The state herald., 1907-09-27
PLAYERS OF OLD
! WERE THE BEST
JIMMY MAILER BELIEVES THAT
oUTFiELDERs HAVE NOT
IMPROVED ANY.
PRESENT DAY MEN PLAY OUT
Cannot, AZ a Rule, Go Back After
Long FIies-outer Gardeners Of
Past Were More Graceful and Gov.
cred More Territory Than Suburb.
antics Of To-day.


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
great fielder. Jim Is 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.
full ball In center field-Welch. Fogar.
ty, Johnston and McAleer himself
Jim does not think that the young
outfielders 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.
ured the batter might have to hit at
bad ball and would not drive 1t as
far as he would good one. Similarly.
when the uitcher was In hole, James
would play out good bit.
1t Is on short line drives-they were
his own strong point-that Jim deems
modern fielders 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 In.
fielders, Mexican and Childs, who
could not go back on short flies, like
Wallace and Niles. So he had to come
In and take lot OF pops that latter,
day infelders get Thus It was that
he got many line drive that present.
day flelders 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 II slugging In.
stead OF boxing. so the use OF the
glove has destroyed fine. graceful, In,
cisive outfielding.
The old boxer had to hit accurately
and sharply or his hands would be
broken. The old outHelder 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
md mIshoudIa hgma.lf In, tf ha 80.
the glove on II he is satisfied.
The difference between the old field
ers and the new Is that between
broadsword 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 skin
ful so where they played ball hy skin
and dexterity they now play by maIr
strength and luck
Base ball probably has improved IL
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
fielding. too. has gone up with the
glove.
The glove has not improved out
fielding. though II has made many ar
awkward chap stick who would moi
have held on In the old days. Bas,
running has not improved. for which
the greater number Of iefthandod
pitchers may be responsible. Their.
were fewer great lefthanders In the
old days. Kilroy's wonderful ability
to hold runners on the bags made hi,
name n household world. There mr..
80 kilroys to-day. We see greater hit
tors. too. than OF old: greater catch
crs. Of course. because tho init IL os
scntial TO great catching.
The game generally has improved
but not In general sysldm Of play The
old Browns played Just aa good ball NJ
tho white sox. very much the SANE
ball. too. hut outilcldlng has ron,
back without doubt The boys OF to |
day do not ro back or take the chance,
Of the fellows OF MoAlecr's day.
aa
AMnAr rtar saaAnnr