100 years ago in The Record

Wednesday, Feb. 13, 1918

Troy baseball hero Johnny Evers will most likely end his Major League career with the Boston Red Sox, The Record reports. Evers has three World Series titles to his credit. The Chicago Cubs signed him in 1902, shortly after playing an exhibition game against Troy’s New York State League team. Part of the legendary “Tinker to Evers to Chance” double-play combo and regarded as the league’s best second baseman, Evers helped the Cubs win championships in 1906 and 1908. He won his third title as captain of the Boston “Miracle” Braves in 1914. The 36 year old Evers has been in decline for the last two years. The Braves traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies in the middle of the 1917 season, and the Phillies released him at season’s end. He signs with the Red Sox during this week’s league meetings in New York City. “It was reported in baseball circles that Evers would not play, but would act in an advisory capacity [i.e. as a coach] to Edward Barrow, the new manager,” our sportswriter notes. Evers claims to have received offers from two other teams before deciding on Boston.

Home Secured by the Y.M.H.A.

The Troy Young Men’s Hebrew Association has finalized a deal to purchase the former Russell homestead at 87 First Street as their new communal home, The Record reports. “The development and growth of this association during the past few years has been remarkable,” our reporter writes. Formed in 1913 with an initial membership of “about twenty,” the YMHA has expanded to include a ladies’ auxiliary in 1915. Its current “incommodious quarters” are located at 45 First. “Besides the religious work the organization devoted its efforts to literary work, chess and checker contests, Zionistic affairs, war relief and communal work, soldiers and sailors’ welfare, junior development and athletics,” the report continues, “To- day the Young Men’s Hebrew Association of this city stands among the best institutions of its kind in these various activities.” In a circular, the association states that a new building is “an absolute necessity in a city which has a Jewish population as large as Troy.” It will be “a house of refuge, for the youngsters as well as the old; a safeguard against the many evils and temptations of the street; a place where they may all enjoy themselves with all sorts of games, participate [in] social and religious work, develop themselves physically, morally, mentally and spiritually, and become the clean, healthy young man or woman.” The association will conduct a ten- day $10,000 fundraising campaign later this month to meet the cost of furnishing the new building.