, 1892-03-15
PICKING OUT GOOD MEN.
Rem Milford, Jr., Writes ofBase-
ball Plans Now Forming.
MAKEUP OF THE OUTFIELDs.

Mercury, the fleet footed, would be able
to get n pretty good place in the big League,
provided he could prove himself a good
catch and a fair batsmAn. The game OF
baseball has reached that point of scientific
nicely that one vulnerable spot in the field
will prove the inlet for disaster that the
magnificent work of the remaining eight
cannot offset. Upon the fingers of ones
hand can be counted the outfelders of to-
day who possess the rare combination of an
ability to field brilliantly, to bat splendidly
and to run bases with an abandon calcu-
lated to terrorize the gentlemen in mask
behind the plate. OF all the outfields in
the major league today, based upon their
deeds upon the diamond in the past, Bos-
ton has a trio that will perhaps challenge
the most admiration. Harry Stovey, who
has often led the Association in base rum
ming, will be thanked this year by as clever
a pair as ever chased the elusive hoghide
in jaunts to the fence. Hugh Duffy and
Tommy Mccarthy have both been cap
tains-one of the Boston Reds and the
other Of the st. Louis Browns.
1t was a fortune of war that gave Boston
the little man from the Mound City, and
singularly enough st. Louis received as one
of the trophies of peace the release of Wal
ter Brodie, who a year g cavorted over
the green in the Hub out1ield. There are
only three clubs among the twelve who
purpose making no changes in the guard
ianship of that portion of the diamond this
season. That of course is the outlook as it
now exists. New York still retains George
Gore, Mike Herman and Orator O'Rourke.
Baltimore rests content with Captain
George Van Haltren, Curt Welch and
johnson, whose poetic title of SLEEPY
Bill" attracted no little attention last sea-
son.
Sam Thompson's name still adorns the
Philadelphia roster, and Ed Delehanty and
Billy Hamilton are to be in their old posi-
tions. Washington has four good men
from whom to make a choice, Charles Z
Duffee, who became a Benedict at Mobile
"A few days ago, is one of them. Hardie
Richardson, w. K. Hoy and George Wood
are the others. The same sort Of problem
faces Brooklyn. Captain Ward has four
candidates for the three places. Griffin's
calling is reasonably sure. Hub Collins,
Darby O'Brien and Tom Burns are the trio
who will strive to be elected to the two
vacancies.
In the west Cincinnati presents the
heaviest artillery in the assortment. Tip
O'Neill, Bug" Holiday and w. f. Halli-
gan, all rank in the first class among the
batsmen, but Holiday is the only one OF
the three who has a standing in the society
of base runners. Tom LOTUS used to say
that "Jocko" Halligan could De ain to
get away faster than he has in the past,
and Captain Comiskey is nursing a course
of spring sprouts which he will put into
Jocko's sassafras tea.
O'Neill has a careless lope which is de-
ceptive. He covers n good deal of ground
without the semblance of an effort. On
the bases, however, he has never startled
the world. The Reds have n sub" who
may be called upon to take his place regu-
larly on the team, If any of the elect STUN
BILE or fail to come up to expectations.
Eddie Burke is the man. He was with
Toronto a few seasons ago, and after the
revolution of 1890 was found with Phila-
delphia. The past season he put in at Mil
waukee. Burke has a voice on the lines
that sounds like Hugh Nicols', and a blind
who knew the diminutive chief of
the tribe OF Rockford hustlers would, IL
he heard Burke chirping, stake all he pos
sessed that Little Mic" was On the ines.
Cleveland has one of the fastest outfelds
in the land. James E. McAleer is a sprint
err, and George Davis is not very many
points behind him. Jesse Burkett, who
was installed in right last fall, fills tho
bill and will be anchored there as long as
he can keep up the pace he showed at the
wind up. Davis and McAleer have made
many catches that saved Cleveland from
defeat. Much of Davis reputation was
made off one of C~incinnati's players.
IBID" McPhee was unfortunate enough to
suffer the massacre of at least three grand
drives a year ago, and zach catch was made
in contests SO close that had they been
missed the tide of victory would have been
twined toward Cincinnati. The Forest.
City boys opened up last season by giving
a. D., f,,,,r o,.vft, trnV,nrfr%a nhfa VIM
Cincinnati pants for revenge.
On Pittsburg's list is a man who will
rank as one of the greatest players who ever
ran in and grabbed a short field fly. Pop"
Corkhill always was a sensational catch.
He was won't to make connection with flies
that most outfielders could not reach, but
he lost his batting eye. If he has regained
it Pittsburg will have an all around corker.
Captain Ned Hanlon remains in the field,
and it will seem like old days revived to
see Ed Swcrtwood once more at bat in the
major circuit. Swartwood always was a
heavy hitter, and he has already gone into
training. St. Louis has lost all its old
men, and in addition to Brodie has corralled
Cliff Carroll. who was with Chicago last
season, and Billy Van Dyke, who helped
land the western pennant at Sioux City.
Louisville and Chicago are still in a mood
of dicker, and until they get through, their
outfields cannot be named with certainty.
The Colonies have given walking papers to
j. V. Wolf, who had been one Of them ever
since the Eclipse club attended the birth Of
the Association ten years ago. 1t Is pos
sible that left field will be turned over to
the care of the Gladiator-Louis Rogers
Browning. Farmer Weaver has been
elected to continue in center and Tom
Brown las been dreamed about for right.
Chicago still covets the Bostonian, and
may secure him as a running mate for
Sam DUNCAN, Anson's big western find,
and Jimmie Ryan, who is still shifting
orange blossoms in Florida Walter VIII
mot would be transferred to Kentucky il
this should prove to be the end of negotia-
tions.
In a week mo- --h me. wrinkles In the
business will DE smoothed out, for the mag
mates have carried congresses with them
into New York. N. E. Young, president
of the League-Association, is a little gentle
man Of the old school, and he believes hat
the veterans played as well individually as
the modern followers of the game do. In
team work alone do the mines of today ex-
Gel George Wright" said he to me,
was the greatest shortstop who ever filed
position, and | think next to him
Davy Force deserves the rank"
Rem MULFoRD. JR