, 1891-01-04
FIRST BASEMEN.
w. L. Harris Analyses the
Work of the Cracks"
THEY MUST BE coon BATTERs.

Brouthers, FArrar, whistler, ComIskey,
Reilly, Deekley and Esterbrook Are
the Men Considered.
There seems to be a tradition that a first
baseman must be a great batsman. II he
Is not n better man than the average with
the stick he is not apt to hold his position
long on a major league team. "Can he
hatG'' Is one OF the first questions asked by
a manager nowadays when he is looking
FOR a first baseman. Nothing but the most
extraordinary fielding and base running
can excuse poor batting. As big men gen,
orally hit the hardest, nearly all good first
basemen are tremendous in physique
Naturally such men are not Rs active a.
others on the bases, and with a few excep
tons none has ever shone as a base run
ner. The greatest opponents Of tne posi-
ton are Arson, Conner, FoItz, Orr.
Tucker. Brouthers, Farrar. Whistler,
Comiskey. Reilly, Beckley an9 Esterbrook
All OF these men rave distinctive value in
certain directions, n in their particular
specially are almost unapproachable.
Every man who plays first base must be
able to hold the swiftest thrown balls and
be able to stop the most terrific ground
hits Not only this. but he must be able
to reach out and save his felders from
wild throws, because the best throwers
have frequently such a short time at their
disposal, and have 10 throw so many balls
while on the dead run, that they dnd Il,
neTt to impossible to get the ball right
n the waiting mitts OF the first baseman.
In considering the dozen men named ]
shall do so simply on their merits in =
team, leaving out those things which do
not apply to the position. The poorest
batsmen OF the lot are FArrar, Whistler
and Comiskey, and the best, Foutz, Con
nor, Orr and Tucker. Arson and Brouth-
ers have generally been considered the best
hitters, but during the past two years
neither Of them has kept within call Of
his previous reputation.
Last year Arson helded better than he
has for several seasons, while Brouther-
played the LATEST, most sluggish game OF
his career. BE never was a great fielder
except In the averages, but last year he
was not In 1t with the Others. Conner,
Foutz and Tucker arc expert IN every
branch OF the game. Tucker Is the best
base runner OF the lot, and Whistler can
do some pretty tall hustling in this line; 50
can Comiskey, Foutz and Reilly excel In
getting high thrown balls. This Is due
somewhat TO the fact that they are both
very tall men Esterbrook and Beckley
are good helders, the former especially 80.
and both are tremendous hitters when they
light squarely on the ball. Farrar is an
extra good fielder. no base runner and au
average batsman. The quickest man to
put a ball thrown from pitcher or catcher
on to a base runner IS Whistler His abil,
fly in this line is marvellous.
Orr and Tucker excel on thrown ground
balls, and It may be said that considering
his height and weight Orr Is a marvel In
nnirEnRsa Egturhru0E has "a yapu ab1rvv
catchy style OF play, and when he is play
ing his game always receives hearty APP
plause from the crowds; but this aduls.
ton, which IL, as it WERE, the breath of his
nostrils, often serves to really depreciats
his value as a winning player, although he
is always a drawing card EsterbrOOk.
when entirely pleased with his surround
ings and playing "A brilliant game, is an
easy man TO handle, but when in hard
luck he ia likely TO DO somewhat morose
and cranky, and needs a great deal Of pet.
ting. These things count against him,
but It should be said of Esterbrook that
he is an enthusiastic and a hard worker,
and has always played good ball for Jim
Mutrie when jim was allowed 10 treat him
IN his own way without interference.
Anson, Foutz, Tucker and comiskey
hAve a peculiar value as batsmen because
they are scientific hitters, and a. such al
ways hDlt anu NlAAluH 10 mako AhcFinge
hits. II Brouthers, Beckley, Orr, Ester
brook, FRrrar or Reilly ever make a sacri.
ioe hit, except a fly bail, It Is worthy Of
special remark and is generally an acci.
dent. indeed It is doubtful IL Brouthers,
Esterbrook or Reilly could make one Il
he tried. Still his Is nothing TO their
discredit, for they are generally such good
men with the stick that they can say with
the man who was asked why he didn't
work, II don't rave to-"
Whistler is included 10 this combination
OF great first basemen because hs Is some.
thing In the way OF a phenomenon. Last
year was his first in any team OF much
ao:o-his first season In q major leRgue-
and when 1t is reckoned that he only put
in a few months work, and attracted the
attention Of the cranks and experts every
where as a player OF remarkable promise,
1t will be conceded that he was entitled to
mention along with the other eleven who
are veterans Of many years standing.
1t Is a very hard matter TO pick out the
best man of these twelve when ability as
manager and captain is not considered.
All things taken into account, It has been
my opinion for two years that Foutz leads,
aud without any special attempt to do so ]
have made up a table OF points which
shows II also. In making the figures the
Eve chief things considered are batting,
base running, fielding. department and
knowledge OF the points of play evolved in
the game. This latter ia one Of the most
important of all, as a man at all stupid, no
matter what his other qualifications are,
would not be considered NJ AL man. OF
course mont OF the twelve men selected is
stupid. but some are brighter than others,
Cranks will Ind a good deal OF interest
in making up a table on their own judg
ment. Mine was made by putting the
twelve names under each other. aud carry
ing II in five columns opposite each name
the mans rank, in my opinion, in each Of
the five points considered The totals OF
my table read; Foutz, 40; Arson. a; Con
nor, ~; Tucker, Al: Comiskey. 81; Orr. 90;
Reilly, 81; Whistler. 20; Farrar. %; Beck.
ley, 2l: Brouthers. 16; Esterbrook. Il. In
making up tables OF this description it
must be understood department covers the
character OF the man as a sober, reliable
and easily managed player.
According to my table there is very lit
tie choice between the first five men, but
my reader may figure it entirely diffvr-
snt, and II their favorite has not come
out in the calculation / trust they viii try
their INT at sizing mp lnst bAseman.
W. !. HARRIS.