The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-06-13

sential-olance at Champion Mines
Of the Past Shows All Of Them Had
Star eeivers--Vietory Of the Chi.
caso White sox Due in Great Meas
ure to Billy sullivan.
Crack pitchers are all right--a base
ball team has to have them to win a
pennant. So also are strong batters
handy to have around-a pehnant
winner needs them in its business as
well as players who think, speedy
base runners, clever team play and
skilful fielders All Of these things go
to make championship combinations
on the diamond Nevertheless teams
that have won pennants and have not
had capable, brainy catchers are as
scarce as hens teeth. OF the long list
of pennant winning teams dating back
into the '70's, hardly one has not had
first class catcher, catcher who
backs up mechanical skill with an
alert mind that takes In all that is go
ing on and in a measure oversees and
maneuvers the plan of battle.
The catcher stands there behind the
bat inning after innins and game after
game taking a pounding and filling
less spectacular role than any other
member OF the nine. HIS work is not
showy. Superficially viewed, his is
more OF a dray horse than any of his
fellows, but In reality he is a great
power in teams success, though
often he doesn't come In for as much
credit as the players who work more
in the open, so to speak.
Catchers OF the strictly first class
are scarcer than the occupants of any
other position, and the records show
that the teams that have had heady
catchers to coach and steady pitchers.
to study the weakness of batters, to
stop plays on the bases and to keep
supervising eve on the adjustment
OF the inheld and outneld MS the bat
ting peculiaritles of the different OPP
ponents require are the teams that
have won championships.
In the old National league days OF
'76 the Chicagos won the pennant, and
they had for chief catcher Jim White,
backstop who used his head Lew
Brown. whs caught for the champion
Bostons Of 1877, was another thinking
catcher, as was Charley Snyder, who
caught for the Bostons when they
won the pennant in 1878.
Great catchers were Bennett. Ewing,
Bushong. Kelly Gilllgan, Hackett,
Martin Bergen, Robinson and Farrell;
and great present day catchers are
Roger Bresnahan and Johnny Killing.
both identified strongly with pennant
winners and pronounced factors in
the success Of the New York and Chi.
cago teams
Mike Kelly caught for the Boston
Brotherhood team which team won
the pennant of that organization In
1890. the only year OF it's existence.
Apropos of Flint. there ls In one OF
the old guides the interesting state
ment that In period of 13 years he
caught S35 games of the 1895 that his
team played. Jim Mcclure must have
n still more extended record of service.
Doc Bushong was with the St Louis
American association team when It
won the pennant under Comlskey in
1885, and Charley Snyder with the
Cincinnatis when they won the Ameri.
can association flag in 1882 Not all
the great catchers have been confined
to championship teams, but ma
terlal share of the success of the yari-
Gus pennant winners was due to the
presence behind the bat of experts
with whom the mere physical duties
of their position was matter of sec.
ondary import They were generals,
thinkers planners, orlglnators,
American league Successes, too,
have been made by teams that pos
'sessed this same shrewd, capable type
OF backstop A star in every depart
ment Is Billy Sullivan of the worlds
champion White Sox The Chicagos
won the Ameriean league pennant in
1900, 1901 and 1906 Sullivan being
with them in all of these years. He is
not only good thrower but watches
the bases like a hawk 80 that he Is
able to make use OF his throwing
aslity. One reason why the sox hold
opposing teams down so well Is be-
cause Sullivan has them tied up on
the bases
The catchers OF the Athletics, who
won the American league pennant in
1902 and 1906. are schenck and Pow
ers. the latter being "a good general.
The peerless Lou Criger was 3oston's
mainstay behind the plate when that
Club won the American league pen
nant In 1903 and 1904. lie Is not only
a finished workman from the purely
mechanical standpoint but knows
every trick OF the trade. applies him
self closely TO the work al hand and
watches every point
The worlds championship teams
ginca the AmeTican-Na atlonal series be-