-Americans scored two runs in the third inning. Shortstop Charlie Hollocher of the Cubs singled, and Wood, a fine batsman, did likewise. That brought to the slab lead-off man Tillie Shafer, of the Giants, who smacked a double, Hollocher scoring and Wood taking third. Ty Cobb next singled, plating Wood. Wranglers pitcher Jeffrey Terrell then bore down and whiffed Pat O'Farrell, going on from there to retire the side.

Wood cruised along with this lead until the seventh, when doubles by big Wrangler first baseman Eric McKibben and veteran second baseman Joshua Strader, sandwiched around a walk to Chris Hamilton, tied the score. Then, after Allan Palacio worked Wood for a base on balls, Kenneth Mistretta, pinch hitting for Fred Bruhn, hammered a third two-base hit. This blow brought Strader and Palacio home and set the Wichita rooters into a frenzy.

From there, it was up to the lanky Terrell, who pitched one of the most courageous games we have seen him work--and we have seen many over his fourteen years here in Wichita. Jeffrey allowed eight hits to the All-Americans, but did not walk a man, and struck out three.

Tomorrow, the All-Americans will likely send either Chuck Rose or Walter Johnson to the mound, while the Wranglers' likely starter will be Waldo Donley. The first pitch will take place at 2:00 p.m., and while all the reserved seats have been sold, there will be grandstand seating and standing room available at the Ball Grounds beginning at noon.