The Washington herald., 1906-10-29
Grand totai........... % Grand totai...,

Last season the National League had
only three clubs worth speaking about.
These were Chicago. New York, and
Pittsburg. Chicago was so much su-
perior to the others that they made
runaway race for the pennant- Pittsburg
was not nearly as strong as when they
carried the flag 10 the Smoky City, and
the Giants played a slower game this
year than last. The entire team, with
the exception Of Arthur Devlin. shOWea
deterioration. Had Patsy Donovan a
pitching stan equal to that of the Giants
his Superbas would have made 1t un-
pleasant for the best Of them. Cincin-
natl again failed to come up TO eXpec-
tatiors, and the PhiIlies were 50 erratic
and inconsistent that the emu of the
season brought a wholesale change in
the team. The Cardinals were almost
al big a joke as the Bostons. and Il
would be difficult TO perpetrate anything
worse than those clubs on the public.
The American League had only two
clubs that. after the season Was wei
on its way. did not have a chance TO
win the pennant. Boston was d failure
largely through the unwise policy Of
standing pat on a team that had wen t~o
Championships and was showing the
wear Of time.
The other club was tic Nationals. who
were shy on class as "a whole, but who
played magnificently at times. And vet
either Of these teams could take care
Of the tailenders in the National League,
while those clubs higher in the American
race would win u majority OF the games
with their National rivals
All Around Players.
Among a few hundred baseball play
ers that by virtue Of their ability 70 play
a strong article OF bali are drawing sala-
ries in the big leagues there are seven
that have acquired considerable fame by
their ability % make good in nearly any
position 10 which they arc assigned. In
other words. there are but seven cracking
good utility players in the two major
circuits. the American League having -four
on It's rolls, while the National has three
The seven are Napoleon Lajoie and George
StovaH OF the Clevelands: Frank Isbell,
ot the White Sox, and "Wid' Conroy, OF
the Yankees of the American League.
Hans Wagner. of the Pittsburgs; Roger
Bresnahan, OF the Giants. and Artie Hof-
aNH
OF the above Lajoie and Wagner have
always been conceded to be the greatest
al around players IN the country, but
when II comes to sterling ability 10 play
other positions StOyaN. isbell, and Bres-
rahau have right 20 be ranked with this
famous pair In their natural positions
and at bat Laioie and Wagner. however
outciass the other utility players. and for
that reason they must be given first rank.
Larry broke into the game as a catch
er, but was soon shifted 10 the OUtteld
On joining the Phiilies ten years ago he
starred at first base. Later he went u
second. and has s.nce been regarded as
the greatest second baseman the game
ever knew, playing difficult chances with
such grace as 20 make them look easy
enough for a child 10 make Since join
ing Cleveland Larry has played a star
game at first and short in addition TO
filling in creditably at third.
Hans Wagner has. since drawing his
pay rs a Pirate. starred at short, rrSt
base. and IN the oUtfeld. That he ca1
do equally as well at third OF second IS
not doubted He can also catch IN a piach,
and if asked TO twirl would not refuse.
Bresnahan and IsbeIi.
Roger Bresnahan and Frank Isbell are
the only two, however, outside Of Charley
Hickman. who are big league players
that have played in every position on
the diamond. Bresnahan was u pitcher
in the old Tri-State League. prior to
coming 10 washington d good many years
ago Later, he was released 60 Baiu-
more, and while an Oriole was forced
to go behind the bat, ali the regular
catchers being crippled. Since that time
he has played all the outfelds and bases
aud short fields as well, and what's
more played them 50 well that the fans
were glad the regular occupants Of the
positions were crippled. Even yet, he
can pitch almost as good as ever.
Isbell was a pitcher Tor the old Chi
cago Nationals before the American
League had been born. Comiskey aIs)
had him on his twirIing staff at ST. Paul.
but upon invading Chicago placed him
on first base. During the last season
fling at the Outdeld, while a year ago
he was called upon TO cover shor- ana
third and the outfield gardens. That he
could also catch was demonstrated on
one of the White S0xs s visits to Phila-
delphia, this year. 'Izzy going behind
the bat and catching q strong game.
Charley Hickman has also played every
position on the map.
George StOvall, one Of the most popu-
lar and valuable players that ever wore
a Cleveland suit Is a man that has
played every position except that be-
hind the bat and played it well at that.
Since being Cievelander he has played