The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-09-25
PLAYERS OF OLD
WERE THE BEST
JIMMY MAILER BELIEVES THAT
ouTFlELDERs HAVE NOT
IMPROVED ANY. Fa
PRESENT DAY MEN PLAY OUT
Cannot, as Rule, Go Back After
Long Flies--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-veiy naturally adores a
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 fa-
nous fellows who played such wonder
ful 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 lin the hole He fig
ured the batter might have to hit at
a bad ball and would not drive Il as
far as he would a good one. Similarly.
when the uitcherl was in hole, James
would play out a 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
flelders. 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 infielders get. Thus IL 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 rule
go beck and get u fly ball They are
not the finished Gelders that the old
fellows were
AS the use of the boxing glove in
ring contests destroyed fine, sharp,
keen hitting, and made :, slugging in
stead of boxing. SO the use of the
glove has destroyed fine, graceful in.
cisive out1lelding.
The old boxer had to hit accurately
and sharply or his hands would be
broken. The old outfelder had to get
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. lie may misiudge the ball
and mishandle himself, but II he gets
the glove on il he is satisfied.
The difference between the old field.
RS and the new is that between
broadsword and foil. Lack of equip.
ment made the old boys artistic ane
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
throving-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 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
were 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 today. We see greater hit
ters, too, than of old; greater cstch.
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
old Browns played just as good ball as
the White Sox; very much the same
ball, too. But outfieldlng has gone
back without doubt The boys of to-.
day do not go back or take the chances