The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-28

class 10 insure the necessary s,eadiness
and balance.
Cleveland's great aggregation. which
was handicapped last year by illness and
by a remarkable series of accidents to It's
pitchers, will be unchanged. except in the
one weak spot discovered. Detroit has
added TO an already strong and aggressive
front. Chicago has discarded the dead
wood which caused the teams downfall
after Il most promising start last year and
replaced it by the best material available.
St. I.Guis has followed suit. although il
Vas necessary in less degree.
One OF the most promising features of
III" outiool: Is the fact that tlc American
LcacEe Will nave practically 10 opposition
and Chicago. therefore. is the Aricrican
league contcndlE= with real rivalry. and
iT tho w" largest communities of the
country thcrc ~ certainly patronage
cnOisa for both clubs.
IL view Of the fIa,s hc:c detailed. I sub
nit :hal the american League is open
10 hearty cungrrtIiatiJnS on its prospects
10" ID" season Of ls9i-
THIRD HASEMAN IMPROVING.
.Nlthuu-.a tue silortstuils of to-day are
certainly 10 better than those of fifteen
years age. while The hest OF tho second
baScmen do not grade one bit above
Pfcffer AID Mcrncc. and the outfinldcrs
n time when third base was SO finely gar
'''i'N 40 a. ihS fhNr'uI uas. oi'siN
third basenen have been coming up rap
idly In recent ~ycars-possibiy because the
new responsibilities of the post have tend
ed to develop them. ard possibly because
baseball is an odd game and its stars
come and go in curious assortments.
The crack third basemen of to-day are
in themselves worth the price of admis-
sion to see. Trla. i third has.unan is not
yrC--.I- Et-aI-,- r1-f2srf fl-h tho ntfnhnr
and cttchcr-foug ci.aI.ceS 70 the galne
IL . betty averde" for any third sacker-
5ai the -four chances are usually OF the
kind tha. make or hreal: 4 team. and the
way the mGde.5 wonder takes care of his
four chance; is . picture.
The lhirl ncscTan j. sometimes up
asairst 4 cutting ~grounder thai jilst clips
The hasebag. Sometimes he has them far
up The oi,er way. toward shortstop.
se.ngtia3sS he mas Z covering fly to
hi; eyes. Now aud tilcr ne has to run
back 20 the stand Tor Il long fcii. Then.
again. lie mUst go in lik i:shtlilS. bend.
hool. up a slow INInt with enc hand. and
triasfc" it to first ahead OF the runner.
He has throws 10 tax when the runner Is
coming fast and the spikes are right in
front; he has L. mix 10 in double plays,
quick-thinEing tricks. and a whole lot
OF arSies that do not ligGre il the score.
but do figure in Abe winning or losing Of
l game
COLLINS \ GREAT PLAYER.
When you speak OF third basemen now
aGays. the name Of Collins seems to fash
first upon the lip: Collins. on popular
vote. would probably be ranked as first
of the thiru sdcke.s-a marvel at =
kind of play. a good batter, and Il field
leader into the bargain.
Billy Bradley is ranked as the king by
Cleveland admirers. He is as fast as Col
Inns, as great on g%rounders. flies, n
throws. but more apt to get nervous AND
20 TO pieces under fire. He Is a grand
batSTnan.
Lave Cross is even steadier than Collins
and Bradley against the hot drives
throws more accurately. but does not get
over quite as much territory. He is a hit
ter. III fact. the great third basenlsn OF
to-day are all the greater because Of the
service they can do with the willow.
CouShlin of Washington gives but little
to tn" three just named in any fielding
Casey. Selee's crack. is so short and fat
he can not get over as much ground, but
he can hit. run and do great inside work.
Comisky.s third basemen IS a novice
named Clark. who can bat and Is thought
to nave a futurc. Harry Wolverton of the
Philadelphia Nationals Is. a good
and. like so many other third base cracks.
is n heavy batter. Tommy Leach of the
Pittsburg champions is a star. nur would
hardly shine in comparison with Collins
and Bradley with Il weaker team along
side of him.
HOW WEIGH MADE AN ASSIST
mickey Notwithstanding Mickey-was n
great pitcher" says Jimmy Ryan. H