Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-10-16
PLAYERS OF OLD
WERE THE BEST
JIMMY MAILER BELIEVES THAT
oUTFiElDERS HAVE NOT
IMPROVED ANY.
PRESENT DAY MEN PLAY OUT
Cannot as Rule. Go Back After
Long FIies-Outer Gardeners Of
Past Were More Graceful and Gov.
cred More Territory Than Suburb
antics Of To-day.

Jimmy McAleer. manager Of the st.
louis American league team who
probably was the greatest fielder
known to base ball-Welch, perhaps.
eXcepted-very naturally adores a
great helder. Jim is a great admirer
OF Charley Jones. center fielder of the
Washington club whom he declares to
be one Of the old boys" like the IA
nous fellows who played such wonder
ful ball in center field WEIGH. Fogar-
~, Johnston and McAleer himself.
Jim does not think that the young
outhelders of to-day compare with the
old fellows. He says that they do not
shift positions with the wind OF the
game For instance. McAleer was
wont TO play close when the pitcher
had the batter "in the hole" He fig
sred the batter might have to hit at
bad ball and would not drive II as
far as he would good one Similarly,
when the uitcher was I'm hole. James
would play out a good bit.
1t Is on short line drives-they were
his own strong point-that Jim deems
modern felders deficient He feels
that they all play out too far, which
statement every one who has watched
to-day will indorse.
McAleer played behind two slow I'm.
helders. Mexican and Childs. who
could not go back on short flies. like
Wallace and Niles So he had to come
in and take a lot OF pops that latter.
day inffelders get. Thus it was that
ne got many line drive that present
day helders play on the bound
The latter-day boys are afraid to
play in because they cannot, as a rule.
go back and get fly ball. They are
not the finished fielders that the old
fellows were
AS the use OF the boxing glove in
ring contests destroyed fine. sharp.
Keen hitting, and made IL smuggling in
stead OF boxing, so the use of the
glove has destroyed f1ue, graceful, in.
cisive outfielding.
The old boxer had to hit accurately
and sharply or his hands would be
broken. The old outflelder had to get
the ball squarely and neatly in his
bare hands or he would miss It. Now.
adays the glove saves the boxers hands
and he swings wildly, regardless OF
where the blow lands. So. too. with
the fielder. He may misjudge the ball
and mishandle himself. but IL he gets
the glove on 1t he is satisfied.
The difference between the old field.
'rs and the new Is that between
oroadsword and foil. Lack OF equip
ment made the old boys artistic and
skillful. With traps on their hands the
modern men do not have to be skill
ful. So where they played ball by skill
and dexterity they now play by main
strength and luck.
Base ball probably has improved in
some ways, especially in pitching and
throwing-we do not remember the
general greatness OF arms of yester.
year. or so many great pitchers. In.
helding, too, has gone up with the
glove.
The glove has not improved out.
helding. though 1t has made many an
awkward chap stick who would not
have held on in the old days. Base
running has not improved, for which
the greater number of left.handed
pitchers may be responsible. There
We're fewer great left-handers In the
Old days. Kilroy's wonderful ability
to hold runners on the bags made his
name a household world. There are
30 Kilroys to-day. We see greater hit
ters, too, than Of old; greater catch
ers, of course. because the NIT is es.
sential to great catching.
The game generally has improved
but not In general system OF play. The
Did Browns played just as good ball as
che White Sox; very much the same
ball, too But outhelding has gone
back without doubt. The boys OF to.
lay do not go back or take the chances
Of the fellows OF McAIeerJa dav