The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-04

season to criticiSe the work OF the
Scranton players or to say that this OF
that one fills his position better than
some other man on the team. However
At is not too early to comment upon
which of the players are faVorites with
grandstand and bleachers. The bleach
ers, in fact, are the best base ball
thermometers in existence, and 1t is in
teresting to note how these bowling
weathel~proof cranks receive the early
work of the men. TO n bleacher this Is
how it looks: Second Baseman Ward
with his red sweater and faculty for
making unexpected field plays at un-
expected times is clearly Il favorite
with the unwashed bleacher-or, with
the grandstand. for that matter. He
probably has more legitimate tricks at
his command than any second baseman
In the league. and when he puts his
coups to use he seldom fails 10 accom-
plish n result. lie is large bodied,
somewhat round shouldered and looks
awkward in repose. In action he is one
of the quickest on the team and plays
and steals bases with vim and action
that is refreshing.
or the outtlelders johnson, In center.
won a popularity last season which has
thus far been continued. He is regu-
lar kangaroo for getting over square
yards of territory and does not make
any dancing-master efforts in pulling
down difficult flies. He is dumb as a
mummy in game and the poorest
hN NAth ,af =
tie him. His fellows have dubbed him
Judge because of his solemnity,
Brady. in left field, goes after fly and
captures it in much the same fashion
as Johnson. When he sees sky
scraper coming he ducks his head and
starts like lightning for the spot where
the ball seems likely to alight. He re-
ceives it gracefully and generally re-
turns it with marvellous rapidity.
Houle. in right field, is called kid"
He is the youngest. slimmest and most
ungainly looking member of the team.
He has not shown himself the equal Of
Johnson or Brady in the field but at
bat and on the bases he's a Trojan.
He seldom fails 10 find the ball or to
place it safely. and after he reaches
first bag he is q hoodoo TO nervous
pitchers. He has way of dancing
about the bases which rattles the
pitcher and makes the basemen almost
willing that he should score and there
by get off the field.
Clark. the first baseman who has the
complexion of Hindoo and the profile
Of q Greek. gives promise of leading
the club at bat. He is young, but is
deceivingly large and IS well proper
toned. Like O'Hoolihan:
He takes up the bat
To knock the ball
AS far as San Francisco.
And round the bases he does tear
Three times and a half or more.
Clark. too. is a good territory coverer.
He is always on the alert to get over all
the ground in his baliwick.
Whitehead, at third, is a player with
no particular individuality. He plays
ball with the same caImness and de-
liberation with which ne eats a meal;
it is a matter Of course, a commonplace
business with him. He is silent as an
owl throughout a game, takes no
chances and never makes an unpardon-
able misplay. He IS too quiet to be of
much use on the coaching line. At bat
he has yet to display something marvel
Gus, but he is probably the fieetest run
ner on the team and can push in
score where many base runners would
fail
OF Rogers, catcher, he has thus far
done nothing which offers food for a
criticism; on the contrary, he has
played his position well. He is solid as
a rock, throws accurately to second
and shows disposition to hustle for
foul fys. Few .catchers have a greater
faculty for keeping a pitcher steady.
Rogers is always cool and may often be
heard to call opt quietly to the man in
the box: "All right, old man; one
gone" or "that's good; two out"
caught so many games for
Scranton in the State league last sea-
son that comment is unnecessary here.
He has had but little practice this year.
Of the pitching quartette. Brown. De-
laney, T. Johnson and Fox, the first two
have shown themselves able to cope
with any Of the cracks of the league.
Delaney is probably the best of the
four in an all around game. He Is a
terrible hitter and has the best batting
average thus far of any member Of
the team. Brown is Delaney's equal in
the box and manW think he is the
better Of the two. He is a fair hitter |