Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-30
GERMANS R|vALING
IRISH IN BASE BALL
Rosters Of Two Big Leagues
Show Many Teu-
tonic Players.

/ 'ssS ssSJ - -
| When John J. McGraw a few days ago
| asked his New York champions, with just
| Indignation. whether they intended to al
! low a team of "Dutchmen" to beat them
| for the National League flag. he woke up
the Irish players Of the two big organiza-
lions to full knowledge Of the racial
| changes which the personnel Of the great
game has undergone, says Pheian In the
Chicago Journal.
In the past few years the influx Of Ger
| mans into the ranks Of base ball has been
something wonderful. Silently, but effect
lively, the Teutons have been edging in
and holding their jobs with all the tenac-
ity Of bullpup chewing at a bone. A few
years ago the Germans were SO scarce
that they could be counted without much
stress upon the memory. Today they are
so numerous that they far outnumber the
Irish players. and the new blood entering
the big leagues Is almost wholly made up
of Germans. with the exception Of the
Irish collegians, who are recruited from
Holy Cross.
In former years the idea prevailed that
the German was too lethargic to become
successful ball player. This idea was
qualified by the admission that Germans
Of the heavy. beefy kind would make good
mechanical catchers. but the ablest crit
les insisted that Germans would never do
for fast infelders-that It would take them
too long to think when lightning plays
were the necessity Of the instant.
Fred Pfeffer and Herman Long came
into the game. in those days and showed
the world q few things about the speed
and skill of German infielders. Then the
Germans began to force themselves in, and
they came thicker and thicker
Show Improvement.
The German ball player is q different
fellow from the man who was the star
performer of twenty years ago. He cares
less about being a good fellow and more
about saving money. Nearly all the Ger
man players have considerable money
banked and more coming.
Chicago's Cubs-and Chicago has had no
such ball club since the days of the
stonewall infeld-is essentially the most
thoroughly German club In the business.
The great majority Of the men are Sec
ond-crop Germans and If they show any
slowness in either thought or execution
1t hasn't cropped out to date The roster
of the Chicago club sounds like a schuet-
zenfest even though some of the players
have made slight American alterations
Ill the SpelluS OF their names.
Cincinnati was formerly the home Of the
German when 1t came to housing ball play
ers, but even the Reds must retire into
the background when the Chicago Cubs
men on Charlie Murphy's list OF the nine
teen, eleven are admittedly German. one
Is Swede, and one, Overall, is probably of
Teutonic origin.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago list includes Sagle (Schla-
geD. outfielder, neat batter, fast runner
and fairly vivid thinker.
Sheckard (ScheckardD, outfielder fine
batsman. fast sprinter and first-class think
er. When treated with contumely Sheck-
ard plays an Indifferent, mechanical game
but when with crowd where he is well
treated, will play his head of to please.
Schultz. outfielder. is a good hitter, good
runner, grand all-round ball tosser
Chance. manager, captain and first base
man. One of the best all-round ball play
ers now in the profession.
Steinfeldt, third baseman. Now playing
in every department the finest game of his
life. Similar to Sheckard in disposition and
passive sullenness when in uncongenial
company.
Tinker, shortstop. Not only a great In
fielder. but one of the keenest of thinkers,
and specially acute in observing the weak
nesses of opposing batsmen.
Killing, the king of catchers, ideal in all
departments.
Hoffman. clever utility player, good In
every way.
Gessler, outfelder. A good ball player, but
not as valuable as the other Germans of
the team.
Reulbach, a dazzingly brilliant pitcher
Pfeister, a crafty, skilhul, left-handed
twirler.
classify as follows:
Strobel, a good second-rate second base
man. but not up to top-notch quality. -
Pfeffer. a really good pitcher, who would
do well in stronger copany.
Doorner. pitcher Of good quality, like
wise handicapped by his surroundings.
Lindemann. a pitcher who could be devel-
oped into star with fast team.
Brooklyn.
Alperman, typical white-headed Ger
man and most promising infielder.
Batch, a young fielder and all-round ball
player. who can hit and looks like conner.
Hummell. a fast second baseman, rather
light with the stick
Ritter, a plodding little catcher, good
man, but not quite up to big league speed.
Pastorius q capable pitcher, showing
steady improvement in fast company.
Cincinnati.
Schlei, a eorking good catcher and able
to fill in at other positions.
Weimer. star pitcher. more fretful and
nervous than most Germans, but a crack
erjack. nevertheless.
Wicker, one of the gamest, headiest
pitchers that ever donned uniform.
Lobert, small edition Of Hans Wagner,
and one good ball player from head to
shoes
Siegle, an outfielder, who looked good last
season. but has been badly handicapped
this year by an injured ankle.
Deal OiehD, a rising first baseman, who
ought to become a leader.
New York.
Dahlen, one Of the earliest Of the great
narr,ar tnf3eldars Who has outla atod