Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-01
SHORTSTOPs PLEASE FANS.
Many Fine Performers Now in Both
Leagues.

From Sporting News
If there is anything the average base ball
fan loves to see in action 1t is good. brisk
shortstop, and no performer on the field
has a better chance to make sensational
plays, to do brilliant and effective work,
and to keep eternally solid with the bleach
ers than the gentleman who cavorts be-
tween second base and third cushion.
Around the shortstop pivot plays of the
most important kind are made. He has
burning liners to catch, towering flies TO
chase, sizzling grounders to overcome. He
has throws to take and throws to make.
He is a factor in two-thirds of the double
plays and a fraction OF second more or
less means the two putouts or only one
and big chance left for the enemy. No
where the shortstOp wiggles.
Nowhere is IL more needful for man to
be fast of foot and sure of eye. A good
shortstop is a joy forever and retains his
hold upon the memories and affections of
the fans for years after his career Is end
ed.
The shortstop work around the circuit of
both big leagues was very good this year,
but no better than in any one of several
years past owing to the fact that the short
stop, like the second baseman, has been
developed to pretty near the limit, While
the records of the past were full of great
few equals today.
At Boston the National had fair short
stop and hard worker. Abbatichio, while
the Americans had Freddie Parent, a great
batter and one of the fastest. cleverest little
men who ever chased the grounders.
Chicago was well equipped in the short
stop line. Joe Tinker of the West Side
team fielded finely, but had an off year in
batting The veteran George Davis, of
Comskey's bunch. covered an immense
area of ground. hit fairly well and was the
life of the whole South Side infield-
At New York Elberfeld played the pref
test kind of ball for Clark Griffith, and
Dahlen, always a star. shone as brightly as
ever with McGraw. At Philadelphia, Hus-
witt played fast and cleverly. while Monte
Cross. always fine fielder. was very weak
with the biffstick.
The St Louis Americans had one of the
finest shortstops now in the business, every
point considered-Bobby Wallace. Shay
and Brain divided the work for the Ma
tionals. and neither set the world afire,
though both played excellently at times.
Babb worked hard and well for Brook
lyn. Tom Corcoran, the veteran who COW
ers short for the Reds, never did finer play
ing Hans Wagner is still the same old
Hans-an awkward but effective ground
coverer and grand batsman.
Turner. Cleveland's shortstop. Is cork
Ing good little man. O'Leary did elegant
fielding for Detroit, but could not hit. CASH
dy, of Washington has the makings of a
great infelder.
none OF ttit SnoEtStopS HoW pidyi Hs Jail
has anything on the one man who was
it, as far shortstop doings are concern
ed. Hughey Jennings was the ideal short
stop. the past master of the position
Jennings could make impossible catches:
he was death alike on flies, throws and
grounders, and as a batter and base run
ner Wagner is now the only shortstop who
can compare with him.
Great in every way was the star of Bal
timore. and 1t is hardly likely that the
game will ever develop his superior. The
shortstops of today are all right and crack
cracks, but will the diamond ever have