The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-07

a slip. however. 'twixt the player and
the contract, and DEP is certain to re-
main IN the Johnson fold.
An evidence of the imposing person.
mel of the American league teams may
readily be had by considering the men
playing the same positions on the vari-
/ Gus teams. Take shortstop. for in
stance. A glance over the list shows
that Johnson has six of the greatest Of
these necessarily snappy players in the
land. They are the finest aggregation
of shortstops that ever played in one
league at the same time.
Monte" Cross for the Athletics, Par
ent for Boston. Wallace for St Louis,
Elberfeld for Detroit Long for New
York, and Davis for Chicago should
give the eastern fans" exhibitions of
short field work that rival the perform
ances OF the days when Glasscock,
! Ward and Williamson were in their
prime. Many experts consider the
shortstop stunt the hardest on team
to occupy and the satisfactory filing OF
which has principally to do with the
success of a team. In this opinion,
however pitchers are not considered, as
they form a department by themselves.
With the addition Of Corcoran of Gin
cinnati and Hulswitt of the Phillies, the
Americans would have q complete cor
ner on the market in shortstops Cor
coran had been a top-notcher for seven
or eight years. and Bulswitt made his
reputation by his splendid work last
Norman Elberfeld is the leading
''scrapper" among the shortstops lie
has a tempestuous disposition on the
! field that often makes enemies. But this
is all because of his intense desire to
win. He goes into the game with heart
and soul. Off the diamond he is said to
be one of the quietest and most unas-
suming Of persons.
Hermann Long is one of the Oldest
back" during the last two years. Still
he is a wonderfully fast player. despite
his age, and often turns trick thaI
reminds one of the days when with
Hughey Jennings, he was considered
the star ShOrtStOp of the country.
Hermann well remembers the landing
of Columbus and speaks feelingly OF
his experiences in the French and In
dian wars when, although even then
advanced in years, he fought side by
side with "BilP' EVeritt General Brad
dock and George Washington He has
been playing shortstop for upward OF
IA years, principally with the Boston
Nationals.
Ii is difficult to pick out the Ameri-
can league shOrtstop who is entltleo TO
be termed the best. Each has some con-
spicuous point Of merit. Monte" Cross
is one OF the best throwers in the bus
mess and this ccomDlishment enables
him to cover a great deal of ground.
He can line the ball over to first base
from left field as easily as he can from
the pitchers box, and is able to pick the
ball uD on the run and send it under
hand or overland to the FIRST DaSeIldH
with faultless. speed and accuracy
Parent is also capable of covering q
large amount Of territory ana IS I'M
usually steady. He never gets ratified
and consequently is an anchor to his
teams.
Robert Wallace excels in many ways.
The former star pitcher of Cleveland IS
rapid fielder. a hard, timely hitter,
a daring base runner and a player VINO
understands all the tricks of infleld
work. He has no snperiors in his posi-
ton. George Davis, one OF the
Brush tried to have set aside
/ the findings of the Chicago peace
conference, is q splendid type CT the
4 brilliant performer. He is not nearly 80
steady as Parent or Wallace. and has
off days when he cannot stop anything
smaller than a stack of alfalfa On his
good days he is unquestiOnably the best
man on the diamond. He pulls down
line hits that seem beyond human
power to reach His height gives MIN
a decided advantage in this respect.
Davis is also a strong batsman, and his
gracefulness for so big a man reminds
one Of La-Oie
Keller. outfielder. New York Ameri-
cans, $4,000; Donovan, outfielder, St
Louis Nationals $4,000 Chesbro. pitch
er, New York Americans. $4,000; Wall
lace, infielder st. Louis Americans, So,
500 Fultz. cutfielder. New York Ameri-
cans $4,000; Lajoie. infielder, Cleveland
Americans, Sc. 900.
Willie" Keeler. the celebrated out.
fielder. is the highest priced player in
the profession. Patsy Donovan COM
mander Of the Cardinals. ranks next.
/ keeler's summer stipend from the
Greater New Xorks is 10000 That is
1 81 900 more than Donovan gets from
Frank Robson. Wee Willyam' when
one considers the fabulous salaries that
ar lfo47 RI
! is worth every penny of the amount
the American league has contracted to
/ give him.
! Keller is one of the most skilled bat
ters in the profession. He isn't a slug
ger, but he gets as many hits each cam
paign as any of his rivals and always
scores his share of the runs Keeler's