The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-22

in play unless 1t was n case of the star
players growing passe. ana not being fast
company of the big league. Does such a
state of affairs obtain2
The PLAYERS who have come under the
ban of the fans - displeasure during the
last wear or so are Duffy. Long, Lowe,
Hamilton and Bergen-eVery man a ball
player that is hard to beat today.
Duffy is considered the equal of any
captain in the league, and captains are
indeed a scarce article
At home Duffy feels the sting of anna
teur criticism, and fails to put the life
into his work that he does on the road.
The great CAPTAINS are sure to show up
better away than at home. and where
can you find more aggressive captain
than Duffy, leading his men against all
kinds of hard propositions on the road?
Experience, determination and a keen
knowledge of the game makes Duffy a
valuable man outside his ball playing
In his long baseball career he has never
gone below the 300 mark in batting; he is
always in shape to play, and is a fielder
OF the first rank The Boston club should
therefore. be sure of its ground before
this player is the subject
Manager Selee says that Hugh Duffy is
the best field captain in the league All
great teams need field captains and it
even money that Boston has no man to-
day who could ever make the success
u see they have tried for years to get
a man to take Herman Longs place. -
said Lave Cross of the St. Louis team,
last week, but they Will find few Longs
in the business today-if any
mo man ever worked harder or more
Herman Long" said Manager Selee to me
the other day, and I have no idea of
looking for another shortstop."
Take the present Boston team to New
York next season and they will win the
remnant in a walk said good judge of
the sport. agreed with him, and added :
Yes. in waltz, If there were Two good
curve pitchers secured to help the boys
out
Bobby Lowe is playing his position to-
day we'll as he ever played in his life
There is no finer fielder in the league. and
as timely batsman he has no superior.
Long andsLoWe are important factors
in the makeup of the finest infleld in the
business, and the chances are that both
men Will do as good work next season as
this.
Billy Hamilton has been valuable
man. His leg troubles, however, have in
two years and Manager Selee thinks it
about time to get a new man for the
place unless Sir William gets into the
game with disposition to drive home a
few runs now and then.
Even Hamilton at his worst is a strong
man and when just right is a jewel for
any team.
Martin Bergen stands at the head of
all sides, but there are many well posted
people who believe that Martin can never
again put his whole heart into his work.
Every time he fails TO run out a hit or
after q foul fly the close observing fan
snakes his head and mutters t.indiffer-
ence."
Bergen is a natural player and seldom
makes false motion. With the hOvs all
hustling for games there is doubt that
Martin would work hard any one
for his work since returning to the team
has been first-class
These five men have no favors to ask
from the Boston baseball public. Each
one of them could get a position in the
a larger salary than they are now re-
ceiving.